The final episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” concluded its long run on CBS on 21 May, leaving a significant mark on the landscape of late-night television. This landmark event prompted a strong response from former President Donald Trump, who took to his Truth Social platform shortly after the broadcast to voice his disdain for the host.
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In a post that emerged in the early hours of Friday, May 22, Trump labelled Colbert as a “jerk,” celebrating the end of the show’s 33-year tenure. “Colbert is finally finished at CBS,” Trump wrote. “Amazing that he lasted so long! No talent, no ratings, no life. He was like a dead person. You could take any person off of the street and they would be better than this total jerk.” His sentiments culminated in a proclamation of relief: “Thank goodness he’s finally gone!”
“Stephen Colbert has shifted the late-night television landscape over his tenure, which reached back to 1993 when David Letterman hosted the show for the first time. The finale featured memorable celebrity appearances, including a sing-along of The Beatles’ classic “Hello, Goodbye,” led by Colbert along with musical icons Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, and Jon Batiste. Other guest stars included Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd, Ryan Reynolds, and Tig Notaro, all joining Colbert to celebrate the show’s conclusion at the Ed Sullivan Theater.
In response to Trump’s criticism, Colbert had previously surmised that the former president’s focus on a comedian reflected poorly on the position he held. “The end of the show aside, which people can speculate about all they want, and I can’t argue with their speculations, but we’re clowns,” Colbert remarked in a recent discussion. He questioned the significance of Trump’s comments, asking how much it demeaned the presidency to give weight to the critiques of a late-night host.
The announcement of the show’s cancellation came in the summer of the previous year, shortly after Colbert publicly lambasted CBS’s parent company, Paramount, for settling a $16 million lawsuit with Trump related to a 60 Minutes interview featuring Vice President Kamala Harris. Analysts expressed that many viewed the suit as frivolous. Colbert had pointedly described the settlement as “big, fat bribe,” underscoring the complex financial relationships at play.
Just days after this criticism, CBS chose not to renew “The Late Show,” citing fiscal constraints. This decision came amid a significant corporate merger involving Paramount and Skydance, a company associated with a billionaire who was an ally of Trump, suggesting potential implications of political influence in corporate media decisions.
The responses to Colbert’s departure extend beyond Trump. Following the initial announcement of his show’s axing, the former president expressed satisfaction, claiming, “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings.” Trump’s remarks indicated a broader sentiment among certain Republican circles, where he has critiqued late-night hosts and liberal media figures regularly.
Colbert’s farewell was timely for the late-night landscape with other shows like “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” facing scrutiny of their own; Kimmel was temporarily pulled in September of the previous year after a controversial joke. Nearly a year later, ongoing media mergers could reshape television programming further, with new corporate leadership steering networks toward more favourable portrayals of political leaders and policies.
As for Colbert, after a marathon stint in late-night hosting, he expressed readiness to move on. He prepared for a family celebration, heading to Washington D.C. for his brother Tommy’s wedding the day after his show finale. “You have to think about when is the right time to end your tenure,” he shared. Although unsure if he would retire so soon, he acknowledged the importance of transitioning away from his public role.
In the wake of Colbert’s departure, late-night television stands at a crossroads with evolving dynamics and shifting corporate influences. The legacy of Colbert’s tenure will likely spark discussions on its implications for future political satire and the media’s role in shaping public discourse.