Jimmy Kimmel, the ABC late-night host, has accused CBS of canceling Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ to appease President Donald Trump and secure Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval for the Paramount-Skydance Media merger. In a monologue on Tuesday, Kimmel criticized the network for citing financial reasons for the decision, suggesting that the show’s cancellation was a strategic move to please Trump and facilitate the lucrative merger deal that was finalized in August.
The controversy centers around CBS’s July 18 statement announcing the end of Colbert’s show, which claimed the decision was ‘purely’ financial. However, Kimmel and others argue that the timing and context of the cancellation raise questions about its true motives, particularly given the ongoing scrutiny of the Paramount-Skydance merger. This merger, which received FCC approval on July 24 and was completed on August 7, has been the subject of much speculation, especially due to the potential conflicts of interest with Trump’s legal issues stemming from his ’60 Minutes’ lawsuit with CBS News.
Trump himself weighed in on the situation with a celebratory post on his Truth Social platform, praising the cancellation of Colbert’s show and warning that other late-night hosts, including Kimmel, might be next to go. In response to Trump’s comments, Kimmel retorted, dubbing the former president ‘Frosty the Snowflake’ and questioning his stance on cancel culture, as he made jokes about Trump on his show. Kimmel also revealed that Colbert would be a guest on his upcoming tour in New York, assuring that he has no plans to leave television.
This controversy has sparked broader discussions about the future of late-night programming on Paramount-owned networks, with concerns about the potential impact on other shows like ‘The Daily Show’ on Comedy Central, which shares a progressive outlook similar to Colbert’s show. The situation highlights the intersection of media ownership, political influence, and the entertainment industry’s complex landscape, as it continues to navigate the challenges posed by the Trump administration’s policies and the evolving regulatory environment.
CBS did not comment on the allegations or the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of ‘The Late Show’ in response to inquiries from Fox News Digital. Nonetheless, the incident underscores the growing scrutiny of media conglomerates and their decisions, raising questions about the independence of late-night television and the role of political influence in shaping content and programming strategies.