Jimmy Kimmel blasts CBS over ‘The Late Present’ cancellation as he helps pal Stephen Colbert
Jimmy Kimmel blasted CBS for axing “The Late Present with Stephen Colbert” after 10 seasons whereas throwing his assist behind his pal and fellow late-night host.
“Love you Stephen. F–okay you and all of your Sheldons CBS,” Kimmel wrote on his private Instagram story Thursday, showing to reference CBS’s hit “The Large Bang Concept” spinoff, “Younger Sheldon.”
The “Jimmy Kimmel Reside!” host’s outburst comes because the community introduced its plan to cancel “The Late Present With Stephen Colbert” in Could 2026, citing “purely a monetary determination.”
The community mentioned it thought-about the 61-year-old late-night host “irreplaceable” and that “the printed might be remembered within the pantheon of greats that graced late-night tv.”
The choice marks the tip of CBS’s historic late-night programming, which started when David Letterman left NBC in 1993 to host “The Late Present with David Letterman.”
Letterman left his iconic present in 2015, and Colbert stepped in as host after gaining recognition on “The Every day Present” and “The Colbert Report.”
Colbert — who mentioned he was made conscious of the information Wednesday night — addressed the cancellation through the taping of Thursday’s present on the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York.
“Earlier than we begin the present, I wish to let you recognize one thing I discovered simply final evening. Subsequent yr might be our final season. The community might be ending the ‘Late Present’ in Could,” he instructed the viewers, who booed profusely over the information.
“I share your emotions,” Colbert replied.
Colbert assured the viewers he was not “being changed,” however that the community was ending the “Late Present” franchise totally.
“I do wish to say that the parents at CBS have been nice companions. I’m so grateful to the Tiffany Community for giving me this chair and this lovely theater to name dwelling,” he mentioned.
Colbert then mirrored on his time as host and instructed the viewers how “grateful” he was for the followers who “joined us each evening in right here, on the market, all world wide, Mr and Mrs. America and all of the ships at sea.”
“I’m grateful to share the stage with this band each evening. I’m terribly deeply grateful to the 200 individuals who work right here,” he mentioned.
“We get to do that present for one another — daily, all day. And I’ve had the pleasure and duty of sharing what we do daily with you in entrance of this digicam for the final 10 years.”
Colbert mentioned he needs “any individual else” had been taking on as a substitute of seeing the present finish for good.
He then concluded his assertion by saying he’s “wanting ahead” to placing on the present with the “common gang of idiots for one more 10 months.”
“It’s going to be enjoyable,” he assured.
Kimmel and Colbert aren’t simply late-night TV friends, however good mates who share the identical agent, James “Babydoll” Dixon, Kimmel revealed whereas showing as a visitor on Colbert’s present in 2015.
The hosts additionally revealed that viewers and critics anticipated them to be enemies. Kimmel mentioned he believes it stems from the historic feud with their predecessors, Letterman and Jay Leno.
“Individuals need us to struggle and every little thing like that,” Kimmel mentioned whereas showing as a visitor on Colbert’s present in 2015. “It’s bizarre.”
“Individuals thought it will simply proceed just like the campaign,” Kimmel mentioned. “I such as you, although. I would even love you.”
“Actually?” Colbert responded.
“If you happen to died, I’d cry like a child,” Kimmel shared. “God forbid.”
“Wow. If I didn’t have a present, I’d come to your funeral,” Colbert quipped.
They’ve appeared on one another’s exhibits a number of occasions through the years and even collaborated as presenters on the 2019 Emmy Awards.
In 2023, they had been additionally co-hosts of the limited-series Spotify podcast “Strike Pressure 5” with fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver.
Seven-time Grammy winner Jon Batiste, who served because the “Late Present” bandleader from 2015 to 2022, joined Kimmel as those that had been upset over Colbert’s cancellation.
Batiste posted an emoji of a goat and a damaged coronary heart on his Instagram story, symbolizing the host because the “best of all time.”
Colbert has hosted almost 1,700 episodes all through virtually 10 seasons and is ending regardless of incessantly being ranked the highest present in late-night tv, in line with Nielsen information.
The latest rankings from Nielsen present Colbert as successful his timeslot, with about 2.417 million viewers throughout 41 new episodes.
