Since CBS announced its decision to unceremoniously end The Late Show next May, an array of celebrities, politicians, and fellow late-night legends have thrown their support behind the institution’s current host, Stephen Colbert.
Adam Sandler called Colbert a “strong man,” and added, “he’s gonna do great,” when asked about the cancellation at the premiere of Happy Gilmore 2. “I feel terrible that he doesn’t have what he’s had for so many years … and my heart goes out to him,” Sandler continued. “But I know the guy is as smart as it gets. He’ll figure something out immediately.”
David Letterman, the famed first host of The Late Show, reacted to the news of the cancellation by sharing a whopping 20-minute montage of different moments he criticized CBS during his tenure on the show. He pointedly captioned the clip, “You can’t spell CBS without BS.”
And Julia Louis-Dreyfus wrote on Instagram, “I stand with my friend @StephenAtHome,” before quoting journalist David A. Graham, “Institutions that are willing to sacrifice their values for the government’s favor are likely to end up with neither.”
The Late Show has been on the air for more than 30 years, debuting in 1993 with Letterman as host, with Colbert taking over in 2015. CBS and its parent company, Paramount, said cancelling the late-night institution was a “purely financial decision,” and anonymous reports later claimed that the show reportedly cost the network between $40 and $50 million a year.
But others have suggested political pressure was a factor: Paramount is currently trying to merge with Skydance Media, with both companies still awaiting approval from the FCC. Earlier this month, Paramount settled a lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump, who claimed CBS’ flagship show, 60 Minutes, engaged in election interference by editing an interview with Kamala Harris. While most legal experts backed 60 Minutes to prevail in the suit, reporting suggested that some Paramount executives — including controlling shareholder Shari Redstone — favored a settlement with Trump, with others believing the lawsuit was a hindrance to securing the Trump admin’s approval on the merger.
That thinking has extended to The Late Show cancellation. Trump is, of course, a frequent target of Colbert, and the decision to cancel The Late Show came not long after Colbert criticized Paramount’s decision to settle the 60 Minutes lawsuit with Trump for $16 million.
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Jon Stewart, Colbert’s longtime friend and old boss at The Daily Show, called out Paramount on Monday, arguing the $8 billion valuation Paramount enjoys comes in large part from shows like The Late Show: “That’s what made you that money,” he said. “Shows that say something, shows that take a stand, shows that are unafraid.”
Meanwhile, over on NBC, Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon quipped during his monologue, “Stephen has done years of incredibly smart and hilarious television, and he’s won 10 Emmys. Trump heard and was like, ‘Big deal, last week I just won a FIFA World Cup trophy.’”
When the news broke last week, Jimmy Kimmel shared Colbert’s announcement video and wrote, “Love you Stephen. Fuck you and all your Sheldons CBS.”
And Andy Richter, another late-night veteran thanks to his work with Conan O’Brien, wrote, “Stephen Colbert is a profoundly good and deeply talented man with a great staff and an excellent show. They all deserve better.”
Amy Sedaris, who met Colbert at Second City and co-created the cult favorite series Strangers With Candy with him, wrote on Instagram that she was “gutted” by the news. “This should not of happened,” Sedaris wrote. “Unnecessary. Stupid. No one works harder than Colbert. He is a leader. Makes everyone around him better. Most honest person I have ever met… Something beautiful will blossom from all of this bullshit. Stephen will rise. Please run for President Colbert.”
On Anderson Cooper 360, host Anderson Cooper said he was “shocked and truly saddened” by the news, adding, “Stephen Colbert is smart and he is funny and he has actual conversations with people on his program.”
Jamie Lee Curtis told The Associated Press, “It’s bad. [Colbert’s] a great, great guy. They just cut NPR and, you know, public broadcasting. Yes, they’re trying to silence people, but that won’t work. It won’t work. We will just get louder.”
And Ben Stiller tweeted, “Sorry to hear @CBS is canceling one of the best shows they have. Wishing all the people who work so hard on that show all the best.”
The video Colbert shared on social media last week announcing the decision was flooded with comments from friends and supporters. Adam Scott called the decision “absolute bullshit.” Judd Apatow said his “admiration and appreciation” for Colbert was “bottomless.” Andy Cohen wrote, “I’m so pissed off.” Rachel Zegler said, “I am extremely sad.” And Kathryn Hahn commented, “I’m sick to my stomach.”
Colbert’s first Late Show bandleader, the Grammy-winning musician Jon Batiste, wrote simply, “The greatest to ever do it.”
Several politicians chimed in, as well, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, both of whom noted the timing between CBS’ settlement and The Late Show’s cancellation. “America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons,” Warren said, while Sanders added: “CBS’s billionaire owners pay Trump $16 million to settle a bogus lawsuit while trying to sell the network to Skydance. Stephen Colbert, an extraordinary talent and the most popular late night host, slams the deal. Days later, he’s fired. Do I think this is a coincidence? NO.”
And representative Adam Schiff wrote, “If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.”
Many of Colbert’s backers were at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City on Monday, July 22, for Colbert’s first full show since the news broke. Among them were Lin-Manuel Miranda and “Weird Al” Yankovic, who tried to cheer up Colbert’s audience with a cover of Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” and a spoof of the Coldplay kiss cam cheating scandal.
The bit featured cameos from “exposed couples” comprised of Sandler and his Happy Gilmore co-star Christopher McDonald; Cooper and Cohen; Stewart and John Oliver; Fallon and Seth Meyers; and then a cartoon Trump, who swiftly dropped a Paramount logo and ducked out of frame after being caught on camera.
“Uh oh, either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy,” Yankovic quipped. Colbert then interrupted the proceedings in: “I just got this note from corporate. Your song has been cancelled. It says here this a purely financial decision. It says here that since you started playing that song the network has lost — and I don’t know how this is possible — $40 to $50 million.”
From Rolling Stone US
