Before Stephen Colbert’s Cancellation, Jon Stewart Admitted Fears About His Late-Night Future

Days before CBS announced the cancellation of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” Jon Stewart had voiced his concern over the future of his “late night” future. Coincidentally, the comments dropped just as CBS revealed Colbert’s beloved show was ending in May 2026, citing “purely financial reasons.” The decision has sparked widespread shock, speculation, and backlash from fans. This especially considering the show’s decades-long legacy and continued success throughout the years.

“We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise in May of 2026. We are proud that Stephen called CBS home,” CBS said in a statement. “He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late-night television.”

Despite the shocking announcement, the network did insist the cancellation had “nothing to do with performance, content, or other matters at Paramount.” Still, many remain skeptical, especially after Colbert previously spoke about Paramount’s $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump.

The iconic late-night show first premiered in 1993 with legendary host David Letterman at the helm. Colbert took over in 2015, breathing new life into the franchise with his political wit, unapologetic humor, and thoughtful interviews. Now, the curtain will sadly fall for good in 2026.

Jon Stewart Voices Concern Over Comedy Central’s Future

In the aftermath, fans are now turning their attention to another staple of late-night. Several have started to question Stewart, specifically after he spoke about his fears of the future. During a recent podcast episode of “The Weekly Show” on Thursday, July 17, Stewart expressed uncertainty about the future of his own program on “Comedy Central.” His concern followed the announcement of CBS’ newly announced $8 billion merger with Skydance Media.

“Boy, that’s a good question. Unfortunately, we haven’t heard anything from them. They haven’t called me and said like, ‘Don’t get too comfortable in that office, Stewart!’” he said about his fate.

Stewart, who originally hosted “The Daily Show” from 1999 to 2015, returned in 2024 as a part-time anchor. His latest comments suggest he suspects bigger changes may be brewing at the network level.

“But let me tell you something: I’ve been kicked out of shittier establishments than that,” Stewart quipped. “We’ll land on our feet.”

Still, he’s cautiously optimistic, pointing out that “The Daily Show” still remains one of Comedy Central’s most-watched shows alongside “South Park.”

“I think we’re the only sort of life that exists on a current basis other than ‘South Park.’ But it’s the only thing on there,” he said. “I’d like to think we bring enough value to the property. If they’re looking at it as purely a real estate transaction, I think we bring a lot of value… But that may not be their consideration. They may sell the whole f—ing place for parts. I just don’t know. We’ll deal with it when we do.”

Other Late-Night Hosts Rally Around Colbert

Stewart’s remarks come as “The Daily Show” just received a 2025 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Talk Series this week, which is the first in nearly a decade.

Jon Stewart isn’t the only late-night personality speaking out. Jimmy Fallon took to Instagram Stories to express his dismay. “I’m just as shocked as everyone,” the ”Tonight Show” host wrote. “Stephen is one of the sharpest, funniest hosts to ever do it. I really thought I’d ride this out with him for years to come.”

Jimmy Kimmel also didn’t hold back. In his own Instagram story, the host blasted CBS, writing, “Love you, Stephen. F**k you and all your Seldons, CBS.”

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