David Letterman’s Subtle Roast of CBS Following Colbert’s Cancellation

As the dust settles from the bombshell announcement that CBS is pulling the plug on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, David Letterman, the original architect of The Late Show, has remained notably silent. However, his YouTube channel just dropped a subtle, yet unmistakable, message that’s hard to ignore. A 20-minute montage titled “You can’t spell CBS without BS” appeared on his channel, sending what can only be described as a passive-aggressive Bronx cheer towards the network that gave birth to his late-night legacy.

The video, a compilation of classic CBS roasts, is filled with Letterman’s signature wit and irreverence, including jabs at CBS executives, fake corporate figures like “Lloyd Emerson,” and jokes about being left out of corporate disputes because “he’s a goon.” It’s classic Letterman, effortlessly blending humor with sharp critiques of the network that made him a late-night institution. The video’s casual tone makes it clear that Letterman isn’t exactly mourning Colbert’s departure—he’s mocking it.

A Subtle Dig at CBS’s Legacy

While the network hasn’t formally commented on Letterman’s video, the timing couldn’t be more pointed. The montage feels like a quiet condemnation of CBS’s handling of The Late Show franchise, as if Letterman is giving the network a bit of its own medicine. The caption alone—“You can’t spell CBS without BS”—says it all.

For a network that once prided itself on being the home of late-night television, pulling the plug on Colbert, a host who carried on the legacy of Letterman, is an uncomfortable move. The timing and execution of the montage feel like a final parting shot from a man who was instrumental in shaping late-night TV. It almost reads like Letterman is lighting a paper bag of criticism and leaving it on the doorstep of CBS’s CEO, George Cheeks.

A Legacy in Question

Letterman’s actions, while playful, could be seen as an indictment of CBS’s handling of its late-night legacy. With Colbert’s show being axed, it seems like CBS is erasing its own history—perhaps without fully understanding the cultural importance that The Late Show once held. If anything, Letterman’s montage serves as a reminder of the creative heights CBS once reached, only to now be overshadowed by corporate decisions that seem to prioritize financial considerations over cultural significance.

For Letterman’s fans, this video is a testament to his irreverent style and his ongoing influence in the late-night world. For CBS, however, it could be seen as a reminder that once you break with your roots, even the most legendary figures in television might not have much to say—but they’ll definitely show you what they think.

In a landscape where late-night television is rapidly changing, Letterman’s subtle rebuke serves as a reminder that sometimes, the best roasts come without a single word.