Anyone who has tuned intoThe Late Showlast week will notice that hostStephen Colberthas been acting a little more…let’s say controversially than usual. Like most late nighttalk show hosts, including Jimmy Kimmeland Jimmy Fallon, Colbert has always been gleefully delighted to take swipes at a certain businessman-turned-president, but since the announcement that his show was being canceled next year, Colbert has been even more derogatory towards President Trump than normal and network bosses are really, really not happy. Diddums.
On his first show after the cancellation ofThe Late Showwas announced,Colbert labeled himself “a martyr” when slamming Trump’s social media postscelebrating the cancellation and warning other “untalented” talk show hosts that they could be next. During the same show, Colbert told Trump to “Go f-ck yourself.”
The Real Reason Why CBS Canceled ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ Should Alarm You
CBS called it a “financial decision,” but that’s only half-true – and it’s definitely not the whole story.
While the studio audience – and many viewers - clearly agreed with the eloquent sentiment, the show’s bosses did not. Now it looks like Colbert may not even make it to the end of the series next year, as, according to journalist Rob Shuter, there have been words had with Colbert, and they have come “very close” to pulling him off-air. After reportedly calling an emergency meeting the morning after Colbert’s show aired, two senior executives reportedly said:
“He’s daring us to fire him. And honestly? We’re close to doing it. He’s been warned. What he said was unacceptable. There are real consequences this time.”
Stephen Colbert’s Outburst May Have Sped Up his Exit
The fallout ofThe Late Show’scancellation has been swift and far-reaching, and also comes at the same time asSouthParkcontroversially launched Season 27 with a scathing double blast at Trump. However, while Paramount only has themselves to blame for airingSouth Park– a recorded show that was seen by plenty of people before audiences were given their first glimpse – Cobert’s show is a completely different beast, but is still not a live broadcast, so it could have been edited if CBS had issues with its content.
According to another source, Colbert is “off the leash and out for blood.” They continued, “We’re scared. He knows the secrets. He knows where the bodies are buried. If we push him too hard, he could take us all down with him.”
All of this has plenty of time yet to play out, but it is going to make future editions ofThe Late Showa very interesting watch. Exactly how far will Colbert be allowed to go before the curtain comes down even earlier than planned is yet to be seen, but as long as he is on air, he is certainly not going to be going down quietly. What makes it worse for execs is that Colbert is far from the only person sharing his view, and when late night stars unite against a common enemy, then it can make for some spectacular television. What a time to be alive.
Source:Rob Shuter
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
