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David Letterman has openly criticized CBS, branding them as “lying weasels” following the announcement of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” cancellation. He challenges the network’s assertion that financial reasons were behind the decision.
Having hosted the “Late Show” himself for over two decades, Letterman suspects the show’s termination, slated for May 21, is more closely linked to the network’s sale rather than financial strain, as CBS claims.
“He was let go because those involved in selling the network to Skydance wanted to assure, ‘Oh, don’t worry about him causing any issues,'” Letterman stated in an interview with the New York Times. “‘We’ll handle the show. It’ll be part of the deal. When does the check clear?’
Letterman further emphasized his stance, telling Times reporter Jason Zinoman, “I’m just going to state it plainly: They’re lying. And to add one more thing, Jason—they’re lying weasels.”
CBS’s parent company, Paramount, was acquired by Skydance for $8.4 billion in August 2025, following a prolonged and complicated 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.