Letterman Criticizes CBS Late Show Cancellation

David Letterman, the longtime host of CBS's "The Late Show," criticized the network's decision to end the franchise after more than three decades, calling it a clear effort to cut costs as it replaces Stephen Colbert's program with syndicated comedy programming from Byron Allen.

In an interview on "The Barbara Gaines Show" released Friday, the 79-year-old Letterman described the move as straightforward financial strategy. "They don't want to spend any money, so they're going to make money," he said. "They charge Byron Allen some reasonable price. He sells all the advertising for his Comics Unleashed, and it'll be, I think, 90 minutes or two hours of comics talking about funny stuff." Letterman, who hosted the show from 1993 to 2015 before Colbert succeeded him, added that the format is "a pretty good idea. It's all panel. Nobody's doing any standup, except they're seated doing standup."

CBS announced the cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in July 2025, after 10 seasons in the 11:35 p.m. Eastern time slot. Colbert, 61, shared the news with his audience during a monologue at New York's Ed Sullivan Theater. "Before we start the show, I want you to know something...