What Will Stephen Colbert Do After ‘Late Show’ Ends? He Has Options

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It’s the old — and not very funny — joke: Where does a 1,000-pound gorilla sit?

Answer: Wherever he wants.

Stephen Colbert, the presenter of The Late Show, might not be the undisputed 1000-pound gorilla of contemporary interviewing (that title belongs to Joe Rogan), but he certainly holds a substantial influence. Given that he’s the top-rated late-night host on broadcast TV, a media personality widely recognized, and boasts an audience that has been hooked on watching him for years, five nights a week… his market value is considerable, even if CBS decides to part ways with him.

Colbert might not have the freedom to pick any chair once his show is over, but he’ll certainly have multiple options to select from.

In a way, it could be argued that the 61-year-old’s insufficient readiness for this change is self-inflicted. Transitioning from the edgy environment of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show and his own The Colbert Report to CBS, the host has maintained a traditional talk show approach, unlike contemporaries such as Jimmy Fallon on NBC who creates digital shorts and potential viral content for online users, or Jimmy Kimmel on ABC who diversified into hosting awards shows, game shows, and yearly events at the New York upfronts. Conan O’Brien, having been previously let go from a broadcast talk show, foresaw this and proactively launched his successful podcast three years before TBS ended his cable network talk show in 2021.

Colbert, it’s important to note, relished his role as a talk show host, giving his best performance each night on set. Given his ratings surpassed those of his competitors, one might wonder why he would change anything. It appears that Colbert received encouragement from network executives over the years: “Keep doing what you’re doing.” This advice made sense, considering if you’re consistently dominating your time slot and avoiding controversy, then you’ve essentially covered all the bases in television since… well, since the advent of television. However, it seems that Colbert’s industry is facing a significant challenge; as reported by The New York Times, ad revenue for late-night programming has plummeted by half over the past seven years. Last month, broadcast even dropped below 20% of all TV viewing for the first time. Essentially, success in this field lies in maintaining that success.

As a devoted fan, I find myself reflecting on the recent decision by CBS to retire the format of “The Late Show,” not dismiss Stephen Colbert himself. This move seems to undermine the consistent message delivered by broadcast presidents and ad sales executives every year at the upfronts – that their network remains robust, relevant, and significant. Given Colbert’s impressive portfolio, it feels as though he has more enticing prospects than being forced out by CBS. He is a gifted talent, one who can captivate an audience. At this moment, it appears that CBS faces a challenging task: filling the void left by this iconic show.

So what happens now? Not at CBS, but for Colbert?

As a gaming enthusiast, I’d say:

I remember when David Letterman took his interview game to new heights with Netflix. Jon Stewart flipped The Daily Show style for Apple TV+, started a podcast, then returned to The Daily Show. Meanwhile, O’Brien didn’t just start a podcast; he built an entire podcast network! Guess who got $150 million for it? Sold it to SiriusXM, no less! On the side, he’s creating a travel show for HBO Max. Quite a journey they’ve had!

A simpler alternative for Colbert might involve another business, possibly a well-funded streaming platform, offering him a contract to continue work similar to his current role. The main challenge seems to be locating a company willing to take on this task and not hesitating to potentially upset the Trump administration in the process. Notably, companies like Disney, Apple, Amazon, and CBS parent Paramount appear to be more inclined to comply rather than resist.

If Colbert chooses to start his own talk or interview program, be it a podcast or on YouTube, there’s a possibility that the typical viewer of such content is 68 years old. This might indicate more about CBS’ audience than it does Colbert’s, but it could make it less likely for Colbert to encourage viewers to press “like” and “subscribe” on YouTube like he would with MrBeast.

Gavin Purcell, former showrunner for NBC’s Tonight Show and host of the AI For Humans podcast, stated to THR that his main point is the gradual dismantling of the conventional Hollywood system. This change will lead to fewer big names and more individual opportunities. The ease of distribution is significant, but what remains challenging is capturing attention. Colbert and his team excel at this.

It’s plausible that Colbert could unexpectedly join a completely fresh show format and re-emerge like a phoenix, marking a new beginning for him. Although he may seem the most conventional among the broadcast hosts, it’s worth noting that Colbert has shown an impressive ability to adapt drastically in the past. For instance, remember that The Colbert Report was essentially Colbert playing a completely different character.

In an unexpected twist, Colbert, who’s been satirizing politics for a decade, might enter the political arena himself. Although he resides in New Jersey, Colbert hails from South Carolina, and one of its Senate seats will be vacant next year. Over the years, Colbert has playfully hinted at running for office, but when asked directly about his intentions, he often evades the question. As far back as 2007, when Larry King inquired if he’d ever consider a presidential run, Colbert responded, “Every boy has thought about it… and when you see a field like this…

Ultimately, it’s quite improbable that Colbert would consider retiring and sticking to his retirement. This is because late-night broadcast hosts often have amassed sufficient wealth to never work again, yet they continue to be drawn back into the job, regardless of their age. They seldom leave a show voluntarily, and if forced out, they usually secure another similar position afterwards. Even Letterman, who appears to be the type of person who would retire, was only away for fewer than three years before reappearing on Netflix. It seems that there’s something about the kind of individual who thrives in late-night hosting that also resists fully stepping away from it.

It’s interesting to note that despite everyone else returning, Johnny Carson, the renowned host of “The Tonight Show,” never came back after retiring in 1992. In an interview with Esquire in 2002, he expressed his wisdom by saying, “It’s important to know when it’s time to step down.”

If Spotify had existed during the ’90s and offered Carson a chance to earn $30 million while working remotely, interviewing anyone of his choice, and saying whatever he desired without restrictions, it’s possible that he would have found this proposition hard to resist.

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2025-07-19 02:24