Samantha Bee Calls Stephen Colbert’s Late Show Cancellation a “No-Brainer” — Sparks Buzz Across Late-Night TV

Former late-night host Samantha Bee is weighing in on the recent and controversial cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert , calling it both “awful” and, given the current media landscape, a “no-brainer” for CBS executives.

During a candid appearance on the “Breaking Bread with Tom Papa” podcast, Bee offered a behind-the-scenes perspective on why CBS made the decision to end Colbert’s tenure. According to Bee, the move was driven by a mix of financial realities and corporate strategy, especially as CBS’s parent company, Paramount, gears up for a high-stakes merger with Skydance.

“Hemorrhaging Money” and a Changing Audience

Bee, who hosted TBS’s Full Frontal from 2016 to 2022, didn’t mince words about the challenges facing legacy late-night shows.
“It definitely was hemorrhaging money. These legacy shows are hemorrhaging money with no real end to that…in sight, people are just not tuning in,” she said.

She pointed out that the way audiences consume news and entertainment has fundamentally changed:
“People are literally on their phones all the time for one thing, so they actually don’t necessarily need a recap of the day’s events. They’re very well-versed in what has happened.”

Merger Politics: “Curry Favor with the President”

Bee also suggested that the timing of Colbert’s cancellation was influenced by the ongoing negotiations between Paramount and Skydance. In her view, CBS may have been looking to “curry favor with the president” during the merger process, aiming to avoid any unnecessary controversy or distractions.

“Not stirring controversy during network mergers was a constant source of conversation,” Bee explained, reflecting on her own experience during similar corporate shakeups at TBS.
“It’s so much easier for them to cut it loose with this merger coming down the pike. It makes the decision such a no-brainer, and probably the most agonizing decisions they were having were about how do we float this? How do we not get a lot of blowback? I’m sure they knew it was happening a long time ago.”

“I’m Shocked, Not Surprised”

Despite her pragmatic analysis, Bee was clear about her personal feelings on the matter.
“I love Stephen. I consider him to be a friend. I think he’s amazing. I’m shocked, not surprised,” she said, underscoring the sense of loss felt by many in the late-night community.

The sudden end of Colbert’s run marks the latest shakeup in a rapidly shifting media environment, where streaming, social media, and changing viewer habits are forcing networks to make tough choices about even their most established programs.

The End of an Era

As CBS and Paramount move forward with their merger plans, Bee’s comments highlight the difficult calculus facing traditional media: balancing financial pressures, corporate politics, and the evolving demands of modern audiences. For fans of Colbert and late-night television, the cancellation is a stark reminder that even the biggest names aren’t immune to the winds of change.

“It’s awful,” Bee concluded, “but it’s the reality of the business right now.”

Stay tuned for more updates as the story develops and the late-night landscape continues to evolve.