Now that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is canceled, here's what the host could do next

In shocking news from CBS, it was announced on Thursday that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would soon end its 10-year run in May 2026. The internet is extremely divided after the announcement was made public, but an official statement from CBS reveals that the decision was entirely financial.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert first aired in 2015 and has been one of the most popular late-night programs, and its cancellation would mean an end to the late-night segment for the network.

Now that the staple broadcast television late-night show has been canceled, here's what Stephen Colbert might consider next.

What are Colbert's career options after The Late Show with Stephen Colbert cancellation

Stephen Colbert has been The Late Show host for a decade, and this amount of time spent on the network has gotten him a loyal fan base that tunes in day after day to watch him in the original talk show format, even when most of Colbert's contemporaries have made changes to their traditional format in order to stay relevant in the digital streaming age. So, there is a possibility that another streamer could pick up Colbert and his loyal viewers for a similar setup.

If this doesn't work, the digital age offers another road where Colbert has the choice to kick-start his own thing in a different format, maybe on YouTube or podcasts, as he has the talent to command the attention of his viewers, one of the biggest challenges in today's day and time.

Nevertheless, there is the possibility that Colbert chooses not to return to this setup, considering that working for a decade as a talk-show host and getting up on the stage day after day has led to a substantial net worth, leaving him in a position where he can make such a choice. Only time will tell what Colbert chooses to do next, but we do have him and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert until May.

CBS' official statement reveals the reason behind The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's cancellation

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has been a staple for U.S. broadcast television, so its cancellation comes as a shock to the audience. In an official statement, CBS revealed that the reasoning behind this cancellation is purely financial, owing to challenges in the format itself, rather than the host or the program.

"We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire ‘The Late Show’ franchise. We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television. 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. "

The statement also revealed that the decision was in no way connected to the host, or the content of the show, or its performance, or any other activity that is ongoing in the parent companies. The official statement was extremely insistent on the fact that the decision was purely financial and did not speak of Colbert as the host.

During the Thursday broadcast of the show, Colbert revealed that he had been informed of this decison the night before, and even though he was as bummed as the audience was about it, he couldn't hold it against the network, as he was not being fired in the traditional sense; rather the format itself was being retired from the network for financial reasons:

"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. This is all just going away."

CBS has been wrapping up the midnight formats from its network, as it is no secret that the audience, mostly young people, has started to prefer consuming their content digitally at their convenience rather than watching a show on a fixed network at a fixed time, leading to a decline in revenue. Along with The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, the network also cancelled After Midnight recently, a show that airs after the late show slot.

Other late-night hosts and prominent Hollywood stars are also shocked at this decision and are expressing their love and respect for Colbert, excited to see what he chooses to work on next, as Jimmy Fallon said on his Instagram:

"I’m just as shocked as everyone. Stephen is one of the sharpest, funniest hosts to ever do it. I really thought I’d ride this out with him for years to come. I’m sad that my family and friends will need a new show to watch every night at 11:30p.m. But honestly, he’s really been a gentlemen and a true friend over the years — going back to The Colbert Report, and I’m sure whatever he does next will be just as brilliant."

Jimmy, much like all of us, can't wait to see the next of Stephen Colbert.

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