Andy Cohen says it’s a “sad day for late-night” as CBS announces Stephen Colbert’s Late Show will end in May 2026, retiring the iconic franchise.
Late-night television is on the brink of a significant shake-up as CBS prepares to conclude The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at the close of the 2025–2026 broadcast season.
The network announced that Colbert’s show will air its final episode in May 2026, retiring the storied franchise after more than a decade in prime-time late-night.
One of the first high-profile reactions came from Bravo host Andy Cohen, who spoke candidly about the decision on the red carpet at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards. “I think it’s a sad day for late-night television,” Cohen told Deadline. “I think it’s a sad day for CBS. I think Stephen Colbert is a singular talent. He’s going to have an incredible next chapter.”
Cohen, whose own Watch What Happens Live was recently renewed through 2027, admitted he was “stunned” that CBS would “turn off the lights at 11:30 after the local news,” sidelining one of the three late-night shows that consistently drew Emmy nominations. “He produces a brilliant show,” Cohen said of Colbert, underscoring the host’s reputation for sharp political satire and pop-culture commentary.
Late-night host @Andy Cohen On Late Show with Stephen Colbert ending: “I can’t believe CBS is turning out the lights at 11:30p” pic.twitter.com/RGe1s0xGfa
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) July 18, 2025
Reflecting on his decade at CBS—where he began as an executive producer when David Letterman jumped to the network—Cohen lamented that CBS had once been “a powerhouse in late-night television.” His remarks highlighted the network’s storied history, from The Late Show’s origins under Letterman to Colbert’s reinvention of the format with topical monologues and viral segments.
In its official statement, CBS praised Colbert as “irreplaceable” and confirmed that no successor will inherit The Late Show title. “We will retire The Late Show franchise at that time,” the network said, adding, “We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late-night television.”
Colbert’s departure marks the end of an era for a program that blended incisive political critique with musical guests, field pieces and recurring characters. While CBS has yet to announce its late-night lineup post-2026, insiders suggest the network may reshuffle existing talent or develop new programming to fill the 11:30 p.m. slot.
Meanwhile, viewers and peers alike will be watching closely as the network charts its next move in a rapidly evolving late-night landscape.
