David Letterman Slams CBS and Skydance Over ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ Cancellation: “Sheer Cowardice!”

David Letterman recently expressed his frustration over the cancellation of “The Late Show,” a program he pioneered 32 years ago. During a Zoom interview with former executive producer Barbara Gaines, Letterman took aim at CBS and Skydance Media, expressing disappointment in how they treated his successor, Stephen Colbert.

He dismissed the claim that financial issues led to the cancellation. “This is pure cowardice,” he said. “Stephen Colbert should have been given more respect.”

Letterman also criticized Paramount’s decision to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit from Donald Trump regarding a “60 Minutes” interview. He argued this move undermined freedom of the press. He humorously questioned Skydance Media, soon to take over Paramount, by likening them to a discount airline and referring to its founder, David Ellison, as “the Oracle twins.”

He suggested that the new owners may have pressured CBS to remove Colbert due to fears of backlash from the Trump administration. “They didn’t want any issues with that guy, so they decided to take out the entire franchise,” Letterman speculated.

While reports indicated that “The Late Show” was losing between $40 million and $50 million a year, Letterman found this reasoning unconvincing. “If they were losing money, it didn’t just start yesterday,” he remarked, implying that the financial troubles could have been ongoing.

Looking back at his own time as a late-night host, Letterman often ridiculed his bosses at NBC and CBS. Despite the cancellation, he expressed confidence in Colbert’s future. “He’s a martyr. Good for him,” Letterman said, hinting at Colbert’s potential legacy within the industry.

This situation sheds light on the challenges faced by media companies today. A recent survey by the Pew Research Center found that many viewers prefer shows that take risks and comment on current events. As networks navigate viewer preferences and corporate pressures, the struggle between creative freedom and business concerns continues to grow.

For more on the evolving landscape of late-night television, you can check out reports from trusted sources like the Pew Research Center.

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CBS,David Letterman,Stephen Colbert,The Late Show with Stephen Colbert