**Stephen Colbert Announces End of The Late Show After 33 Years**

**In a shocking announcement, Stephen Colbert revealed that The Late Show will end in May 2026 after 33 years, citing financial challenges amid a changing late-night television landscape.**

The enduring legacy of "The Late Show" is set to come to an end as Stephen Colbert announced that the program will conclude in May 2026, marking the conclusion of a 33-year run. CBS made the unexpected announcement during a press event, asserting that the decision was mainly financial and unrelated to the show's performance. Colbert broke the news to the audience during a taping, inciting a wave of boos from the audience as he expressed his gratitude to CBS and the viewers who supported the show.

“This isn’t just the end of our show; it marks the end of The Late Show entirely on CBS," Colbert stated, emphasizing the gravity of the occasion. “I wish someone else could take over, but that won’t be the case.” The cancellation represents a significant shift for CBS, leaving the network without a late-night comedy show for the first time since 1993.

Colbert took over the reins of "The Late Show" from David Letterman in 2015 and has been a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump in his segments. The announcement comes on the heels of CBS parent company Paramount's resolution of a lawsuit with Trump over concerns about an edited interview featuring Kamala Harris, raising questions about the motives behind the show's cancellation. Prominent politicians like Senators Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren have echoed concerns that political motivations may have influenced the decision.

The decision to end the program is emblematic of a broader struggle within television networks to maintain viewership in an increasingly fragmented media landscape, as they compete with digital platforms and podcasts that cater to younger audiences. "Stephen Colbert is irreplaceable, and we cannot envision a future for The Late Show on CBS without him," stated a CBS representative in their announcement.

Despite the somber news, Colbert's colleagues and friends have rallied to express their admiration, with Jimmy Kimmel and various celebrities like Jon Batiste and Rachel Zegler sharing their support on social media. Kimmel cheekily took the opportunity to weigh in with humor, while others shared heartfelt tributes to Colbert’s impact on the late-night format and his ability to shape political discourse through comedy. As fans prepare for the final months of The Late Show, the legacy of Stephen Colbert's contributions to late-night comedy will endure long after the final curtain falls.