Jon Stewart delivered a scathing response to CBS’ cancellation of The Late Show on a new episode of The Daily Show.
The comedian called out CBS and parent company Paramount (which also owns The Daily Show broadcaster Comedy Central) on Monday, July 21, after his longtime friend Stephen Colbert announced his show was being canceled last week.
Noting that he was “not the most objective to comment on this matter,” citing his longstanding friendship with Colbert, 61, Stewart nonetheless questioned the business logic behind the decision, pointing out that The Late Show is ranked the “No. 1 late night show on network television.”
Stewart, 62, questioned the claim that it was “for purely financial reasons,” as CBS said in a statement last week, speculating instead whether it was, in fact, “the path of least resistance for your $8 billion merger?”
Paramount is in the midst of merging with media giant Skydance in a deal that must first be approved by President Donald Trump’s administration. Like others, including Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, Stewart pondered whether the decision to cancel The Late Show — on which Colbert is often critical of Trump — was one to appease Trump amid the merger. (CBS said in its statement last week the cancellation “is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”)
“I understand the corporate fear. I understand the fear that you and your advertisers have with $8 billion at stake,” said an impassioned Stewart. “But understand this: the shows that you now seek to cancel, censor and control … a not insignificant portion of that $8 billion value came from those f***ing shows. That’s what made you that money. Shows that say something. Shows that take a stand.”
Stewart continued, “If you’re trying to figure out why Stephen’s show is ending, I don’t think the answer can be found in some smoking-gun email or phone call from Trump to CBS executives, or in CBS’ QuickBooks spreadsheets on the financial health of late night. I think the answer is in the fear and pre-compliance that is gripping all of America’s institutions at this very moment.”
The comedian encouraged businesses to “sack the f*** up” as he broke into song, complete with a gospel choir. In a final parting shot, he added, “But if you’re afraid and you protect your bottom line, I’ve got but one thing to say, just one little phrase: go f*** yourself.”
Earlier Monday, Stewart joined fellow late-night talk show hosts Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and more at the taping of Colbert’s latest episode in solidarity with their comrade.
Colbert broke the news Thursday, July 17, that The Late Show, which first launched in 1993 with David Letterman, would go off the air in May 2026.
“Before we start the show, I want to let you know something that I found out just last night: Next year will be our last season, the network [CBS] will be ending The Late Show in May,” he said.
As the studio audience erupted in boos, he continued, “I share your feelings. … 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. I do want to say that the folks at CBS have been great partners … And I’m grateful to the audience, you, who have joined us every night, in here, out there, and all around the world.”
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