Stephen Colbert Reflects on the End ofThe Late Show
Stephen Colbert has always been one of those rare voices who could make you laugh while making you think. But now, after nearly a decade at the top of late-night television, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is coming to an unexpected end — and even Colbert himself admits he didn’t see it coming.
In an exclusive conversation with GQ , Colbert opened up about the sudden cancellation of his show and the swirl of emotions that followed. When CBS made the decision to end The Late Show , the network insisted it was “purely financial,” not a reflection of performance. That’s what made it all the more shocking — Colbert’s show had been number one in late-night for most of the past nine years. “I think we’re the first number one show to ever get canceled,” he said with a wry smile.
Also Read:- High Stakes and Historic Firsts Mark the 2025 U.S. Election Day
- Getta Good Feeling Shines Again at Flemington
He found out about it not from CBS executives, but through his longtime manager, James “Baby Doll” Dixon. “He came over and said, ‘This is going to be the last season,’” Colbert recalled. “I was lying on the couch with a pillow over my eyes. I just sat up and went, ‘Oh, okay. Didn’t expect that.’” The next day, he went home, told his wife, and the two simply sat down to talk about what might come next.
Even as he processes the decision, Colbert hasn’t lost his humor. He describes the months ahead — the last stretch of The Late Show — as a kind of twilight. “It feels like walking toward someone in the dusk,” he mused. “You can’t tell if they’re holding a knife or an ice cream cone, but they’re offering you a lick.” That strange mix of uncertainty and comedy is classic Colbert — philosophical but playful, serious but self-aware.
Behind the jokes, there’s a clear sense of reflection. After twenty years of hosting political and cultural commentary, Colbert admits he’s a little “woozy” from what he calls “attaching his mouth to the exhaust pipe of news.” Still, he remains deeply grateful for the connection with his audience — the laughter, he says, is what’s kept him grounded. “The great thing about comedy,” he explained, “is that you know when it works. You hear it. That sound — laughter — you can’t fake it.”
As for what’s next? Colbert isn’t rushing to decide. “Right now, I just want to land this plane gracefully,” he said, referring to The Late Show’s final episodes. Whether he returns to acting, writing, or perhaps another creative project, he knows he’ll miss the nightly rhythm of talking to America. After all, late-night television, in his eyes, isn’t just about jokes — it’s one of the few “third spaces” where people come together, laugh about the day, and feel a little less alone.
It’s clear that when the curtain finally falls on The Late Show , Stephen Colbert won’t just be signing off from a TV program — he’ll be closing a remarkable chapter of cultural history. And true to form, he’ll likely do it with one last great laugh.
Read More:
0 Comments