David Letterman blasted CBS as “lying weasels” over the cancellation of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” disputing the network’s claim that axing it was purely financial.
Letterman, who hosted the “Late Show” for 22 years, believes the move to end the show — set for May 21 — was tied to the sale of the network rather than the financial pressures CBS has cited.
“He was dumped because the people selling the network to Skydance said, ‘Oh no, there’s not going to be any trouble with that guy,’” Letterman told the New York Times. “‘We’re going to take care of the show. We’re just going to throw that into the deal. When will the ink on the check dry?’
“I’m just going to go on record as saying: They’re lying. Let me just add one other thing, Jason,” he added, referring to Times reporter Jason Zinoman. “They’re lying weasels.”
CBS parent Paramount was sold to Skydance for $8.4 billion in August 2025 after a long and messy negotiation process.
The network has repeatedly said the move was driven by economics.
In July 2025, when it announced the show would end, CBS called it “purely a financial decision” amid a declining linear TV landscape.
After Letterman’s latest remarks, a spokesperson reiterated to the Times that it was “unequivocally a financial decision.”
Letterman, 79, questioned that explanation while acknowledging broader shifts in television.
“They don’t share the books with me. All of television seems to have been nicked by digital communication and streaming platforms and on and on. TV may not be the money machine it once was,” he said.
“On the other hand, what about the humanity for Stephen and the humanity of people who love him and the humanity for people who still enjoyed that 11:30 respite?”
Letterman has previously criticized how CBS handled the cancellation.
He called the cancellation “pure cowardice,” saying the network “did not handle Stephen Colbert, the face of that network, in the way he deserves.”
“I don’t think it was money,” Letterman said at the time.
“I think it was all to make sure [Skydance head David Ellison, who became the CEO of Paramount when the two companies merged last year] were solid spending dad’s money.”
Colbert, a constant critic of President Trump, addressed speculation about the decision in November, saying it’s “a reasonable thing to think” the cancellation could be politically motivated, but he declined to “engage in that speculation.”
“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” will air its final episode on May 21, 2026. “Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen” will take over the time slot.
