“Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld Outscores Colbert in Ratings, but Is CBS’ Late Show Cancellation About Money, or Politics?”

In a shocking turn of events, the late-night television landscape is in upheaval following CBS’s announcement that it would be canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at the end of the 2025-2026 season. This bombshell, delivered just days ago, has left fans, industry insiders, and even political figures questioning the real reasons behind the cancellation. CBS claims it’s a financial decision, but many are skeptical, particularly when you look at the ratings. Colbert’s show was a top performer—so why cut it?

The real story, according to many, isn’t just about money. It’s about power—and the mounting pressure CBS felt from political and corporate forces. And while Colbert may have been the face of CBS late-night, the true ratings king of late-night television right now is Greg Gutfeld of Fox News.

So, why exactly did CBS cancel The Late Show? Was it purely about declining ratings, or is something more sinister happening behind the scenes? Let’s dive into the numbers, the politics, and the potential fallout from this decision.

The Ratings Don’t Lie: Gutfeld Reigns Supreme

In terms of pure viewership, Gutfeld! has been obliterating The Late Show for months. In 2025, Gutfeld! consistently outperformed Colbert, drawing in an average of 3.1 million viewers compared to Colbert’s 1.9 million. This stark contrast in audience size reflects a broader trend in late-night television, where Fox’s late-night offerings, particularly Gutfeld’s show, are consistently attracting larger audiences.

Gutfeld! isn’t just leading in total viewers; it’s also crushing it in the key advertiser demo of adults aged 25-54, averaging 398,000 viewers, compared to Colbert’s 288,000. In a time when advertisers are the backbone of television revenue, these numbers speak volumes.

But it’s not just the older demographics that are tuning in to Gutfeld. Gutfeld! has also outperformed Colbert among younger viewers, averaging 248,000 adults aged 18-49, while Colbert lags behind with only 188,000. This younger audience is crucial, especially as the viewing habits of millennials and Gen Z continue to drive the evolution of TV content.

Gutfeld’s ratings dominance begs the question: Is the decision to cancel Colbert’s show really about financial viability, or is there more at play? Why would a show with consistently strong ratings—especially compared to its competitors like Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show—be axed without warning?

A Show About More Than Just Ratings: Political Undercurrents at CBS

While Gutfeld’s ratings are undeniably impressive, there’s an element of the cancellation that goes beyond numbers. Stephen Colbert has been a fierce critic of President Donald Trump throughout his tenure as host, and in recent weeks, Colbert’s criticism of CBS’s parent company, Paramount, reached a boiling point.

Just days before CBS’s announcement, Colbert publicly lambasted Paramount for its $16 million settlement with Trump over a defamation lawsuit tied to a 60 Minutes interview. Colbert called the settlement “a big fat bribe”, and his comments struck a nerve with CBS executives.

Could it be that CBS, as a subsidiary of Paramount, was motivated to silence Colbert in response to his vocal stance on the network’s dealings with Trump? Political observers are increasingly asking whether Colbert’s cancellation was not just financially motivated, but a strategic move to appease Trump and avoid any further political controversy that might hurt the merger between Paramount and Skydance Media, which is still pending approval by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Colbert’s Resignation: A Public Rebuke and Personal Fight

Stephen Colbert’s response to his show’s cancellation came swiftly, and it was filled with frustration and defiance. In a rare moment of vulnerability, Colbert openly questioned the network’s motives, saying, “If the money runs out, they cut. If politics gets too hot, they cut. I just didn’t expect both fires to hit at once.”

This statement was a sharp reminder of the tensions between creative freedom and corporate interests that have long existed in the television industry. Colbert’s show was never just about comedy—it was about using humor to challenge the status quo, often tackling politically charged issues.

Colbert’s vocal stance against Paramount’s controversial settlement with Trump could have been the straw that broke the camel’s back. CBS, under the influence of corporate powers, may have simply chosen to silence Colbert before he could do further damage to the company’s fragile political alliances.

In a bold move, Colbert later declared that he would use the remaining months of his contract to finish his tenure on his terms. “The gloves are off,” Colbert said, hinting that his final season could be a platform for even more pointed commentary and satire that CBS may find harder to control.

The Fallout: What Does Colbert’s Cancellation Mean for Late-Night TV?

Colbert’s abrupt departure has set off a chain reaction across late-night television. The industry’s landscape is shifting, and there’s a growing sense of unease among both hosts and executives. Could CBS’s decision to cancel The Late Show be part of a broader trend that sees corporate interests stifling political commentary in favor of safe, palatable content?

In the wake of the cancellation, some late-night hosts, like Jimmy Kimmel, have also expressed concern about their future. Kimmel, who has been a vocal critic of Trump, hinted at walking away from his own show if the industry continues to bow to corporate pressures. His recent comments point to a larger, more dangerous trend: late-night television is becoming a battleground for corporate control over content, where the power of media giants can dictate what’s said and what’s not.

The question now is whether late-night television can continue to thrive in its traditional format. Will there be a shift away from politically charged content in favor of more neutral, advertiser-friendly programming? Or will this moment mark the beginning of a new era of independent, unfiltered media platforms—perhaps moving away from traditional television and into the digital realm?

The Future of Late-Night TV: A Battle for the Soul of Entertainment

The cancellation of The Late Show marks a crucial turning point in the evolution of late-night television. It’s no longer just about who’s getting the highest ratings; it’s about who controls the narrative—and who gets to speak truth to power.

With Colbert’s departure, the void in late-night TV will likely be filled by hosts who are willing to toe the line for corporate interests. But the growing public dissatisfaction with corporate media and the rise of independent platforms could also signal the dawn of a new era in television. One where voices that challenge the mainstream narrative are valued, and where creative freedom is celebrated, not suppressed.

The Bigger Picture: Corporate Control vs. Creative Freedom

The Colbert cancellation is about more than just one show—it’s a cultural and political battle playing out on the stage of late-night television. The decision to silence a prominent voice like Colbert’s has far-reaching implications, not only for the future of The Late Show but for the broader landscape of TV programming. The question now isn’t just who gets to host the next late-night talk show—it’s about who gets to shape the media landscape in America.

As late-night TV faces mounting pressure from digital-first platforms and corporate entities, the fight for creative freedom and political expression in media will only intensify. Colbert’s cancellation may be just the beginning of a larger struggle for the soul of television—a struggle that will determine whether late-night hosts will continue to push boundaries or whether they’ll be forced to stay within the lines drawn by corporate giants.

Conclusion: Colbert’s Departure Isn’t the End—It’s the Beginning of a New Fight

In the end, the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert may not be the end of late-night television—it could be the spark for a much larger revolution in how content is created and consumed. Colbert’s defiance in the face of corporate pressures has already set the stage for a new era of entertainment, one that embraces creative freedom and political commentary without fear of retribution.

Whether Colbert’s next chapter involves a new platform, a podcast, or a return to political commentary, his impact on the industry will continue to resonate for years to come. And for viewers, the question remains: What kind of late-night TV do we want? One controlled by corporate interests, or one that truly speaks truth to power?

This is just the beginning of the fight for the future of late-night television—and the stakes have never been higher. Stay tuned. The revolution is only just starting.