Search the Ed Sullivan Theater on Google Maps and the address will auto-correct to: The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. Broadway, New York, NY.
For 33 years, CBS’ flagship late-night talk show has been synonymous with the historic performing arts venue (that’s more than a decade before Google Maps first debuted on BlackBerry devices). But after decades of cultural dominance, its famed run has come to a timely end. Paramount Skydance announced last July that it was discontinuing “The Late Show,” citing it as a “purely a financial decision” in the wake of a shifting media landscape where ad dollars and audiences are moving away from late night shows.
Ten months later, hundreds of his most fierce longtime viewers gathered outside the Ed Sullivan Theater ahead of the final “Late Show” taping on Thursday night to celebrate — and mourn — the end of a cultural era. Variety spoke with dozens of fans on the ground about how they first reacted to the cancellation and what they believe was the root cause of CBS’ decision to end the series.
“I was not very happy with CBS. At all.”
“The Late Show” cancellation was met with widespread debate over how much Colbert’s criticisms of the Trump administration factored into Paramount Skydance’s decision, which Colbert himself said was “a reasonable thing to think” but refused to “engage in that speculation.” His fans were not as hesitant to speculate.
“I was not very happy with CBS. At all,“ said Andrea Lobo, a math teacher from Ohio who attended the final taping with her daughter. “They did him dirty. I mean, free speech. He should be able to say what he says and not have backlash from the president.”
“I don’t even watch broadcast TV.”
Even some of Colbert’s most loyal fans weren’t tuning in for his late-night broadcasts. Josephine, a healthcare provider from California, says she “had palpitations” after nabbing tickets to Colbert’s final taping but admits she hasn’t “watched broadcast in years.”
“Most of my generation watches [‘The Late Show’] on YouTube or social media,” Josephine said. ”I’m sure his long, loving fans will follow him there regardless of whatever series he does next.“
“It’s nothing personal.”
A number of former TV industry workers touched on what one attendee described as the “unfortunate bureaucracy” of the entertainment business — and how, despite the heightened news cycle surrounding Colbert’s abrupt exit, cancellations like these are often par for the course.
“Like Stephen, one day I was invited not to come back,” said Wendy Sloan, a former daytime TV host from Alberta, Canada. ”It’s just the industry, and it’s nothing personal. You speak up, you upset people in power, and there are unfortunately consequences. I think, as a society, we’re going backwards in terms of freedom of speech.”
“Did Trump make it happen? All right!”
Robert Burck — or as New Yorkers know him, the Naked Cowboy — was playing guitar in Times Square as per usual when “someone from Reuters” alerted him that Colbert’s final show was taking place just a few blocks away. While the conservative street performer is a self-described “big Trumpster,“ he‘s maintained a positive opinion of Colbert ever since encountering him in the Paramount parking lot at 1515 Broadway.
”Even if you think you don’t like someone ‘cause of their point of view, now I’m like, ‘He’s my buddy. I know him!’” Burck laughed. When asked if politics belong on late-night, he responded, ”Who’s to say? If you want to go political, go political. People can say whatever the hell they want.”
“It’s a triumph.”
Several fans praised Colbert for how he “speaks truth to power” and other admirable leadership qualities they feel aren’t being displayed by the current administration. Rick Hirschhaut, a Los Angeles-based educator who traveled to New York to “show solidarity” for Colbert despite not having tickets to the taping, described the cancellation as “a real pain point for people of conscience” but also ”a triumphant moment” in American history.
“It’s a triumph because life goes on — and good ultimately prevails over evil,” Hirschhaut explained. ”I believe in his humanity, his goodness, his ability to bring out the best in everyone around him. He’s given us that shot of adrenaline and hope that our country desperately needs today.”
“My family canceled our Paramount+.”
Ap Abrahamyan, who works in ”the film and TV industry,” didn’t mince words when asked why he believes “The Late Show” was canceled: “It’s the new owners of CBS Paramount sucking Trump’s d—k. They got rid of him because he became too good at constantly checking all the stupid shit they do.”
Jimmy Kimmel joked about making fans cancel their Paramount+ subscriptions during the recent Strike Force Five episode on “The Late Show,” but some families are still actively protesting Paramount.
“I know Paramount Plus has lost a lot of subscribers since they announced the firing,” Abrahamyan said. “My family canceled our Paramount Plus. We’re not really interacting with as many CBS things as we normally do.”
“I’m sure he’ll be fine.“
Some fans expressed doubt over whether late-night television can continue thriving on broadcast TV, particularly under watch of the Trump-controlled FCC, which has probed investigations into networks platforming staunch political critics. Esteban Rehava, an audience member who traveled from Phoenix, Arizona, described Colbert’s firing as “very unprecedented” — but says he “doesn’t worry“ about his media future.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Rehava said. “Now that he doesn’t have to worry about all this pressure, he can freely do whatever he feels like. I don’t think he did anything wrong other than speak the truth. I do hope to see at least some better protection against the FCC, as they’re obviously being targeted right now from a certain somebody that doesn’t want to be joked about.”
