A Former Producer For The Late Show Under David Letterman Just Weighed In On CBS’ Surprising Decision: ‘Never Threaten A Corporate Merger’

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Discussions about the cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” have sparked a lot of debate. Many of these discussions focus on the future of late-night TV, which appears to be growing more unpredictable as viewers consume media in various manners. Furthermore, some people are questioning whether CBS’s decision to end the show was entirely for financial reasons as they claim. Meanwhile, one former producer from the franchise, who collaborated with original host David Letterman, is now offering their thoughts on the matter.

Rob Burnett, in particular, is one of the more recent individuals expressing opinions, and he has extensive background in late-night television. Back in 1993, he commenced his career with NBC on Late Night with David Letterman. Over time, Burnett transitioned to CBS alongside Letterman when The Late Show was adopted by that network. When Deadline contacted Burnett regarding the Stephen Colbert update, he jokingly commented about the recent corporate shifts happening at CBS.

Back in 1993, when we embarked on The Late Show, our objectives were common to all who venture into talk shows: bring laughter and ensure no potential corporate takeovers loomed. However, if Colbert had been leading the ratings and received an Emmy nod just two days earlier, this whole incident would have never unfolded.

The experienced author mentions that Paramount Global, which owns CBS, is nearing completion of its merger with Skydance. Simultaneously, they’ve resolved a $16 million lawsuit linked to U.S. President Donald Trump and 60 Minutes. This lawsuit was considered the last obstacle preventing Paramount from gaining FCC approval for their recent takeover, as reported by industry sources. During his show, Stephen Colbert criticized his company for choosing to settle with Trump.

Ever since it was announced that The Late Show would no longer air, numerous celebrities have voiced their displeasure on social media. Jimmy Kimmel and Bowen Yang are among those expressing their concerns, with many believing that Stephen Colbert is being unfairly punished for his remarks rather than being axed due to financial constraints. Rob Burnett, however, isn’t entirely convinced that money was the primary factor leading to the show’s cancellation, pointing out Colbert’s popularity among talk show hosts as a possible explanation.

Despite the transformation in late-night finance, it seems unfair to underestimate a talent like Stephen Colbert so lightly. Such an evaluation doesn’t seem logical. Stephen is truly exceptional; he continues to make an impact and will do so for many years. They might want to pick their opponents with more care.

As a dedicated cinephile, I’m excited to share that, as things currently stand, my run on “The Late Show” is set to conclude in May 2026. I stepped into the role previously held by the legendary David Letterman back in September 2015, following his retirement earlier that year. Since then, I’ve been honored with 11 Emmy nominations for my hosting duties and even received a Peabody Award.

Recently, the news of show’s cancellation has surfaced, and I addressed this during an episode of my talk show. Insiders have reported that the crew isn’t thrilled with this decision, and you can watch my on-air address below for more details.

It appears that many individuals are voicing their views about the future of The Late Show, and they’re not shy about expressing them. It remains to be seen if more television producers, like Rob Burnett, will weigh in on the matter as the 2025 TV schedule progresses and Stephen Colbert and his team edge closer to wrapping up their tenure.

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2025-07-20 18:37