Stephen Colbert got some major backup recently after CBS gave his show, ‘The Late Show,’ the axe. Some of late-night television’s biggest names turned up to support him.
On Monday, July 21, the studio audience for Colbert’s CBS talk show was packed with his competition. Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers were there. So were Jon Stewart from ‘The Daily Show’ and John Oliver from ‘Last Week Tonight.’ Even Andy Cohen of ‘Watch What Happens Live’ and CNN’s Anderson Cooper showed their faces.
True to late-night comedy, these stars popped up during a sketch. It was a funny take on a viral concert scandal from last week. That incident involved former Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and Chief of Staff Kristin Cabot. To boost the mood after the cancellation news, Colbert brought in Lin-Manuel Miranda and “Weird Al” Yankovic for a musical number.
As Miranda and Yankovic belted out Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” the camera zoomed in on the celebrity audience. Fallon and Meyers were seen enjoying some beers. Actor Adam Sandler raised a basket of popcorn shrimp in a toast to Colbert. Cohen even gave Cooper a kiss. Stewart and Oliver looked surprised when the camera found them.
The camera then showed a cartoon version of President Donald Trump. This character is from ‘Our Cartoon President,’ an animated series produced by Colbert. The animated Trump was hugging the Paramount logo. Paramount is CBS’s parent company. Just like Byron at the Coldplay concert, the cartoon president quickly left the frame when the camera hit him. Meanwhile, Yankovic mimicked Coldplay’s Chris Martin, quipping, “These two! Either they’re having an affair or they’re very shy.”
Colbert then jabbed directly at CBS and Paramount. He stopped the music number. He told Miranda and Yankovic, “Your song has been canceled.” Then he added, “It says here: ‘This is a purely financial decision.’” He was pointing out the recent statement from CBS about why ‘The Late Show’ was ending.
This reference to Trump came after rumors flew that ‘The Late Show’ cancellation was politically motivated. Just days before the show’s end was announced, Colbert had criticized Paramount. The media company had settled a $16 million lawsuit brought by Trump. Trump claimed CBS’s ’60 Minutes’ had unfairly edited an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. Paramount is also in the middle of merging with the media company Skydance, a deal that needs approval from the Trump administration.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders also weighed in last week on X. He wrote, “Billionaire owners of CBS pay Trump $16 million to settle a fraudulent lawsuit as they try to sell the network to Skydance. Stephen Colbert, an extraordinary talent and the most popular late-night host, rejects the deal. Days later, he’s fired. Do I think it’s a coincidence? NO.”
During his opening monologue on Monday night, Colbert hinted at these rumors. He asked, “How could it be a purely financial decision if ‘The Late Show’ is number one in viewership?”
Colbert made a promise before ‘The Late Show’ goes off the air in May 2026. He said that for the next 10 months, “the gloves are off.”
“I can finally speak unfiltered truth to power and say what I really think about Donald Trump, starting right now,” he declared. He then joked, “I don’t like him.”
Colbert also fired back at Trump’s Truth Social post from last week. Trump had celebrated the cancellation. “I love that they fired Colbert. His talent was even less than his audience numbers. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next,” Trump had written on Friday, July 18.
“How dare you, sir?” Colbert shot back. “Could a talentless man compose the following satirical remark?” he continued, then joked, “Go f*** yourself.”
As for the idea that Kimmel would be next, Colbert quipped, “No! No, no. Absolutely not, Kimmel. I’m the martyr. There’s only room for one on this cross.”