CBS Host Stephen Colbert Seeks Humorous Counsel from Actor Josh Brolin Following His Network's Firing Decision
Josh Brolin, the actor known for his roles in movies like Avengers: Infinity War, dropped by "The Late Show" on Thursday. During the interview, Brolin jokingly asked host Stephen Colbert about his boat, implying that he would have more time for leisure activities without the show. However, it's important to clarify that there is no evidence suggesting Brolin offered Colbert a job after the cancellation of the show.
The official reason for the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was financial difficulties due to declining late-night TV economics. CBS and Paramount executives cited the challenging state of late-night TV amid declining viewership and high production costs as the primary factors. For instance, The Late Show’s viewership declined from 3.81 million six years ago to 2.6 million in 2023-2024. Producing late-night programs is expensive, with costly host salaries.
However, there are strong allegations and suspicions that political factors related to Colbert's commentary influenced the decision. Critics argue that CBS’s claim of purely financial reasons might be a cover for politically motivated self-censorship to placate political pressures. Yet, the network denies any connection to content or political factors.
During the interview, Brolin also made a humorous offer to become Colbert's personal assistant. Interestingly, Brolin seemed confused when Colbert asked about accompanying job benefits like health insurance, implying a light-hearted take on the situation.
Julia Garner, a co-star of Brolin's in the show "Weapons", learned on Colbert's show on Wednesday that both she and Colbert receive lengthy videos from Brolin.
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[1] "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Cancelled: CBS and Paramount Statement" - The Hollywood Reporter [2] "Stephen Colbert's Late Show Cancelled: What Happened?" - Variety [3] "The End of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: A Financial Decision or Political Pressure?" - The New York Times [4] "The Cost of Producing Late-Night TV Shows" - The Wall Street Journal [5] "CBS and Paramount Deny Political Motivations Behind The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Cancellation" - CNN
- Despite the financial difficulties and declining viewership in the late-night TV industry, some viewers and critics suspect that political factors influencing Stephen Colbert's commentary could have played a role in the cancellation of his show, "The Late Show," with CBS denying any connection to content or political factors.
- In a humorous twist, during an appearance on "The Late Show," Josh Brolin, known for movies like Avengers: Infinity War, offered to become Stephen Colbert's personal assistant, seemingly oblivious to the implications of job benefits, such as health insurance, in the entertainment industry.
- As the commitment to fact-based journalism continues, news organizations like HuffPost, including Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN, are providing updates and analysis on the cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," exploring the potential financial and political factors at play as well as the cost and production challenges within the late-night TV industry.
