The Corporate Cone of Silence Cracks

For weeks, CBS executives have kept tight-lipped about their bombshell decision to end The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. But with Skydance’s takeover of Paramount officially sealed on August 7, Paramount Global TV Media Chairman George Cheeks has finally addressed the controversy head-on — and his explanation is sparking just as many questions as it answers.

At a press conference, Cheeks cited a collapsing late-night advertising market as the death blow:

“The challenge in late night is that the advertising marketplace is in significant secular decline. We are huge fans of Colbert, we love the show, unfortunately, the economics made it a challenge for us to keep going.”

The remarks double down on the network’s original claim that the decision was purely financial — pointedly dismissing theories that Colbert’s outspoken criticism of Paramount’s recent $16 million settlement with Donald Trump had anything to do with it.

The Domino Effect of Taylor Tomlinson’s Exit

Cheeks also revealed an unexpected twist: Colbert’s cancellation was partly sealed by comedian Taylor Tomlinson’s decision not to return as host of After Midnight.

According to Cheeks, Tomlinson’s departure left CBS unwilling to invest in a replacement. Instead, the network chose to pull the plug entirely on both After Midnight and The Late Show, abandoning late-night programming altogether.

It’s a startling move, especially considering After Midnight had already been renewed for a third season.

A Host’s Bittersweet Goodbye

On her final episode, Tomlinson made it clear she hadn’t wanted the show to die with her departure:

“It was my dream to finish off this season and hand it off to a new host. I really wanted CBS to replace me because I just think there are so many amazing comedians who would have done a great job with this show.”

But while the audience laughed at her self-deprecating jokes about being a “rat, road dog comedian” turned TV personality, Tomlinson also confessed the grind of nightly television just didn’t fit her touring stand-up lifestyle.

“I can’t believe that I got to do it as long as I did,” she told viewers, paying tribute to her guests, her crew, and the behind-the-scenes team that “brushed me like a horse” before each taping.

The End of an Era — Again

After Midnight was itself a reboot of Comedy Central’s cult favorite @midnight, a game show where comedians competed for the funniest takes on internet culture. CBS brought it back in 2024 to fill the void left by The Late Late Show with James Corden, with Tomlinson at the helm.

Now, that timeslot is occupied by Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen — a far cry from the star-driven, politically charged programming CBS once leaned on to define its late-night identity.

What CBS Isn’t Saying

While Cheeks’ explanation centers on economics, skeptics are noting the convenient timing: Colbert’s cancellation came just days after his biting on-air critique of Paramount’s Trump settlement.

Officially, the two events are unrelated. Unofficially, the coincidence is proving irresistible to industry insiders, fans, and conspiracy-minded media watchers.

With The Late Show set to run until May 2026, Colbert still has ten months to wield his comedic sledgehammer — and if history is any guide, he won’t be softening his blows.

The question now: when the final curtain falls, will CBS’s loss become another streaming platform’s most talked-about acquisition?