CBS killed its own Late Night programming, bending over for tech billionaires and Donald Trump. To the general public it’s very obviously loser behavior — cancelling a highly rated, top watched late-night show because Stephen Colbert had too many mean jokes about the president? Lame. But given that powerful people are increasingly abandoning their sense of autonomy in favor of bowing to the Trump administration, it’s pleasant when they exhibit any kind of backbone.
Jimmy Fallon, unsurprisingly, was a little late to issue a statement regarding the end of Late Night. On Friday, he posted an Instagram story, writing “I’m just as shocked as everyone else. Stephen is one of the funniest, sharpest hosts to ever do it. I really thought I’d ride this out with him for years to come. I’m sad that my family and friends will need a new show to watch at 11:30 pm… I’m sure whatever he does next will be brilliant.”
The other Jimmy, Kimmel, wasted no time in responding to his rival’s cancellation on Thursday night. In a Story post on Instagram, Kimmel posted the clip of Stephen Colbert announcing the eventual end to his program.
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“Love you Stephen,” Kimmel wrote. “Fuck you and all your Sheldons CBS.”
Rounding out the late night hosts’ response Seth Meyers posted on social media as well, saying, “For as a great a comedian and host he is, he is an even better person,” Meyers said of Colbert. “I’m going to miss having him on TV every night but I’m excited he can no longer use the excuse that he’s ‘too busy to hang out’ with me.”
The late-night hosts were far from the only television personalities that had thoughts on what is believed to be, at least partially, a politically motivated firing. Andy Ritcher, Conan O’Brien’s longtime collaborator wrote on Bluesky: “Stephen Colbert is a profoundly good and deeply talented man with a great staff and an excellent show. They all deserve better.” He then shared a screenshot of texts that included the words “Trump,” and “motherfucker.”
Another Andy had some thoughts as well. Andy Cohen, host of Watch What Happens Live, spoke to Deadline about the cancellation. “I think it’s a sad day for late-night television,” Cohen said. “I think it’s a sad day for CBS. I think Stephen Colbert is a singular talent. He’s going to have an incredible next chapter.”
“I can’t believe CBS is turning off the lights at 11:30 after the local news. I’m stunned,” he continued. “He’s one of three late-night shows deemed worthy enough for an Emmy nomination. He produces a brilliant show.”
Mike Schur, the executive producer behind shows like Parks and Recreation, The Good Place and The Man on The Inside didn’t hold back either when he addressed the issue on Bluesky.
“When media companies cancel late night shows to appease fascist presidents, America fucking ends,” he wrote. “If you think for one second that this decision has nothing to do with Trump, don’t worry, he will brag about it within the next 24 hours and disabuse you of that notion. The #1 way to explain America working properly is by saying ‘comedians can make fun of the President on TV.’ A good way to explain fascism is ‘the President forces companies to fire those comedians as a condition of allowing them to conduct business.’”
Ben Stiller chimed in as well, though he kept it much milder. “Sorry to hear CBS is canceling one of the best shows they have,” he wrote on X. “Wishing all the people who work so hard on that show all the best.”
Meanwhile, Desus Nice, former host of Desus & Mero wrote, “either you fall in line or you lose your show.”
It’s not just the entertainment world that’s expressing outrage; politicians are getting in on the action too. Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote on X: “CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump – a deal that looks like bribery.”
“America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons,” the post continued.
I think America knows, Liz. The question is if it will matter.
