Stephen Colbert Explains Why He Made ‘The Late Show’ More Political

Stephen Colbert, the beloved late-night host, recently opened up to The New York Times about the evolution of his show, “The Late Show.” Initially, Colbert had intended to move away from his political roots after transitioning from “The Colbert Report.” He wanted to steer clear of the increasingly contentious public discourse and explore different ways to entertain his audience.

However, everything changed during the 2016 national party conventions when Colbert found himself drawn back to political humor. Reflecting on this shift, he likened himself to Clint Eastwood in “Unforgiven,” feeling like he had buried his comedic ammunition. It was only after a conversation with his longtime friend and producer, Paul Dinello, that Colbert realized the audience wanted to see him dig up those metaphorical guns and have fun with it.

As Colbert gears up for his final episode of “The Late Show,” CBS made the surprising announcement in July of 2025 that they would be ending the historic late-night program. The network cited financial reasons and a challenging late-night landscape as the primary factors behind the decision. Speculation arose that CBS may have been trying to appease President Donald Trump, who had the power to influence a pending merger between CBS’ parent company, Paramount, and Skydance.

Despite joking about CBS’ potential ulterior motives, Colbert acknowledged the network’s rationale for ending the show. He recognized the changing dynamics of the broadcasting industry, with the rise of platforms like YouTube and streaming services posing challenges for traditional networks. Colbert emphasized that while he doesn’t dispute CBS’ decision, there was a notable shift in their attitude towards him just before the show’s cancellation.

In his candid interview with The New York Times, Colbert maintained a balanced perspective on the situation, acknowledging the complexities of the broadcasting landscape and the inevitable changes that come with it. As he bids farewell to “The Late Show,” Colbert’s legacy as a comedic genius and political commentator remains intact, leaving a lasting impact on late-night television.