Jimmy Fallon has expressed his surprise over the sudden cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The Tonight Show host took to Instagram Stories to share his thoughts, calling the news “shocking.”
Fallon Calls Colbert a “True Friend”
Fallon admitted that he was caught off guard just like everyone else. “Stephen is one of the sharpest, funniest hosts to ever do it,” Fallon wrote. He added that he expected to “ride this out with him for years to come.” Fallon said he was saddened that his friends and family would now need a new show to watch at 11:30 PM. “He’s really been a gentleman and a true friend over the years,” Fallon added.
Colbert Announces Show’s Final Season
Stephen Colbert made the announcement during the show’s July 17 taping at the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York. He revealed that CBS would end The Late Show in May next year. “Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending The Late Show in May,” Colbert told the audience.
He stressed that the show wasn’t being replaced and that this marked the end of the franchise itself. The audience reacted with loud boos.
CBS Says Decision Was Financial, Not Performance-Based
In its official statement, CBS clarified that the cancellation had nothing to do with Colbert’s performance. “This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,” the network said. CBS emphasized that the decision was unrelated to content or anything happening at its parent company, Paramount.
Colbert’s Show Dominated Late-Night Ratings
Since Colbert took over in September 2015 after David Letterman retired, The Late Show consistently led late-night ratings. It remained at the top for nine straight seasons. The show’s final episodes will air during the 2025–2026 TV season.
