In a revealing interview, former late-night host Samantha Bee admitted that the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was inevitable due to its massive financial losses and declining viewership. Bee explained that Colbert’s show was “hemorrhaging money” and that late-night TV, as a whole, is struggling to adapt to changing viewer habits in the age of social media and streaming. Will this mark the end of traditional late-night television as we know it? Find out more 👇👇👇

 

Samantha Bee Reflects on the Cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s Show

In a candid conversation on the “Breaking Bread with Tom Papa” podcast, former late-night host Samantha Bee discussed the looming cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show” and the struggles faced by late-night television shows in general. Bee, whose own show, “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,” was canceled in 2022, opened up about the financial and cultural factors contributing to the decline of traditional late-night programming.

 

The Financial Reality Behind Colbert’s Show Cancellation

Bee’s assessment of Colbert’s situation was blunt, acknowledging that the cancellation was not just a result of politics, but also financial struggles. “You know, these legacy shows, like they are hemorrhaging money with no real end to that in sight,” Bee said, pointing out that Colbert’s show had lost “more than $40 million a year.” This stark admission paints a clear picture of the financial strain that networks are facing when it comes to maintaining high-budget programs like late-night talk shows.

CBS announced earlier this month that “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” would be canceled at the end of its broadcast season in May 2025. The network made it clear that the decision was a financial one, citing the “challenging backdrop in late-night” as the primary reason for the show’s cancellation. Bee’s comments reflect this financial reality, underscoring the fact that Colbert’s show was, indeed, a significant drain on CBS’s resources.

Samantha Bee calls Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' cancellation awful but a  'no-brainer'

 

Political Theories and Speculation

While the financial aspect of the cancellation is undeniable, there has also been widespread speculation that political factors may have played a role in the decision. Some liberal and Democratic figures have suggested that CBS’s parent company may have been influenced by political pressure to cancel Colbert’s anti-Trump content. Bee and Papa both acknowledge this possibility, with Papa adding, “The parent company is trying to curry favor with the president.”

Bee didn’t shy away from the political implications either, admitting that, “Yeah, I think both things are true. I think both things are just true and real.” However, she quickly pivoted back to the financial angle, emphasizing that Colbert’s show had simply become too expensive to continue, regardless of any political motives. “It definitely was hemorrhaging money,” Bee concluded, agreeing with Papa that the cancellation was inevitable.

 

A Changing Landscape in Late-Night TV

Bee also touched on the broader decline in viewership for late-night television, suggesting that the days of dominating the airwaves are over for these traditional shows. “People are just not tuning in remotely, comparatively to how they used to,” Bee remarked, acknowledging that the constant presence of smartphones and social media has drastically altered how people consume entertainment. With instant access to news and updates, viewers no longer feel the need to turn to late-night hosts for a recap of the day’s events. “They’re very well-versed in what has happened,” Bee added, explaining why audiences are increasingly tuning out.

In an offhand remark, Bee compared this cultural shift to the success of “Squid Games,” a popular Netflix series, noting how viewers are now more interested in sensationalized entertainment—such as watching people compete in a brutal game show—than the lighthearted political commentary of late-night talk shows. “People would really rather watch like people just absolutely murder each other in a South Korean game show,” Bee joked, illustrating the shift in viewer preferences.

Colbert Gets More Late-Night Support Amid 'Late Show' Axing - Parade

 

Corporate Influence and the Trump Factor

As the conversation continued, Bee also raised the issue of corporate influence on programming decisions, especially when political figures like President Donald Trump are involved. Bee suggested that the merger between CBS’s parent company, Paramount, and SkyDance likely added another layer of pressure to the situation. “When the president of the United States has to give his sign-off on a corporate merger, the thing you can’t do is make jokes about him,” Bee said, reflecting on Colbert’s often critical stance toward Trump. The political dynamics surrounding these corporate mergers, according to Bee, made it inevitable that Colbert’s show would be axed.

Bee’s comments reveal the complex relationship between media, politics, and corporate interests, where the desire to maintain positive relations with powerful political figures may outweigh the need for edgy political content. For Bee, it was a “no-brainer” for CBS to pull the plug on Colbert’s show, given the political and financial pressures at play.

 

The End of an Era for Late-Night TV

In conclusion, Samantha Bee’s reflections on the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show” offer a sobering view of the challenges facing late-night television in the current cultural and financial climate. With declining viewership, changing viewer habits, and increasing political pressures, the landscape of late-night TV is shifting in ways that may not be immediately apparent.

Bee’s frank analysis—coupled with the acknowledgment that legacy shows like Colbert’s are “hemorrhaging money”—serves as a warning sign for the future of the genre. Late-night television, once a staple of American culture, now finds itself navigating an increasingly fragmented media landscape, where digital platforms and on-demand content are becoming the dominant forces. The cancellation of Colbert’s show marks the end of an era, and whether or not other late-night hosts will face similar fates remains to be seen. But as Bee points out, with the growing influence of social media and streaming services, the old guard of late-night television may be on borrowed time.