ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Stephen Colbert's 'The Late Show' Canceled Amid Government Deal

other · 2026-05-05

Stephen Colbert's 'The Late Show' has been canceled, with the timing of the cancellation—right before a deal requiring government approval—adding extra resonance to his exit. The New York Times reflects on what is lost when the show goes away, drawing comparisons to predecessors like Johnny Carson, David Letterman, and Jay Leno.

Key facts

  • Stephen Colbert's 'The Late Show' has been canceled.
  • The cancellation occurred right before a deal that needed government approval.
  • The New York Times published an article on May 5, 2026, about the cancellation.
  • The article compares Colbert to Carson, Letterman, and Leno.

Entities

Artists

  • Stephen Colbert
  • Johnny Carson
  • David Letterman
  • Jay Leno

Institutions

  • The New York Times
  • ArtsJournal
  • CBS

Sources