Stephen Colbert had an enormous 2025 — and he’s bought one huge lesson to share after getting via it.
Whereas chatting with Andy Cohen, 57, and Anderson Cooper, 58, throughout their New Yr’s Eve protection on CNN, Colbert was requested to mirror on the previous 12 months.
“A lot has occurred within the final 12 months of your life, I’m curious what you left final 12 months, having discovered? What was the foremost lesson that you just discovered?” Cohen requested.
In response, The Late Present with Stephen Colbert host, 61, quipped, “What did I be taught? Don’t belief billionaires!”
Colbert teamed up with The Traitors host Alan Cumming in April 2025 to carry out a parody music “Billionaires Are Truly Good” on an episode of The Late Present.
“All these billionaires are having an outsized impression on our politics today,” Colbert stated on the present whereas introducing the music. He added, “So you understand your authorities understands what you’re going via, of us. They’ve to purchase eggs too. Fabergé eggs. However nonetheless.”
The late-night host then questioned, “Why do additionally they want political energy and rocket launches and everybody to see them in magazines wanting all jacked-up and sexy?”
Colbert went on to recommend the rich had been making an attempt to fill an “emotional void” and that the existence of the music might assist. The music’s lyric brazenly mocked the super-rich’s pursuits.
“Some individuals say we must always eat the wealthy/ I don’t blame them, they give the impression of being delish,” the pair sang. “Shut up purchase their self-driving automobiles/ And in case you’re fortunate you’ll be their slave on Mars.”
Two months later, Colbert introduced that CBS had axed The Late Present, with the ultimate episode wrapping after the 2025/2026 season after a decade on air.
Stephen Colbert. (Photograph by Michael Buckner/Selection through Getty Pictures)
“Earlier than we begin the present I need to let you understand one thing that I came upon simply final evening. Subsequent 12 months can be our final season, the community [CBS] can be ending The Late Present in Could,” Colbert stated earlier than the taping of the July 17 episode of the present.
Because the viewers booed, he continued: “I share your emotions. It’s not simply the tip of our present but it surely’s the tip of The Late Present on CBS. I’m not being changed. That is all simply going away. I do need to say that the parents at CBS have been nice companions … And I’m grateful to the viewers, you, who’ve joined us each evening, in right here, on the market, and all world wide.”
Co-CEO of Paramount International and President and Chief Govt Officer of CBS George Cheeks, President of CBS Leisure Amy Reisenbach and President of CBS Studios David Staph addressed the cancellations in a press release on the time.
“The Late Present with Stephen Colbert will finish its historic run in Could 2026 on the finish of the printed season. We take into account Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and can retire The Late Present franchise at the moment,” the assertion learn. “We’re proud that Stephen known as CBS house. He and the printed can be remembered within the pantheon of greats that graced late evening tv.”
CBS got here below hearth after canceling Stephen Colbert‘s The Late Present — however when does the final episode air? Colbert, 61, took over internet hosting the Late Present franchise following David Letterman’s step again in 2015 and celebrated almost a decade on the air earlier than surprising viewers with the cancellation information. “Earlier than we begin the present […]
Colbert spoke additional concerning the finish of his Late Present stint throughout an interview with GQ journal in November 2025.
“Pay attention, each present’s bought to finish at a while,” Colbert instructed GQ. “And I’ve been on a bunch of reveals which have ended generally by our lights and generally by the choice of different individuals. And that’s simply the character of present enterprise. You’ll be able to’t fear about that. You bought to be an enormous boy about that. However I feel we’re the primary primary present to ever get canceled.”
That being stated, Colbert admitted that he beloved doing the present however will even really feel a “sense of reduction” that it’s ending.
“I really like what we do and I really like the grind,” he stated. “You’ll be able to solely do considered one of these reveals, do the jokes each evening, 12 months after 12 months for 20 years, in case you give a rattling in any respect about what you’re speaking about. And I do. However there’s a sense of reduction that I won’t need to placed on the snorkel and get into the sewer day-after-day.”
