David Letterman has launched a scathing attack against CBS following the network’s decision to cancel “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in 2026, calling the move “gutless” and “pure cowardice” while defending his successor as a martyr of the cancellation.
The 78-year-old comedian, who hosted CBS’ late-night talk show for 22 years before passing the torch to Colbert in 2015, made his feelings clear through multiple platforms. On July 22, Letterman’s official YouTube channel posted a 20-minute compilation video featuring clips of him criticizing CBS during his tenure from 1993 to 2015. The video, titled “CBS: The Tiffany Network,” carried the pointed caption: “You can’t spell CBS without BS.”
The compilation included eight clips spanning from 1994 to 2013, showcasing Letterman’s history of jabbing at the network. One segment from 2007 featured Letterman criticizing CBS for mentioning “The Late Show” in only a single line of its half-page advertisement in USA Today. Another clip showed his reaction when CBS mistakenly used a photo of NBC’s Jay Leno instead of Letterman to promote its People’s Choice Award nominees online.
Letterman escalated his criticism on July 25 during a conversation with former “Late Show” producers Barbara Gaines and Mary Barclay, which was posted to his YouTube channel. He expressed skepticism about CBS’ claim that financial losses drove the cancellation decision, noting that the show was reportedly losing between $40 million and $50 million annually.
The veteran host questioned the timing of the financial concerns, suggesting that if such losses existed, they would have been apparent weeks or months earlier. He pointed to CBS News as an example, arguing that the news division likely operates without generating profits yet remains on the air. Letterman indicated that CBS was hiding behind financial excuses while giving Colbert another 10 months to continue the show due to Colbert’s contract, which would represent additional losses according to the network’s own claims.
Colbert announced on July 17 that CBS would be canceling not just his iteration of “The Late Show” but the entire franchise, with the final broadcast scheduled for May 2026. The announcement came just days after Colbert had criticized Paramount Global’s $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview dispute.
Letterman characterized Colbert as having become the face of the network over his 10-year tenure, praising his political satire and entertainment value. He described Colbert as establishing himself as a precise and witty political satirist who drew significant audiences seeking commentary on current politics. The cancellation decision particularly frustrated Letterman because he viewed it as poor treatment of someone who had become synonymous with the network.
The controversy surrounding the cancellation intensified due to its timing relative to Paramount’s $8.4 billion sale to Skydance Media, which was finalized on July 24. Industry observers have questioned whether the decision was purely financial or influenced by political considerations, given Colbert’s frequent criticism of Trump and the need for FCC regulatory approval of the merger, which subsequently occurred.
Letterman expressed confusion about Skydance Media, jokingly asking whether it was a discount airline. He predicted that CBS executives involved in handling the situation would eventually feel embarrassed by their decision, characterizing it as lacking courage.
The former host acknowledged that Colbert’s situation had elevated him to martyr status, expressing envy that such a scenario had not occurred during his own tenure. Letterman suggested that having such a conflict would have been beneficial for his own legacy, noting that now everyone must show deference to Colbert following his treatment by the network.
Other late-night hosts have rallied to support Colbert following the cancellation announcement. Jimmy Kimmel posted on Instagram expressing his frustration with CBS, while Jon Stewart used “The Daily Show” to defend his former colleague and question the motives behind the decision. Jimmy Fallon also voiced support during “The Tonight Show,” praising Colbert’s Emmy-winning work.
Colbert returned to his show on July 21 with a defiant monologue, directly addressing President Trump and making clear his intention to continue his pointed political commentary during the remaining months of the program. The host characterized himself as a martyr and indicated he would use his remaining time to express his unfiltered opinions.
The cancellation marks the end of “The Late Show” franchise on CBS after more than three decades. CBS stated in its announcement that it considers Colbert irreplaceable and will retire the franchise entirely rather than seek a replacement host. The network acknowledged that the decision was difficult given their respect for Colbert’s work.
