Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ was a platform for a wide range of liberal media figures, including CNN and MSNBC anchors, as well as left-leaning analysts. The show, which aired for over a decade, frequently hosted liberal media guests, including CNN and MSNBC anchors, as well as prominent left-leaning pundits. Among the most frequent guests were CNN anchor and ’60 Minutes’ correspondent Anderson Cooper, who made 20 appearances on the show. Other notable guests included MSNBC’s Chris Hayes and Rachel Maddow, as well as ‘The View’ co-host Whoopi Goldberg. The show also hosted regular appearances from CBS news division hosts, including Gayle King and John Dickerson, for cross-promotion. The show was known for its frequent appearances of liberal journalists from rival networks, with many of them serving as regular guests.
The cancellation of Colbert’s show has sparked significant controversy, with many liberals alleging that the decision was politically motivated rather than financially driven. CBS has stated that the cancellation was due to the show’s financial losses, with the show reportedly losing the network $40 million annually. Despite this, the decision has been met with criticism, with some arguing that the move was driven by political considerations rather than the show’s performance. The show’s cancellation has also been viewed as a significant loss for the late-night television landscape, particularly given the program’s long history and its role in hosting a wide array of liberal media figures.
Fox News Channel’s ‘Gutfeld!’ program has been drawing significantly larger audiences, with the show averaging 3.1 million viewers compared to Colbert’s 1.9 million. The show’s demographics also show a significant difference, with ‘Gutfeld!’ averaging 398,000 viewers aged 25-54, compared to Colbert’s 288,000. This has led to speculation that the decision to cancel Colbert’s show may not have been due to the program’s financial performance, but rather the broader political climate in which it was operating.
While the show was a consistent platform for liberal media guests, the decision to cancel it has prompted a significant amount of backlash from those who believe the move was politically driven. The show’s cancellation has also been viewed as a significant loss for the late-night television landscape, particularly given the program’s long history and its role in hosting a wide array of liberal media figures. The show’s cancellation has also raised concerns about the future of late-night programming, particularly given the significant shift in the viewer demographics and the increasing influence of political figures on the media landscape.