Stephen Colbert announces The Late Show will conclude after 33 years.

Surprise! CBS has pulled the rug out from under us, revealing that “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” will take its final bow in May 2026, after an impressive 33 years of airing. Yes, folks, that’s enough time to binge-watch Netflix entirely—but you might want to start now.

According to CBS, this shocking exit is strictly a “financial decision,” or in layman’s terms, “we’re not making enough money to keep this circus going.” They assured us it has nothing to do with content or performance—so, clearly, the puppets were not to blame.

Colbert broke the news to the live audience, who responded with an eruption of boos. You’d swear they just heard their favorite ice cream flavor was discontinued. Colbert, ever the good sport, quipped, “I’m grateful to you, the audience, who have joined us every night… in a place that will be closing soon,” adding that the partnership with CBS was great as long as it lasted—like a first date that turns into a funeral.

This decision marks the end of an era—CBS will be without a late-night comedy talk show, which is like removing coffee from a Monday morning: unnecessary and slightly cruel. After Colbert took the reins from David Letterman in 2015, the show became a comedic battleground against Donald Trump, earning Colbert the title of “Late Night’s Sharpest Critic” or as we like to call him, “The Trump Whisperer.”

During his Thursday monologue, he humorously confessed to learning about his show’s cancellation just the night before—a bit like discovering you’ve been ghosted right after sending the “We should totally hang out” text. He assured the audience, “It’s not just the end of our show, but the end of The Late Show on CBS. I know, it’s tragic… for CBS.”

News of this cancellation comes on the heels of a $16 million settlement between CBS and Trump regarding allegations that covered his interview with Kamala Harris like an unwanted party guest at a dinner table, awkwardly shifting the conversation to politics. Creating conspiracies is practically an art form now; who needs paint when you can just mix gossip with a dash of drama?

As Colbert closes his gig, the networks are also left scrambling for younger viewers, just like trying to find a parking spot in a crowded lot. Meanwhile, CBS officially stated they consider Colbert irreplaceable. It’s sweet that they’re not replacing him, but also a little depressing—like your favorite diner closing down while everyone around you still raves about their quinoa salad.

Rival networks are still soldiering on, with Jimmy Kimmel still taping his show, and Fallon and Meyers reportedly committed until 2028. It’s unclear if they signed in blood or just high-fived over a pizza deal, but we salute them for outlasting Colbert’s tenure.

Reactions poured in following the cancellation—Kimmel took a cheeky jab at CBS on Instagram, proving that even in tragedy, wit prevails. Former Late Show bandleader Jon Batiste declared Colbert “the greatest to ever do it,” which is quite the compliment unless he meant in a game of charades.

Colbert’s illustrious guests and political discussions will leave a void, but we know he’ll bounce back. After all, he’s been holding his own against politics, so a little thing like cancellation shouldn’t be a problem. And as we cherish these final months, let’s remember: laughter may fade, but the memes will live on forever.

With the clock ticking down to the grand finale, let’s raise a glass (or a cup of lukewarm coffee) to Colbert and the wild ride of “The Late Show.” Cheers, Stephen. You’ve kept us laughing, questioning, and wondering how on Earth we’ll survive without your nightly antics.