David Letterman, the former host of the Late Show, has openly criticized CBS following the network’s decision to cancel Stephen Colbert’s talk show.
In a candid rebuke, Letterman referred to CBS and Paramount executives as “lying weasels” after they attributed the Late Show’s cancellation to “financial issues.”
“They’re lying,” Letterman asserted in an interview with the New York Times. “Let me just add one other thing—they’re lying weasels.”
Letterman, who hosted the 11:30 p.m. show for over two decades, handed the reins to Colbert in 2015.
In July 2025, CBS, a subsidiary of Paramount, announced the show’s cancellation, marking the end of an era for the iconic late-night program.
The ownership of Paramount changed hands shortly after, as David Ellison of Skydance Media acquired the company in August 2025. The acquisition was backed by his father, Larry Ellison, the Chief Technology Officer of Oracle Corporation.
A spokesperson reiterated to the Times that the move to remove Colbert’s show from the air was ‘unequivocally a financial decision,’ much to Letterman’s heated disbelief.
‘To hell with CBS,’ Letterman added. ‘To hell with Skydance. To hell with the [Ellison] twins or whoever the hell these guys are.’
Former anchor of the Late Show David Letterman called executives of his former network ‘lying weasels’ following the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s late night spot
Letterman passed the hosting spot onto Colbert after being at the helm of the show for more than 20 years
Despite admitting to feeling some distance from the show that he manned over a decade ago, Letterman shared Colbert’s disappointment with the parent company.
‘If there’s outrage to be directed at management, either real or imagined, I’m all in,’ Letterman said. ‘Let’s go.’
But Letterman called the sudden cancellation and subsequent transition of power a ‘botched holdup.’
‘What about the humanity for Stephen and the humanity of people who love him and the humanity for people who still enjoyed that 11:30 respite?’ he said.
‘He was dumped because the people selling the network to Skydance said, “Oh no, there’s not going to be any trouble with that guy.
‘We’re going to take care of the show. We’re just going to throw that into the deal. When will the ink on the check dry?”‘
Colbert’s television spot will be given to billionaire producer Byron Allen and his show, ‘Comics Unleashed’
Following its final episode on May 21, the Late Show will be replaced by businessman, producer and billionaire Byron Allen and his comedy talk show Comics Unleashed.
Letterman previously worked with Allen in the 1970s when the pair wrote jokes for Jimmie Walker.
‘He’s been wildly more successful than any hundred of us,’ he told the Times. ‘I periodically talk to him, and neither he nor I understand how he became a billionaire.’
After the cancellation of The Late Show, many are concerned that this may mean the beginning of the end for late-night network television.
Letterman, a veteran of the genre, said he would be surprised if other late-night titans like Seth Meyer, Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon held on for another year.
‘It’s not completely dead on arrival, but I would be surprised if it lasts more than a year or so,’ he said. ‘But it’s such an easy soothing format that it’s got to stay on.’
Colbert poked fun at his network in December after they cut his show for ‘financial reasons’ but made a $108 billion bid to purchase Warner Bros
Paramount Skydance made a $108 billion all-cash bid to purchase Warner Bros Discovery in December 2025.
When the bid was announced, Colbert took a crack at his network’s pricy bid after cutting his show due to budgeting issues.
‘Just yesterday morning, my beloved parent company, Paramount, reportedly launched a hostile takeover bid for Warner Brothers valued at $108 billion. Wow,’ he said in December.
‘I got to say, if my company’s got that kind of green, I’m sure they can afford to un-cancel one of their best shows.’
The Daily Mail contacted CBS for comment.
