John Oliver has spoken out following the surprise cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Calling the decision “incredibly sad” and “terrible,” he expressed deep admiration for Colbert and his team. The Last Week Tonight host also noted he’s eager to see how Colbert uses the time left before the final episode.
What did John Oliver say about Stephen Colbert’s show cancellation?
John Oliver has addressed the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, calling it a significant loss. Speaking over the weekend, Oliver described the announcement as “terrible, terrible news for the world of comedy.”
CBS revealed last week that The Late Show will conclude after its 2025–2026 season, with the final episode slated for May 2026. Reflecting on the same Oliver said during a media interaction, “Obviously, I love Stephen, I love his staff, I love that show — it’s incredibly sad.” However, the host further added with a smile, “I’m partly excited to see what they’re gonna do for the next 10 months” (via The Hollywood Reporter).
Oliver also shared how personally meaningful the show has been to him. He recalled how he grew up watching David Letterman’s version of The Late Show in England. “I would watch Letterman’s show, which of course was Stephen’s show, and think about what a glamorous world that was.” He added, “So it’s very, very, very sad news. I look forward to seeing what [Colbert is] gonna do next because that man will not stop.”
The announcement came just days after Colbert took direct aim at Paramount, CBS’s parent company, during a recent episode. On air, Colbert criticized the media giant for paying a “big fat bribe” to resolve a $16 million lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump. Trump had alleged that an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris on 60 Minutes had been edited to portray her more favorably.
Many fans speculated that Colbert’s criticism may have contributed to the show’s sudden cancellation. Despite that speculation, CBS issued a statement insisting the move was not connected to the show’s content or performance. The network clarified, “This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”
Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on ComingSoon.
