“You Can’t Spell CBS Without BS” — David Letterman TORCHES the Network
In July 2025, the media landscape was rocked by a significant development: CBS announced the cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” ending one of late-night television’s flagship programs. In response, retired late-night icon David Letterman, who had previously hosted the same show, released a video compilation that quickly went viral with the pointed caption “You can’t spell CBS without BS.” This essay examines the impact, context, and implications of Letterman’s digital intervention in the ongoing conversation about media consolidation, corporate decision-making, and the future of late-night television. ,
The Context: Corporate Decisions and Creative Fallout
The cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” came amid significant corporate restructuring at Paramount Global, CBS’s parent company. According to reports, the decision was framed as a cost-cutting measure despite the show’s ratings success. This move occurred against the backdrop of Paramount’s potential merger with Skydance, raising questions about whether financial engineering was taking precedence over creative considerations.
Letterman’s response wasn’t merely a defense of his successor; it represented a broader critique of corporate media decision-making. By compiling archival footage of his own past criticisms of CBS during his tenure as host, Letterman established a historical pattern of network missteps and questionable priorities that extended far beyond the current controversy.
The Viral Moment: Strategic Communication in the Digital Age
What made Letterman’s intervention particularly effective was its strategic execution. Rather than issuing a formal statement or giving interviews, he leveraged YouTube as a platform to share a compilation video featuring clips from his own show spanning multiple years. The video showcased moments where Letterman had previously criticized CBS management decisions, network blunders, and corporate priorities.
The caption “You can’t spell CBS without BS” became an instantly memorable slogan that encapsulated his critique in a concise, shareable format. This approach demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of how media narratives develop in the digital age—where a well-timed, cleverly packaged message can rapidly outpace traditional corporate communications. ,
Industry Reactions and Broader Implications
Letterman’s video sparked widespread discussion across the entertainment industry. Fellow late-night hosts, writers, and media commentators rallied around the critique, with many viewing it as a defense not just of Colbert but of creative independence in an increasingly consolidated media landscape.
The incident highlighted growing tensions between creative talent and corporate management in the entertainment industry. As media companies pursue mergers and acquisitions to compete in the streaming era, decisions that might make sense on balance sheets often conflict with the creative and cultural value of established programming. Letterman’s intervention gave voice to concerns that short-term financial engineering was undermining long-term cultural institutions.
The Legacy Question: Late-Night Television at a Crossroads
Letterman’s critique raised fundamental questions about the future of late-night television as a format. Once a cornerstone of American broadcast television, late-night shows have faced increasing competition from streaming platforms, podcasts, and social media content. The cancellation of “The Late Show” signaled that even successful programs in this genre were vulnerable to corporate restructuring.
By defending Colbert and criticizing CBS, Letterman positioned himself as a guardian of late-night’s cultural legacy. His intervention suggested that beyond ratings and advertising revenue, these shows serve an important function in American cultural life—providing a space for comedy, commentary, and conversation that helps audiences process current events. ,
The Power of Authenticity in Media Criticism
Perhaps most significantly, Letterman’s video demonstrated the enduring power of authentic voice in media criticism. As a respected figure who had spent decades at CBS, his critique carried weight that few others could match. By using the network’s own aired content as evidence, he created a compelling narrative about corporate priorities that resonated with viewers and industry insiders alike.
The phrase “You can’t spell CBS without BS” worked not just as a clever play on letters but as a distillation of frustration with corporate decision-making that prioritizes financial engineering over creative value. In an era of carefully managed corporate communications, Letterman’s blunt assessment cut through the noise. ,
Conclusion: The Changing Landscape of Media Power
David Letterman’s viral critique of CBS represents more than just a defense of Stephen Colbert or nostalgia for late-night television’s golden era. It illustrates how the power dynamics in media are shifting in the digital age. A retired television host with access to archival footage and a YouTube channel was able to significantly influence the public narrative around a major corporate decision.
This incident demonstrates that in today’s media environment, authentic voices with credibility and strategic digital savvy can effectively challenge even the most powerful media corporations. As traditional media continues to consolidate and transform, the ability of individual voices to shape public discourse—especially when armed with compelling evidence and memorable messaging—remains a powerful counterbalance to corporate control of the narrative. ,
The “You can’t spell CBS without BS” moment will likely be remembered not just as an entertaining media dustup but as an important case study in how legacy media figures can leverage digital platforms to influence public discourse about the very institutions that once employed them. ,
