David Letterman has voiced deep skepticism about the future of late-night television, speaking ahead of Stephen Colbert’s final episode of The Late Show on CBS. In a New York Times interview, the 79-year-old former host said he would be 'surprised' if the traditional late-night talk show format survives more than a year, citing shifting media habits and the rise of digital platforms. While he acknowledged the format’s comforting rhythm—'humans talking to humans'—he questioned its long-term viability in a fragmented viewing landscape.

Colbert’s show, which ran for 33 years and was hosted by Letterman for 22 of them, ends on May 21, 2026. CBS announced the cancellation in July 2025, calling it a 'purely financial decision' amid declining ad revenue in late-night programming. But critics have raised doubts, noting the timing coincided with Paramount’s multibillion-dollar merger with Skydance, a deal requiring approval from the Trump administration. Colbert, a consistent critic of Trump, had recently aired segments condemning a $16 million settlement CBS News made over an edited 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris during the 2024 election.

Letterman challenged the network’s explanation, suggesting the cancellation was less about money and more about eliminating a political liability. 'They’re lying,' he said, arguing that Colbert and his team deserved better treatment. He emphasized the human cost—the nightly audience, the crew, the cultural role of late-night comedy. CBS has maintained that the decision was financial, with a spokesperson calling it 'unequivocally' so. The moment underscores a turning point for a genre that has shaped American political discourse for decades.