Posted on 07/26/2025 3:50:55 AM PDT by dennisw
David Letterman has backed his successor Stephen Colbert and suggested CBS canceled The Late Show because he was 'always shooting his mouth off' about Donald Trump.
The 78-year-old late-night legend created The Late Show in 1993 after NBC denied him the chance to succeed Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show.
Colbert took over for Letterman in 2015 and took the show in a decidedly more political direction but despite leading in the ratings, a shrinking late-night landscape led CBS to claim losses in the tens of millions of dollars.
In his first comment on the show's cancellation, Letterman noted that his show was more about political satire than his version of The Late Show but was still complimentary, calling the decision by CBS 'pure cowardice.'
'I think one day, if not today, the people at CBS who have manipulated and handled this, they’re going to be embarrassed, because this is gutless,' he told former Late Show producers Barbara Gaines and Mary Barclay.
Letterman then said that he believed CBS was acting on behalf of Skydance CEO and incoming Paramount CEO David Ellison to make their lives easier after they acquire Paramount, taking away a constant critic of Trump.
'Hey boys, here’s what we’re gonna do: not only are we gonna get rid of that guy, we’re gonna get rid of the entire franchise so you don’t have to worry about another guy. It’s gone,' Letterman said.
The long-time talk show host noted CBS's $16million settlement with the Trump administration over a deceptively edited interview with election rival Kamala Harris, which Colbert had previously mocked as a 'big fat bribe.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Letterman, didn’t he molest interns ?
Just checked it out, yes the Colbert show required 200 staff to run it. Making for bloated production costs, why CBS cancelled it.
The Greg Gutfield show runs lean and mean>>>>>
“Estimates from production directories, panelist interviews, and entertainment analysts suggest that the core Gutfeld! team consists of roughly 25 to 40 staff members, including writers, producers, technical crew, panelists, guest bookers, and support personnel. By comparison, Colbert’s staff numbers over 200.”
Where did he “unleash” from?! His walker?
Lesserman grew a beard because he’s ashamed of his face!
Good night Dave.
None of these clowns, including Letterman, was as good as Steve Allen, Johnny Carson, or Jay Leno. (Jack Parr was so-so.)
Occasionally funny defending never funny.
What a sad state Hollywood is in.
I’m sorry, Letterman, Letterman didn’t he used to be someone?
David Letterman has become the old man yelling at the sky. NGAF what your opinion is Dave.
A fool always supports another fool......
I bet his $400 million follows him into the grave. He appears to be angry that he is himself. It is tough to self-loathe.
What a pathetic loser.
Johnny Carson was always good, but as for Letterman & Colbert...never wasted my time watching either one. Won’t miss them a bit.
Since you love Colbert so much Dave, you must also think the phrase he used to attack Trump was “clever”. So without further adieu Dave, “Go F*** yourself!!!”
I think they should keep Colbert. If CBS hosts enough shows with tanked ratings like Colbert’s show was, CBS will disappear from the face of the earth, and I think that would be a good thing.
Wow, thanks for this comparison between Gutfield and Colbert shows’ staffing. Ha! Gutfield produces a fabulous and profitable show with only 15% of the staff!
Great, dennisw!
Letterman can kiss my pink ass
WHO?
Colbert was never funny. Makes sense, because the people that watched were haters.
Letterman’s outrage makes me think he’s profiting from Colbert’s show - licensing, royalties, something.
“That was when he had dark hair.”
And probably also before he was banging his interns and stage-4 leftism set in.
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