By canceling The Late Show, CBS may have created its own worst enemy. Stephen Colbert now has 10 months with nothing to lose and a platform that reaches millions. The late-night TV icon has every reason to go scorched earth on his way out the door.
In a surprise announcement, Colbert revealed The Late Show is coming to an end. Paramount, which recently merged with Skydance, argued the show cost too much for what it brought in. Curiously, the decision comes after Paramount agreed to pay President Donald Trump a $16 million settlement and at a time when the FCC was holding up the Paramount-Skydance deal.
With the network pulling the plug on its top-rated late-night host, politics can’t be ignored. Colbert made The Late Show a must-watch destination during the Trump years for viewers who craved criticism of the administration. But Colbert’s nightly political commentary may have become a liability.
Whether CBS admits it or not, it’s hard to believe that politics weren’t at least part of the equation, which is why Colbert should use these next 10 months to burn as many bridges as necessary. He no longer has to play nice with CBS executives or pull punches in his monologues. He can speak more freely than ever before about politics, the media, and the network that once hired him to replace David Letterman.
Recall when NBC pulled the plug on Conan O'Brien’s brief run as Tonight Show host in 2010, Conan didn’t go quietly. For weeks, he roasted the network, mocked his bosses on-air, and turned his final run of shows into a nightly comedy beatdown of NBC. Conan left on his own terms, and a massive wave of public support followed him to TBS.
Other late-night TV hosts have shown a willingness to go after their bosses. Jon Stewart joined Colbert in criticizing Paramount for its settlement with President Trump. Last Week Tonight host John Oliver frequently mocks Warner Bros. and AT&T. Those two have job security (for now) and still don't pull any punches. Colbert finds himself in similar territory but free from any fear of getting fired.
Ultimately, Stephen Colbert will decide the tone of The Late Show over the next 10 months. He's made it clear he isn't backing down from how he covers President Donald Trump. Time will tell if the comedian decides to give CBS the same treatment.
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