Colbert’s Late‑Night Shift: Why Politics Came Back

Stephen Colbert has just finished the last episode of his long‑running show on CBS, a decision that sparked many guesses about why the network ended it. In an interview with The New York Times, Colbert explained that early on he wanted to step away from politics after moving from “The Colbert Report” to the new format. He said he felt uneasy about getting involved in a public conversation that seemed more divided than ever, and wondered if there were other ways to entertain viewers. The turning point came during the 2016 national party conventions, where Colbert found a chance to re‑introduce political jokes. He compared the moment to a film scene where a character digs up hidden weapons, and he told producer Paul Dinello that audiences were actually craving that boldness. Dinello encouraged him, saying it was what people enjoyed watching.Now that the show is ending, Colbert joked about CBS’s motives but admitted he does not contest their explanation. He pointed out that the media landscape has changed, with streaming and online platforms cutting into traditional broadcast profits. He noted that just a short time before the decision, CBS was keen on keeping him for a long run, hinting something had shifted behind the scenes. Some observers think CBS might have dropped the show to appease former President Donald Trump, who could influence regulatory decisions that affect CBS’s parent company. Colbert shrugged off these theories, focusing instead on the business realities of late‑night television.