“They Canceled Colbert. Now Late Night Is in Total Turmoil.”
Jimmy Fallon and Other Top Comedians to Rally for Stephen Colbert after ‘The Late Show’ Cancellation
Jimmy Fallon, the host of NBC’s “Tonight Show,” will be heading over from his own network headquarters to show his support for CBS rival Stephen Colbert on Monday, The Post has learned.
Alongside Fallon, several high-profile comedians are expected to make guest appearances at the Ed Sullivan Theater in Manhattan, standing in solidarity with Colbert after the surprise cancellation of his top-rated late-night program, according to sources. The full lineup of participating comedians has not yet been revealed.
News of “The Late Show” being axed has stunned fans and colleagues alike. Many in the comedy world are rallying around Colbert, refusing to stay silent in the wake of CBS’s decision. Speculation is mounting that Jimmy Kimmel—currently on a break from taping ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”—may join Colbert on stage as one of his legendary friends.
Kimmel himself took to Instagram to criticize CBS after the news broke, writing: “Love you, Stephen. F—k you and all your Sheldons, CBS.”
John Oliver, host of HBO’s “Last Week Tonight,” also voiced his disappointment over the decision, telling the Associated Press, “Late-night shows mean a lot to me, not just because I work in them, but because even growing up in England, I’d watch Letterman’s show—now Stephen’s show—and dream about that glamorous world. So this is very, very sad news. But I can’t wait to see what Stephen does next—he’s unstoppable.”
Seth Meyers, the host of NBC’s “Late Night,” shared on Instagram: “As talented a comedian and host as he is, @stephenathome is an even better person. I’ll miss seeing him on TV every night, but at least now he can’t use ‘I’m too busy’ as an excuse not to hang out with me.”
Representatives for Fallon, Kimmel, Oliver, and Meyers declined to comment on the planned appearance. CBS and Colbert’s teams also offered no statement.
CBS has publicly attributed the show’s cancellation to financial reasons. Sources told The Post that Colbert, 61, was let go a mere three days after criticizing CBS for its $16 million settlement with Donald Trump over a controversial “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. The timing comes as CBS’ parent company, Paramount, seeks regulatory approval from the Trump administration for its $8 billion sale to independent studio Skydance.
Additional reporting revealed “The Late Show” has been running at a substantial annual loss—estimated at $40 million—and with a season budget exceeding $100 million, according to Puck News. “The show began losing ground two years ago,” one insider noted, explaining that declining ratings and advertising revenues have affected all the major late-night platforms.
Colbert’s final episode is expected to air in May 2026.
