Letterman sends Colbert off 'The Late Show' by destroying CBS property

Variety ^ | 5/15/2026 | Marlo Stern

[subterfuge]

Stephen Colbert's 11-year run as host of "The Late Show" will end on May 21. That its untimely end was announced mere weeks before the Trump-loyalist Ellison family finalized their CBS-Paramount takeover led many to believe it was a move to appease Trump, while the network claimed Colbert's late-night program was losing around $40 million a year - a figure that led friendly rival Jimmy Kimmel to quip, "Not a snowball's chance in hell that's accurate."

Snip...

Well, whatever the reason, Colbert is out in a week. And so, for his final weeks, the funnyman has welcomed an assortment of friends and A-listers, from his fellow late-night hosts Kimmel, Oliver, Meyers, and Fallon, to the likes of Tom Hanks, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and former president Barack Obama. And on Thursday night, Colbert welcomed his "Late Show" predecessor, the great David Letterman, whose big, bushy beard now resembles Joaquin Phoenix's during his infamous performance art stunt on his show.

"I have every right to be pissed off, so I'll be pissed off here a little bit," he continued. "This theater, you folks wouldn't be in this theater if it weren't for me, and Stephen wouldn't be here if it weren't for me, and we rebuilt this theater, and then Stephen came in, and look at this? It's like the Bellagio. But, listen… as we all understand, you can take a man's show, you can't take a man's voice."

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TOPICS: Humor; Miscellaneous; Society; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: failure; loser; moron; narcissism

[subterfuge]

I usually don't post this type of low info articles, but What a collection of dumb narcissists. They have no idea how idiotic they look. Good riddance.

[Red Badger]

“The United States has become a place where entertainers and professional athletes are mistaken for people of importance.” - Robert Heinlein

[subterfuge]

A literal clown show.

[rlmorel]

LOL. You just killed the thread you started with that mic-drop posting...:)

[Sirius Lee]

Colbert's late-night program was losing around $40 million a year - a figure that led friendly rival Jimmy Kimmel to quip, "Not a snowball's chance in hell that's accurate."

It's well known that kimmel, in addition to his duties as an unfunny comedian, is the chief accountant for CBS. /s

[Opinionated Blowhard]

"This theater, you folks wouldn't be in this theater if it weren't for me, and Stephen wouldn't be here if it weren't for me,

Talk about an ego. Angry, bitter and arrogant.

[deport]

And the beat - beet goes on. Blame
Columbus for his trip in 1492.

[Merrick]

STOP SENDING CLICKS TO THAT POS RE-POSTING MSN!!!!!

https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/david-letterman-stephen-colbert-late-show-destroy-cbs-furniture-1236749415/

[subterfuge]

That’s why I posted and extensive excerpt. Thanks for that link.

[Texas Eagle]

But, listen… as we all understand, you can take a man's show, you can't take a man's voice."

If Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was alive today, he'd fart in Letterman's and Colbert's general direction.

[Resolute Conservative]

Yep.

[Resolute Conservative]

“the great David Letterman”

In his own mind he is pos. Never was funny.

[Lurker]

Love that quote.

L

[DeplorablePaul]

I highly recommend watching the the last episode of the Larry Sanders Show (Gary Shandling) on streaming services. It is hilarious

AI Overview:

The most iconic TV show about a talk show host named Gary is The Larry Sanders Show (1992–1998), starring Garry Shandling as the narcissistic, insecure late-night host Larry Sanders. This influential HBO sitcom specialized in cringe comedy, focusing on the chaotic behind-the-scenes drama and the strained relationships between Larry, his producer Artie, and sidekick Hank Kingsley

[MplsSteve]

Obviously I’m older - but I recall back in the early to mid 80’s when Letterman was actually funny.

Goofy funny and quirky funny.

One of the funnier times was when Letterman had Charlie Daniels as his guest. Charlie had a big chew of tobacco in his mouth. Letterman commented on it. Then Letterman and the band (including Paul Shafer) took turns trying the tobacco.

Hysterically funny stuff.

[\/\/ayne]

Steve Martin was the best part of Letterman’s show.

[Biblebelter]

Dave is a LOW LIFE.

How LOW depends on which AI you use.

I asked the following question,

did david letterman have sex in a car with an intern in front of his house

Google AI

Yes, this claim stems from David Letterman’s 2009 extortion scandal. Reports and court accounts alleged that a CBS producer caught Letterman in a car in a “passionate embrace” with the producer’s girlfriend—who was also a former intern and Letterman’s former assistant—right in front of the producer’s house in Connecticut.

Brave AI

No, David Letterman did not have sex in a car with an intern in front of his house. The claim conflates elements of his 2009 scandal involving sexual relationships with female staffers and an extortion plot, but there is no evidence or allegation in the provided sources about such a specific incident occurring in a car outside his home.

Ain’t AI great?

[Sequoyah101]

And they all get indulged. Idolized even and the lap it up.

[Bob434]

Colbert “coule have been” a funny host... inst3ad he chose liberal hatred to define his show

[subterfuge]

LOL. Priceless!