David Letterman condemned the decision by CBS to cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, calling the move a huge mistake.
The cancellation marks the end of a late-night era at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City. As networks struggle with shifting viewership habits, the removal of a flagship program suggests a broader decline in the traditional late-night talk show model.
Letterman, who hosted The Late Show for 22 years [1], expressed sharp disapproval of the network's choice. "It's a huge mistake and a loss for American culture," Letterman said.
In a separate interview, Letterman used more aggressive language to describe the network, saying, "CBS are lying weasels" [2].
Stephen Colbert is concluding an 11-season run as host [3]. His final episode is scheduled to air on Thursday, May 21, 2026 [4]. The finale is expected to be a special extended broadcast.
CBS has defended the decision by citing economic pressures. "We made this difficult decision after careful consideration of the financial landscape," a CBS spokesperson said [5].
While the network maintains the move was driven by financial considerations, Letterman argues the decision is a cultural loss rather than a purely fiscal necessity [6]. The cancellation has remained a point of contention since the network first moved toward ending the series in 2025 [7].
“"It's a huge mistake and a loss for American culture,"”
The dispute between Letterman and CBS highlights a growing tension between the cultural prestige of late-night television and the harsh financial realities of linear broadcasting. By prioritizing the 'financial landscape' over the legacy of a long-running program, CBS is signaling a shift toward lower-cost content or digital-first strategies, effectively ending the era of the high-budget, network-backed late-night institution.
