'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' Ending After 10 Seasons, Causing a Stir Online – Here's Why

After a decade of shaping late-night television, Stephen Colbert is stepping down from "The Late Show" due to CBS' sudden decision, marking the end of a beloved era and sparking an emotional response from fans.

Stephen Colbert has announced the end of his CBS program "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" after ten seasons. The host broke the news during a taping at the Ed Sullivan Theater on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Before officially starting the episode, Colbert delivered a serious yet light-hearted message to the audience. "I want you to know something that I found out just last night," he said. "Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending the 'Late Show' in May."

A chorus of "boos" erupted from the crowd, and Colbert acknowledged their disappointment. "It's not just the end of our show, but it's the end of 'The Late Show' on CBS. I'm not being replaced," he clarified.

He praised CBS for being "great partners" and reflected on the past decade with gratitude, saying:

"I am extraordinarily, deeply grateful to the 200 people who work here. We get to do this show. We get to do this show for each other every day, all day, and I've had the pleasure and the responsibility of sharing what we do every day with you in front of this camera for the last 10 years."

Colbert expressed that he wished someone else would inherit the show after him, but confirmed that CBS would not continue the franchise beyond his tenure. He now looks forward to spending the next 10 months working with the same team.

CBS first aired "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on September 8, 2015, following the retirement of longtime host David Letterman. Letterman had helmed "The Late Show" for over two decades and enjoyed a late-night career that spanned more than 30 years.

When Colbert was tapped to replace Letterman, CBS offered him creative freedom to make the show his own. The network promised viewers they would finally see "the real Stephen Colbert," a nod to his departure from the satirical persona he had perfected on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report."

Colbert quickly distinguished his version of "The Late Show" with a sharper political edge, making politics a central theme from early on. At the same time, he maintained the classic late-night format by welcoming musical guests, entertainers, newsmakers, and cultural figures.

His mix of sharp monologues, thoughtful interviews, and musical performances helped him secure the top spot in late-night ratings. "The Late Show" has been number one for nine consecutive seasons, an impressive feat in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.

In light of Colbert's announcement, CBS issued a statement exclusively to People magazine:

"This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount."

News of the show's end sent shockwaves across social media platforms. Fans voiced their disappointment and confusion over CBS' decision.

"They're ending a great American tradition. I find this disturbing," one person wrote on TikTok. "Worst decision every. [sic]" echoed another.

"The Late Show has the highest ratings in late night, by a significant marign. This is a crazy, chilling decision, [sic]" commented a third netizen. "This is a terrible decision. Colbert is fantastic," another fan contested. "This is outrageous 🤬," one viewer reacted bluntly.

Despite the backlash, some fans expressed hope for Colbert's future on screen. "He will find a place that probably elevates him after this. We will hear from him again for sure," a supporter wrote optimistically.

While "The Late Show" will conclude next year, Colbert's creative presence at CBS continues – for now. In 2023, he was announced as the executive producer of "After Midnight," a new late-night series hosted by comedian Taylor Tomlinson.

The show, inspired by Comedy Central's "@midnight with Chris Hardwick," is a comedic game show format designed for younger, online-savvy audiences. Colbert's involvement in the project signals his broader influence on CBS' late-night strategy, even as his own show prepares to close its curtain.