In July 2025, CBS announced that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would conclude after the 2025–26 season. While this was disappointing news to both fans and Colbert, the late-night talk show host isn't letting the cancellation slow him down. In fact, he's looking ahead with optimism.
During his final episode before a summer hiatus, which aired on Aug. 7, Colbert humorously criticized Vice President JD Vance for recently using his power to raise a river’s water level just for a personal birthday boat trip. After wrapping up his bit, he then pivoted to his own future, saying, “Netflix, call me. I’m available in June,” a tongue-in-cheek nod to the looming end of The Late Show and his potential interest in a new streaming venture. He also joked about considering offers from Amazon.
The Late Show is set to end its run on CBS in May 2026. The only new project that we know of that Colbert has lined up so far is his upcoming guest star role in Elsbeth season 3. He will portray Scotty Bristol, the host of a fictional late-night show titled Way Late With Scotty Bristol. But beyond this appearance, details about Colbert’s next moves remain under wraps.
Given that fellow late-night veterans like David Letterman and Conan O’Brien have successfully transitioned to streaming platforms with acclaimed shows, it makes sense that Colbert joked about being “available” to Netflix and Amazon. Letterman has his My Next Guest Needs No Introduction talk show on Netflix that's been nominated for four Emmys, while O'Brien has his Emmy Award-winning travel show Conan O'Brien Must Go on HBO Max.
Following in their footsteps could offer Colbert a fresh creative playground and the opportunity to connect with audiences in new and innovative ways beyond traditional late-night television. Since Netflix already has a successful track record with the talk show format through projects like Letterman’s show, I could easily see the streaming giant welcoming Colbert with open arms for a new, original series.
He already has a huge and loyal fanbase after hosting The Late Show for so many years. It would be a win-win situation, giving Colbert creative freedom to experiment and Netflix a proven star to attract and retain subscribers.
On Aug. 7, CBS boss George Cheeks finally came clean about the reason for The Late Show's cancellation. According to Deadline, Cheeks stated in a press conference that the significant and ongoing decline in the late-night advertising market made it economically challenging to continue producing the show.
In other words, the decision was driven by business and economic reasons rather than the quality of the talk show. It was also previously believed that politics might have played a role in the show's cancellation, but CBS has firmly denied those claims.