A late-night TV show is more than the sum of its parts. “The Late Show” certainly was.
First with David Letterman, then with Stephen Colbert, “The Late Show” was an amusing and comforting ritual for viewers; a treasured stage for comedians; a coveted platform for politicians and authors; and a reliable marketing vehicle for CBS.
The interviews made news. The monologues made sense of the news. The comedy bits made the whole world feel a little less bleak.
But now it’s all going away. CBS is closing the curtain on “The Late Show” on Thursday night. Citing broadcast TV’s financial woes, the network is giving up on an admittedly expensive late-night format and letting Colbert take his talents elsewhere.
Many critics see it as a form of capitulation to President Donald Trump, who has bristled at Colbert’s acerbic criticism and sought to silence him. Some “Late Show” fans believe Trump effectively canned Colbert and the show.
