Stephen Colbert delivered shocking news on Thursday night, revealing CBS has canceled The Late Show. After nearly a decade behind the desk, Colbert's tenure will end in May 2026. The decision will leave a sizeable void in late-night TV and Colbert without a job.
So what's next for Stephen Colbert? The 61-year-old comedian has been on television for decades, giving him a few options for the next chapter in his illustrious career. Here are five potential moves the departing Late Show host could make.
1. Move to Netflix
Stephen Colbert already followed in David Letterman's footsteps once, so why not do it again? Letterman found a new gig after The Late Show with My Next Guest on Netflix. Colbert could do something similar and bring his take on late-night to the streaming giant.
Netflix has shown an interest in late-night TV. Chelsea with Chelsea Handler, Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, and Everybody's Live with John Mulaney have led to varying levels of success, but at least Netflix is willing to try. Colbert would bring a built-in audience and a proven track record if the streamer wants a nightly show in its library.
2. Start a podcast
Perhaps the easiest way for Stephen Colbert to continue reaching his audience after May 2026 would be a podcast. Again, the blueprint is there with Conan O'Brien and how Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend helped the late-night legend start a podcast empire.
Colbert's monologues are the highlight of The Late Show. A podcast would let that continue without any outside pressure from a network or its owners. It would also give Colbert greater control over guests, interviewing the people he wants rather than any celebrity with a project to plug.
3. Return to The Daily Show
Stephen Colbert back on The Daily Show would be a full-circle moment in late-night TV, but probably a long shot given what it would take. Skydance, Paramount's new owners, would have to determine whetherThe Daily Show is worth continuing and isn't a cost liability like it deemed The Late Show.
Colbert would then have to be onboard continuing to work for the same people that dumped The Late Show. It's not just him who will be out of a job, but the 200+ people who work on the show. Of course, not all of them can follow Colbert to his next gig ... especially if its with the same company.
But what if? Imagine a world in which Jon Stewart hosts The Daily Show on Monday nights before turning things over to Stephen Colbert for the rest of the week.
4. Move to cable
Stephen Colbert could pull a Conan in a different way by moving to cable. O'Brien wasn't sure of his late-night TV future after The Tonight Show until TBS came calling. While O'Brien mocked the move in his signature self-deprecating style, it ended up being the perfect match.
Colbert's audience will follow him wherever he goes. A move to cable could free him up to have more creative control than he currently has at CBS. It could also mean Colbert can bring as many people from The Late Show over to a potential new cable gig.
5. Retire
The future of late-night TV is looking cloudier than ever. The Late Show joins programs like The Late Late Show, After Midnight, A Little Late with Lilly Singh, The Amber Ruffin Show, and The Problem with Jon Stewart are just some of the shows in the genre that have shut down in recent years.
CBS likely isn't the only network reassessing the financials around late-night TV. Meanwhile, hosts like Jimmy Kimmel haven't sounded too confident about the genre's future. Maybe it's time for Colbert to leave late-night TV behind and try something else. It may take some time for audiences to adjust, but let's not forget Colbert is an all-time great improviser and comedy writer. A break from the politics of late-night could be the right move.
Stephen Colbert has 10 months to figure out what he'll do next. Until then, expect The Late Show to stay as sharp as ever.