John Oliver Reacts to “The Late Show” Cancellation: “Incredibly Sad,” But Eager for Colbert’s Next Phase

Prime Highlights

The cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show was “incredibly sad,” in John Oliver’s view, and “a gigantic loss” for comedy.
Oliver commended the talent of Colbert and was looking forward to what Colbert has planned for the show’s final few months.

Key Fact

CBS is cutting The Late Show in May 2026 owing to budget and changes in late-night.
There was speculation regarding political pressure following Colbert’s vicious swipe at Paramount’s $16 million payment to Donald Trump.

Key Background :

The announcement that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will be wrapping up in May 2026 reopened wide speculation in the entertainment world. On paper, CBS cited cost constraints and the changing landscape of late-night TV as grounds for canceling the show. But Colbert’s latest direct characterization of the payment by Paramount to Donald Trump as a “big fat bribe” has given ample fuel for rumors that political reasons might underlie ending the show.

HBO’s John Oliver, the host of Last Week Tonight, had two cents regarding the news, saying it was “terrible news for comedy” and praising Colbert’s efforts on the format of the late-night show and lauding him with intelligence, wit, and dedication to genuine satire. Even if it’s a disappointment, Oliver is feeling and asking himself if Colbert will want to spend his last 10 months on television being fearless, taking the fact that he doesn’t have to worry about long-term network ramifications as the freedom to be boldly creative and gamble.

The cancellation also brought responses from other late-night shows Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and Jimmy Kimmel, who all complimented Colbert’s show and voiced worry over the fate of satirical late-night television. The move is part of the broader industry trend, as streaming and online content increasingly are touted as options for late-night programming.

Meanwhile, there is political blowback. Donald Trump stepped up to publicly compliment canceling the program, and cancelation critics pointed out Colbert’s unapologetic format for commenting on politics, potentially singling him out. The cancelation of The Late Show is as much about the passing of a popular host as it is a cultural moment for late-night political television, insiders point out.

Oliver’s statement highlights the personal and professional respect in which he has Colbert since he claims that the influence of Colbert as a force in political commentary and comedy will be lasted long after the show is gone.