The stage at The Late Show has gone quiet — and when Stephen Colbert returns in September, it will be for the beginning of the end.

Thursday night’s broadcast marked the final fresh episode of the summer, with CBS announcing that the hit late-night series will take a three-week hiatus before its shortened final season kicks off on Tuesday, September 2. Until then, viewers will have to settle for reruns — nostalgic reminders of the political jabs, celebrity interviews, and satirical monologues that defined Colbert’s run.

A Break With Bigger Implications

The hiatus might sound routine for late-night television, but this summer pause comes under extraordinary circumstances.
Colbert’s last episode before the break coincided with a major corporate shakeup — the official closure of the Paramount-Skydance merger.

The timing was uncanny. While the deal was being celebrated at a press conference Thursday, reporters pressed executives about Colbert’s looming departure and the show’s abrupt end. CBS maintains that the decision to cancel The Late Show was made for “purely financial” reasons, while Skydance has flatly denied any involvement.

The Countdown to Goodbye

Colbert is slated to take his final bow as Late Show host in May, ending a tenure that began in 2015 when he replaced David Letterman. The upcoming season will be shorter than most, but not the shortest in history — that distinction goes to Season 8, which was abruptly cut short by the Writers Guild of America strike in 2023.

For fans, this means only a handful of months remain to see Colbert’s sharp political wit and dry humor grace the Ed Sullivan Theater stage. For CBS, it means navigating one of the biggest late-night transitions in recent years, all while the network undergoes a seismic corporate merger.

A Changing Late-Night Landscape

Colbert’s exit is just one piece of a broader late-night shuffle this summer.

The Daily Show recently began a five-week break, leaving Comedy Central’s flagship program off the air until late August.

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers are pressing on with new episodes through next week before their own two-week vacations begin on August 15.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! is entering its final two-week stretch of summer guest hosts, with Nicole Byer stepping in before Kimmel’s return on the same night Colbert resumes — September 2.

It’s a moment of both absence and anticipation in late-night TV, as multiple shows step back, regroup, and prepare for fall — a season that could define the future of the genre.

The Financial Factor

CBS’s framing of Colbert’s departure as a “purely financial” move has left both fans and industry insiders skeptical. The Late Show has been a consistent ratings leader in the late-night wars, frequently topping Fallon and Kimmel.

So why cut a proven hit?
Some speculate that the changing economics of broadcast television — declining ad revenue, a shrinking linear audience, and the high costs of producing a nightly talk show — have made even top-rated programs vulnerable. Others suspect the merger may bring a strategic shift toward more flexible, lower-cost programming.

Colbert’s Legacy

When Colbert steps away in May, he’ll leave behind a body of work that helped redefine late-night TV for a politically divided America.

From skewering Donald Trump and the GOP to delivering emotional monologues during national crises, Colbert balanced comedy with pointed commentary. For some, his Late Show era was the definitive late-night experience of the Trump and Biden years. For others, it became a symbol of late-night’s increasing political polarization.

Either way, his departure marks the end of an era — not just for CBS, but for the cultural role late-night TV has played over the past decade.

What Comes Next?

CBS has yet to announce Colbert’s successor, and speculation is rampant. Will they choose a familiar network face? A rising comedic talent? Or will they break the mold entirely and embrace a streaming-first format?

The answer could set the tone for how late-night evolves in the streaming age — especially as younger audiences turn away from traditional TV altogether.

A Fall to Remember

When Colbert returns on September 2, it won’t just be another season premiere. It will be the opening chapter of a farewell tour.
Viewers will watch knowing the clock is ticking, each monologue and interview inching closer to a final sign-off next spring.

And in the backdrop, the Paramount-Skydance merger looms — a corporate shake-up that could reshape CBS from the top down. What will the network look like by the time Colbert’s desk is permanently empty?

For now, fans will have to wait through the summer reruns, holding onto the knowledge that when The Late Show comes back, it’s not just coming back — it’s counting down.