Jimmy Kimmel did not hold back while addressing the end of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert during a rare gathering of late-night television’s biggest hosts. Kimmel joined Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver on Monday’s episode of The Late Show as the CBS program prepares to sign off permanently on May 21.

“I will tell you, when I got knocked off the air for a few days, people canceled Disney+. Why aren’t people canceling Paramount+? Because you never had it in the first place?” Jimmy Kimmel said on Monday’s episode of The Late Show.

The joke came during a conversation about the struggles facing late-night television and how viewing habits have changed over the years. Kimmel pointed out that even though traditional TV ratings are lower now, fans still support late-night shows by watching clips online and on platforms like YouTube.

Stephen Colbert prompted the group to make a case for the future of late-night TV, with Kimmel insisting the audience is still there despite the genre’s recent struggles. The emotional episode also served as one of Colbert’s final major on-air conversations before CBS retires The Late Show franchise entirely later this month.

Late-night television faces another major turning point as Stephen Colbert prepares for life after CBS.

Stephen Colbert’s next chapter after The Late Show

CBS will officially end The Late Show franchise on May 21, 2026, following financial changes at the network and a major legal settlement. As the iconic late-night show comes to an end, Stephen Colbert is already looking ahead to new creative projects.

Stephen Colbert is reportedly working on a new Lord of the Rings movie titled Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past with his son, Peter McGee. The project reflects his longtime love for J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy world.

“So if you'll excuse me, I've got to finish a television show, and I've got to write a movie script, but I will see you all in The Shire,” Stephen Colbert said in an interview with USA Today. The statement highlighted just how dramatically his day-to-day life may change once he steps away from the demanding pace of nightly television.

Colbert had previously revealed that CBS would not continue The Late Show with a new host after his departure. Instead, the network has opted to close the chapter on the franchise altogether, ending a late-night legacy that has spanned decades.

“It's not just the end of our show, it's the end of the ‘Late Show’ on CBS,” Colbert previously explained, according to USA Today. Reports indicate that Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen will take over the 11:35 PM slot beginning May 22, marking a major shift in CBS’ late-night strategy.

The ongoing conversation around the future of late-night television has only intensified following Jimmy Kimmel’s recent Paramount+ joke. While many fans remain divided over CBS’ decision, Colbert appears focused on exploring creative opportunities far beyond the late-night format.

What are your thoughts on CBS ending The Late Show? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Karishma Dasgupta

Edited by

Aliza Siddiqui