David Letterman Blasts CBS for Stephen Colbert ‘Late Show’ Cancellation

Dave Letterman Criticizes CBS and Skydance for Cancelling “The Late Show”

David Letterman recently spoke out against CBS and Skydance for their decision to cancel “The Late Show,” which he had hosted for 32 years before passing the torch to Stephen Colbert. In a candid interview posted on his YouTube channel, Letterman expressed his disbelief at the official explanation that the show was axed for financial reasons.

Describing the move as “pure cowardice,” Letterman criticized the network for mishandling Colbert, whom he referred to as the face of CBS. He argued that Colbert deserved better treatment from the network.

Letterman’s comments came during a Zoom interview with Barbara Gaines, the former executive producer of “The Late Show.” He also took aim at Paramount for their $16 million settlement with President Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview, accusing the company of disregarding freedom of the press.

Not one to mince words, Letterman also poked fun at Skydance Media, the new owner of Paramount, questioning their motives and referring to founder David Ellison as “the Oracle twins.” He suggested that the company’s desire to avoid controversy may have played a role in the cancellation of “The Late Show.”

According to Letterman, reports of the show losing millions annually were not a sufficient explanation for its cancellation. He insinuated that there may have been other factors at play behind the scenes.

Throughout his career, Letterman was known for his willingness to take on his corporate bosses, and Colbert followed in his footsteps after taking over “The Late Show” in 2015. Letterman expressed confidence that Colbert would weather this storm and come out on top.

As he reflected on the situation, Letterman remarked, “For Steven, I love this. He’s a martyr. Good for him. And if you listen carefully, you can hear them unfolding chairs at the Hall of Fame for his induction, right?”