Colbert cheers Kimmel comeback as CBS plans end of Colbert’s Late Show

Stephen Colbert opened Monday's The Late Show with a jubilant reaction to ABC's announcement that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would return to the air, declaring, 'our long, national late-night nightmare is over.' Colbert told the studio audience that it was 'wonderful news for my dear friend Jimmy and his amazing staff,' and he peppered the moment with a sly dig about his own Emmy win, joking that he could once again tout the award as a form of faux respect for Kimmel. He also pressed his bosses at CBS, asking if they wanted to announce anything and quipping about 'the money thing' that has shadowed the network's late-night decisions. The moment capped a rare show of goodwill between rival programs as a major scheduling shift loomed.

ABC said Kimmel's show would return on Tuesday, just days after it was indefinitely suspended amid backlash over remarks about the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, a move that underscored the volatile intersection of late-night comedy and political debate. The decision marks a reopening of the late-night format that has drawn broad audiences for years and highlights ongoing tensions around how much commentary belongs on the air. Colbert's program, meanwhile, is set to end in May; CBS described the decision as 'purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night' and said it was not related to other matters at Paramount, including the company's ongoing discussions about a merger with Skydance Media. The Tuesday return of Kimmel and the May departure of Colbert will alter a landscape that has long depended on two of the genre's most-watched hosts.

As late-night television navigates advertiser considerations, streaming competition, and audience fragmentation, the two-shade shake-up emphasizes how networks are recalibrating their lineups to reflect shifting viewing habits. Kimmel's return will renew the ABC late-night slot's cadence, while Colbert's exit raises questions about CBS's ability to sustain a post-11 p.m. talk show in a market that has grown increasingly risk-averse for live, unscripted programming. Industry observers note that the changes come amid broader corporate movements at Paramount, including strategic reviews and potential mergers that have been discussed in public statements and investor reports. The net effect is a reminder that the era of stable, long-running late-night programs may be giving way to a more fluid, financially driven scheduling environment where viewer habits and corporate strategy increasingly converge.

Through it all, both programs have built durable audiences and recognizable brands, and their transitions will be watched closely as networks chart a path through an evolving media ecosystem. The coming months could determine how late-night remains a cultural touchstone in an era of on-demand entertainment, while also touching on the resilience of talk-show formats in a rapidly changing industry.