Opinion | Stephen Colbert’s Late Show Cancellation and the Fall of CBS
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Stephen Colbert transformed the late-night television landscape by bringing a unique blend of political satire and strong point-of-view comedy to CBS, succeeding David Letterman in 2014.
- Prior to CBS, Colbert gained fame through "The Colbert Report" on Comedy Central, where he portrayed a fictional, exaggerated conservative commentator, rarely appearing as himself.
- His character-driven approach was a sharp, politically astute satire that lasted nine years and required both guests and audiences to engage with the "fake news" format.
- Transitioning to CBS, Colbert shifted to hosting as his authentic self, introducing a new style of hard-core political comedy to a broadcast network traditionally favoring balanced perspectives.
- This move marked a significant departure from the conventional late-night format, blending Colbert’s comedic roots with a more direct and personal political commentary.