On his first “Late Show” since CBS announced the program’s cancellation, Stephen Colbert received a powerful show of support from his friends and late-night competitors this Monday.
Among the notable figures appearing in a parody of the well-known “Coldplay cam” were NBC’s Jimmy Fallon, HBO’s John Oliver, and Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart.
The comedians remained silent, as their presence alone was a statement of solidarity.
The cancellation of the “Late Show” has ignited concerns not only for the future of late-night comedy but for a more fundamental issue: Will major television networks continue to defend political satire and free speech as President Trump’s campaign of retaliation unnerves corporate America?
“Some people are viewing this show’s departure as a sign of something truly ominous,” Colbert acknowledged on Monday’s broadcast.
“And while I’m a huge fan of myself,” he continued, “I don’t necessarily share that sentiment. Our goal here at ‘The Late Show’ was never to change anything except for how you felt at the close of your day.”
He also directed jokes at CBS’s claim that the show was ending for “purely financial” reasons, humorously questioning news reports about its unprofitability without directly refuting them.
“Folks, I’m just going to say it,” he deadpanned. “Cancel culture has gone too far.”
After the “Coldplay cam” parody, which was spearheaded by Lin-Manuel Miranda and “Weird Al” Yankovic, Colbert joked that CBS had just canceled the song because it was losing money.
The cameos were a clear indicator of Colbert’s enduring relationships in the TV world. Fallon and his NBC peer Seth Meyers were seated side-by-side. Bravo’s Andy Cohen sat with his best friend, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper. Actors Adam Sandler and Christopher McDonald were also in attendance, along with Robert Smigel and his puppet, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.
‘Fear and pre-compliance’?
Beyond the partisan squabbles over whether anti-Trump comedy is effective, there is a wider fear of institutions yielding to Trump and shrinking the space for dissent.
American television has a long-standing tradition of giving comedians the freedom to mock politicians and even their own network executives, despite the possible consequences. Fans now feel that this tradition is at risk.
Outside the Ed Sullivan Theater, where the “Late Show” is filmed, protesters supporting Colbert and opposing Trump held signs on Monday criticizing CBS’s decision. One sign declared, “Silencing comedians is no joke,” while another simply read, “Colbert forever.”
From his own platform on “The Daily Show,” Jon Stewart also addressed the issue on Monday night. Both shows are owned by Paramount Global, which has found itself in a delicate political situation recently. Colbert first gained prominence on Stewart’s show two decades ago; the two have remained close, and Stewart is an executive producer on Colbert’s “Late Show,” giving him a unique vantage point.
“If you’re trying to understand why Stephen’s show is ending, I doubt the answer is in some smoking-gun email or phone call from Trump to CBS executives, or in CBS’s financial records on late-night profitability,” Stewart said during his broadcast.
“I think the answer is in the fear and pre-compliance that is gripping all of America’s institutions at this very moment — institutions that have chosen not to fight the vengeful and vindictive actions of our pubic hair-doodling commander in chief,” he said.
Stewart, whose contract with “The Daily Show” ends later this year, declared, “This is not the moment to give in. I’m not giving in! I’m not going anywhere — I think.”
Stewart also had a profane message for Paramount and other media companies: “If you believe, as corporations or as networks, that you can make yourselves so innocuous, that you can serve a gruel so flavorless that you will never again be on the boy king’s radar, you are f***ing wrong, and why will anyone watch you?”
The ‘agonizing’ decision
“The Late Show” has been a pillar of CBS’s lineup for decades, and the network’s announcement of its cancellation last Thursday shocked both fans and industry insiders.
Top CBS executives called it an “agonizing” decision but insisted it was unrelated to “other matters happening at Paramount,” a clear nod to the company’s pending merger.
Paramount is currently trying to merge with Skydance Media, a deal involving billions of dollars and major personalities. However, the deal needs the approval of the Trump administration, and the review process has been unusually slow, sparking concerns about political meddling.
Earlier this month, while “The Late Show” was on a summer break, Paramount settled a legally dubious lawsuit from Trump against CBS News by agreeing to pay$16 million toward his future presidential library.
The settlement was met with widespread criticism, and Colbert added his voice to the dissent upon his return last week, describing the payment as a “big fat bribe.”
Two days after that broadcast, Colbert was notified that CBS was ending “The Late Show.” The change will happen next May, when his contract expires at the end of the television season.
Colbert referenced the settlement again on Monday’s show, noting media leaks that the “Late Show” was losing “between$40 million and$50 million a year.”
“Forty million is a big number,” Colbert said. “I could see us losing$24 million, but where would Paramount have possibly spent the other$16 million… oh, yeah.”
Meanwhile, David Letterman, the original host of “The Late Show,” commented on the franchise’s end by posting a 20-minute compilation of his old jokes about CBS to his YouTube channel. The video was captioned: “You can’t spell CBS without BS.”