Colbert Canceled, Kimmel Suspended: Inside the 2025 Late-Night TV War

Is this just comedy anymore? 2025 transformed the landscape of late-night television from entertainment into a political battlefield. The year was defined not by viral celebrity interviews, but by the stunning cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and the suspension and swift reinstatement of Jimmy Kimmel. These two events ignited a firestorm over free speech, corporate accountability, and political pressure.

The $16 Million Joke That Sparked a Fire

The saga began in July when Paramount Global, parent company of CBS, agreed to a $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump over the alleged “deceitful” editing of an interview. Stephen Colbert didn't mince words, calling the payment a “big fat bribe” on his show, especially as Paramount was seeking the Trump administration's approval for its merger with Skydance Media. “I don't know if anything will ever repair my trust in this company,” Colbert quipped. “But just taking a stab at it, I'd say $16 million would help.”

Just days later, Colbert announced The Late Show had been canceled, with its final episode set for May 2026. While CBS claimed it was a “purely a financial decision,” speculation was rampant that it was tied to the pending merger. Unfazed, Colbert ramped up his criticism of Trump, particularly focusing on his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Kimmel Suspension and a United Front

The controversy escalated in September when ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! “indefinitely” following Republican backlash to his comments. The move appeared to be a response to pressure from the Trump administration, with FCC chairman Brendan Carr openly threatening the network.

The backlash was immediate and immense. A chorus of late-night hosts, including Seth Meyers, Jon Stewart, and John Oliver, condemned the censorship. Viewers responded by canceling Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions at double the normal rate. Bowing to the pressure, ABC reinstated Kimmel a week later. His return monologue on Sept. 24 smashed viewership records, garnering over 23 million YouTube views in less than a day.