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Late evening tv goes by main adjustments in 2025. CBS confirmed that The Late Present with Stephen Colbert will finish subsequent 12 months, simply weeks after Stephen Colbert picked up one other Emmy for Excellent Selection Speak Sequence. Over at ABC, Jimmy Kimmel additionally added to his résumé with a Inventive Arts Emmy win for Excellent Host for a Recreation Present because of Who Needs to Be a Millionaire. However his celebration was short-lived — ABC introduced that Jimmy Kimmel Stay! has been suspended indefinitely following backlash over Kimmel’s current on-air remarks concerning the suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing.
As viewers come to phrases with Colbert’s looming exit and Kimmel’s present being pulled from the schedule, questions are swirling about the way forward for late evening and what would possibly come subsequent.
UnderHollywood Life has a breakdown of why The Late Present with Stephen Colbert is ending.
Was The Late Present With Stephen Colbert Canceled?
Sure, CBS is canceling The Late Present franchise after greater than three many years on the air. Stephen took over the present in 2015; it was initially hosted by David Letterman.
When Is The Late Present With Stephen Colbert Ending?
The Late Present will finish on Might 21, 2026.
Why Is The Late Present With Stephen Colbert Ending?
CBS determined to intestine The Late Present with Stephen Colbert attributable to monetary causes, community executives defined in a press release launched on July 17, 2025, obtained by Selection.
“We contemplate Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and can retire The Late Present franchise in Might of 2026,” CBS executives mentioned. “We’re proud that Stephen referred to as CBS residence. He and the printed might be remembered within the pantheon of greats that graced late-night tv.”
The executives added, “That is purely a monetary determination towards a difficult backdrop in late evening. It’s not associated in any method to the present’s efficiency, content material or different issues occurring at Paramount.”
The merger between Paramount International — the dad or mum firm of CBS — and Skydance Media is predicted to shut this 12 months.

Paramount has doubled down on its declare that canceling Stephen’s present was monetary. Regardless of going through criticism from Stephen himself, the community has maintained its reply, with Paramount International TV Media Chairman George Cheeks following up concerning the scenario.
“The problem in late evening is that the promoting market is in important secular decline,” George mentioned in an August 2025 press convention, per TV Insider. “We’re large followers of Colbert, we love the present, sadly, the economics made it a problem for us to maintain going.”
Nonetheless, on the finish of the 12 months, Paramount’s axing of The Late Present got here into query once more when Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison tried to take over Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Ellison initially provided Warner Bros. $108 billion and prolonged his battle to accumulate the corporate.
Is Stephen Colbert Leaving The Late Present?
Stephen didn’t go away The Late Present voluntarily. The comic was knowledgeable of CBS’ determination on July 16, 2025, and he knowledgeable the viewers on the subsequent episode’s taping.
What Is Stephen Colbert’s Late Present Wage?
Stephen is reported to have made a wage of round $15 million per 12 months with CBS whereas internet hosting The Late Present.