Stephen Colbert, the acclaimed late-night talk show host, recently caught national headlines after CBS sent his show, The Late Show, packing. This surprising decision catapulted him into the national spotlight. Colbert’s brash reply to then-President Donald Trump was to announce that indeed the “gloves are off.” This statement represents a significant and welcome evolution in Mr. Kahn’s public career since the network’s unexpected and appalling announcement.
Colbert let his sadness show during an episode last week, when he hosted artist and actress Sandra Oh. The actress denounced the practice, cursing a “pox on CBS and Paramount,” that struck a chord with Colbert. His funniest comment on the matter was about the fiscal effect of the cancellation. He warned that he could be in the hole $24 million per year due to the network’s programming decisions.
As the cancellation played out, Colbert found allies in other late-night hosts, including John Oliver, Seth Meyers, and Jon Stewart. Their appearance during Monday night’s episode only highlighted the warmth and solidarity within this diminished late-night community. Colbert’s own journey started with Stewart’s guidance in the 1990s, so this moment must have been especially powerful for Colbert.
The show’s cancellation raises questions about CBS’s financial decisions. An anonymous leak even admitted that The Late Show lost $40-50 million last year. This announcement has led to much conjecture on what the network’s new priorities will be. Colbert excoriated Paramount, for whom his late-night show is named, for agreeing to the $16 million settlement with Trump. This latest outrage was the result of another CBS flagship program, 60 Minutes. He even called this financial sleight of hand a “big fat bribe” to underscore just how annoyed he was that things turned out like this.
Throughout that episode, Colbert continued to express a deeply felt personal sadness to his audience. “I know that,” he said. “I was nervous coming out here,” he admitted. “I’ll miss you.” His vulnerability connected with fans who have been with him for the long haul of his prodigious career.
The episode underscored a truly star-studded show of support. Heavy hitters such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Weird Al Yankovic, Andy Cohen, Anderson Cooper, Adam Sandler, and Christopher McDonald all showed up to do their part. Their appearances underscored Colbert’s legacy beyond the artistry of comedy and as a torchbearer for truth in entertainment.
This week, Colbert reclaimed his crown as the highest-rated late-night talk show host in the United States. In 2015, he succeeded David Letterman on the Late Show. Since then, he has become an internationally recognized figure known for his witty repartee and acerbic political satire.