For weeks, late-night television felt like it was running on fumes. Ratings dipped, audiences yawned, and the industry whispered that the genre had finally lost its spark. Then came the gut punch: CBS announced the sudden cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Fans were stunned, critics were merciless, and even some insiders admitted the move smelled of panic more than strategy. Colbert, once hailed as the heir to Letterman’s late-night throne, was gone—vanished into a haze of uncertainty.

A Shock Partnership

The Industry Reacts

Why It Works

Fans Can’t Stop Talking

Can It Last?

What’s Next