Stephen Colbert recently gathered with fellow late-night hosts—Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver—for a special episode of “The Late Show.” This gathering marked the end of Colbert’s tenure before the show’s final broadcast on May 21.
During the episode, Colbert asked his peers to advocate for late-night television, which has been facing challenges. Kimmel shared that the late-night fanbase remains strong. He recalled when “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” had to pause airing. He noted, “We have a lot of shows, and even with 30,000 viewers each, it adds up.”
Colbert then posed a thought-provoking question: Did they ever imagine their job would attract significant attention, even from the President? Kimmel cheekily referenced his recent clash with Melania Trump, saying, “It’s strange to have a job that the First Lady cares about.”
Meyers chimed in, expressing relief that most of them had avoided that situation, while Oliver humorously recounted how he learned about Kimmel’s troubles through their group chat.
Meyers also mentioned that he enjoyed when Trump shares posts during his show. “It means he’s watching,” he said, highlighting that leaders of the free world still tune in to late-night shows.
In a surprising move, CBS announced the cancellation of “The Late Show” for July 2025, citing financial reasons. There’s speculation that Colbert’s exit was connected to the merger between Paramount and Skydance, a deal awaiting FCC approval, which might have been influenced by Trump, who has openly criticized late-night TV.
Not everyone supports this decision. Former host David Letterman has been vocal against CBS, previously calling their leadership “lying weasels.” He claimed the network’s decision was more about smoothing over the merger than audience demand.
Late-night TV has endured ups and downs through the years. In the past, shows like “The Tonight Show” went through significant changes but adapted and evolved. Today, late-night hosts still have a platform to comment on current events, and it remains to be seen how the landscape will shift after Colbert’s departure.
This discussion around late-night television reflects a broader trend. Recent studies show that while traditional TV viewership is declining, online streaming and clips from these shows on platforms like YouTube are thriving. Late-night may adapt to these changes by becoming more interactive and accessible.
As the world of late-night television shifts, fans will soon see what follows in Colbert’s footsteps. And while there are uncertainties ahead, the creative voices behind these shows will continue to engage audiences, ensuring that laughter remains a constant in our collective experience.
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Jimmy Fallon,Jimmy Kimmel,John Oliver,Seth Meyers,Stephen Colbert,The Late Show
