Additional Coverage:
Former Late Show host David Letterman has offered a pointedly humorous show of support for Stephen Colbert after CBS’s abrupt cancellation of Colbert’s iteration of the show. Letterman posted a 20-minute compilation video titled “CBS: The Tiffany Network,” featuring years of his own on-air jabs at the network. The video, captioned, “You can’t spell CBS without BS,” includes clips spanning from 1994 to 2013, showcasing Letterman’s comedic critiques of CBS’s programming decisions and apparent corporate cluelessness.
The timing of Letterman’s post follows the announcement of Colbert’s show’s cancellation after a decade-long run. CBS claims the decision was purely financial, citing the challenging late-night landscape. However, this explanation has been met with skepticism, particularly given Colbert’s recent on-air criticism of CBS’s $16 million settlement with former President Donald Trump over a controversial “60 Minutes” segment.
The Writers Guild of America has formally requested New York Attorney General Letitia James to investigate Paramount Global (CBS’s parent company), alleging the cancellation was a retaliatory move related to Colbert’s comments. The WGA argues that the close proximity between Colbert’s critique and the show’s cancellation suggests political interference, particularly as Paramount pursues a merger with Skydance Media. They emphasize that while cancellations are common, terminating a show due to political pressure is unacceptable.
Colbert, a consistent ratings leader in late night, had publicly characterized the Trump settlement as a “big fat bribe,” questioning its connection to the pending merger. Despite outperforming competitors Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel in viewership, Colbert’s show was axed just days later. CBS executives deny any connection between the cancellation and Colbert’s comments or the show’s performance.
This official explanation has not appeased critics, including Senator Bernie Sanders, who expressed his doubts on social media, stating his belief that the timing was no coincidence. The cancellation has sparked a broader conversation about potential political influence in media decisions.