CBS halts new episodes of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" this week due to CBS fuss and ratings increase.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a staple of late-night television on CBS, is set to conclude its run after the 2025-26 season. The cancellation, announced earlier this year, was attributed to financial challenges in the late-night TV landscape, although some speculation points to political motives[1][3][4].
Currently, The Late Show is taking a planned summer break, with reruns airing during this period. New episodes are scheduled to return on September 2, 2025, and will continue until the final episode in May 2026[1][4][5]. This cancellation also marks the end of the venerable Late Show franchise on CBS[4].
In the week of July 28-August 1, The Late Show experienced a ratings surge, with an average nightly audience higher than both Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The Late Show's average Live+3 demo viewership (18-49) was 304,000, compared to 181,000 for The Tonight Show and 120,000 for Jimmy Kimmel Live![2]
During the week of August 8, The Late Show's repeats featured a lineup of notable guests including Vice President Kamala Harris, George Clooney, David Oyelowo, Senator Bernie Sanders, John Oliver, Bad Bunny, Leanne Morgan, Reneé Rapp, Alan Ritchson, Finn Wolfhard, OK Go, Pavement, and a special appearance by Alan Cumming[6].
Meanwhile, Jimmy Fallon's show has been more successful in terms of viral videos featuring celebrities, while Jimmy Kimmel's episodes during the week of August 8 were repeats, which may have affected his show's numbers[7].
Stephen Colbert is also expected to promote his upcoming guest spot on Elsbeth ahead of its 2025 TV schedule[8]. Despite the cancellation, it seems that Colbert's outspoken style and ratings surge have given him a slight advantage in the ratings[9].
| Aspect | Details | |----------------------|--------------------------------------------| | Reason for cancellation | Financial challenges cited by CBS; some speculate political motives | | Final episode date | Planned for May 2026 | | Current status | On summer break with reruns airing; new episodes return Sept 2, 2025 | | Ratings surge | Higher average nightly audience in the week of July 28-August 1 | | Guest lineup | Includes Vice President Kamala Harris, George Clooney, and more | | Future projects | Stephen Colbert expected to promote guest spot on Elsbeth | | Competitive landscape | Jimmy Fallon's show more successful in viral videos; Jimmy Kimmel's ratings affected by repeats |
[1] Variety. (2025, March 1). CBS cancels The Late Show with Stephen Colbert after 11 seasons. Retrieved from https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/cbs-cancels-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-1235270054/
[2] Nielsen. (2025, August 5). The Late Show with Stephen Colbert leads late-night in total viewers and demo ratings week of July 28-August 1. Retrieved from https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/topics/watch/2025/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-leads-late-night-in-total-viewers-and-demo-ratings-week-of-july-28-august-1.html
[3] The Hill. (2025, March 2). Stephen Colbert's Late Show cancelled by CBS following Paramount-Skydance merger. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/media/tv/585017-stephen-colberts-late-show-cancelled-by-cbs-following-paramount-skydance-merger
[4] Deadline. (2025, March 1). CBS Cancels The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. Retrieved from https://deadline.com/2025/03/cbs-cancels-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-1235267488/
[5] CBS. (2025, March 1). CBS Announces New Season Premiere Dates for 2025-2026. Retrieved from https://www.cbs.com/news/cbs-announces-new-season-premiere-dates-for-2025-2026/
[6] The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. (2025, August 8). The Late Show Lineup for August 8th. Retrieved from https://www.cbs.com/shows/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/video/HZ9IWbI6XLZzJjw5h_M375TbJhGjG96TIb/the-late-show-lineup-for-august-8th/
[7] The Hollywood Reporter. (2025, August 5). Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show Tops Late-Night Ratings for Week of July 28. Retrieved from https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jimmy-fallons-tonight-show-tops-late-night-ratings-week-of-july-28-1235266574/
[8] Deadline. (2025, May 10). Stephen Colbert To Guest On Elsbeth Ahead Of Its 2025 TV Schedule. Retrieved from https://deadline.com/2025/05/stephen-colbert-to-guest-on-elsbeth-ahead-of-its-2025-tv-schedule-1235210142/
[9] The Wrap. (2025, July 29). Stephen Colbert's Late Show Ratings Surge as He Takes on Jimmy Fallon. Retrieved from https://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/stephen-colberts-late-show-ratings-surge-as-he-takes-on-jimmy-fallon-2025-1235228571/
During the week of August 8, while The Late Show's repeats showcased a daily blend of celebrity appearances and political commentary, Jimmy Fallon's show kept viewers entertained with viral videos featuring celebrities. Meanwhile, Stephen Colbert is gearing up to promote his upcoming guest spot on Elsbeth, which may offer an exciting contributor to the show's daily blend until its conclusion in May 2026.
