Stephen Colbert won’t be staying up late for much longer.
Following 10 years as host of The Late Show, the comedian revealed the long-running late night franchise—which began with David Letterman in 1993—is ending after 33 years.
“It’s not just the end of our show, but it’s the end of The Late Show on CBS,” Colbert told his audience in a clip shared to his Instagram July 17. “I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.”
While lamenting the network’s decision to sunset the franchise—which he explained he had only learned about the day before—the 61-year-old thanked his loyal audience and crew.
“I’m grateful to you, the audience, who have joined us,” Colbert continued. “I’m grateful to share the stage with this band, these artists over here every night. And I am extraordinarily, deeply grateful to the 200 people who work here. We get to do this show for each other every day, all day, and I’ve had the pleasure and the responsibility of sharing what we do every day with you in front of this camera for the last 10 years.”
And with his signature wit, Colbert alluded to the show’s May 2026 end with optimism, adding, “It’s a job that I’m looking forward to doing with this usual gang of idiots for another 10 months. It’s gonna be fun.”
As for why the network has decided to end the show, which earned an Outstanding Talk Series Emmy nomination the day before? CBS executives George Cheeks, Amy Reisenbach and David Stapf provided frank insight.
“This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,” the trio shared in a joint press release. “It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”
The executives went on to share their appreciation for Colbert and the show’s success.
“Our admiration, affection, and respect for the talents of Stephen Colbert and his incredible team made this agonizing decision even more difficult,” the statement continued. “With much gratitude, we look forward to honoring Stephen and celebrating the show over the next 10 months alongside its millions of fans and viewers.”
Read on for more shows that have been canceled—and renewed—during the 2025 season.
Renewed: The Buccaneers
The Apple TV+ drama inspired by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edith Wharton’s final novel will return for season three.
Renewed: Lioness
The Paramount+ thriller starring Zoe Saldana and Nicole Kidman was renewed for a third season, according to multiple outlets.
Canceled: The Ultimatum: Queer Love
The Netflix dating reality show won’t be back for season three, Varity reported in October.
Canceled: Mid-Century Modern
The Hulu comedy inspired by The Golden Girls won’t be returning for a second season.
Renewed: The Morning Show
The Apple TV+ drama, starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, will be back for season five.
Canceled: Catfish
The MTV series will end with season nine.
“After 12 years,” host Nev Schulman said as he sat next to Max Joseph in a Sept. 22 Instagram video, “300 episodes and just a lot of traveling around this incredible country, Catfish has officially been cancelled. Sorry.”
Renewed: Hunting Wives
After the May Cobb novel adaptation became a smash hit on Netflix when it was added to the platform in summer of 2025, the streamer confirmed it had picked up the series as an original for season two.
Renewed: Foundation
The apocalyptic sci-fi drama will be back for season four.
Renewed: Overcompensating
The Prime Video comedy will head back to school for season two.
Renewed: Berlin ER
Apple TV+ renewed the German-language drama for a second season.
Renewed: The Paper
Stop the presses: The Office spinoff will be back for season two on Peacock.
Ending: Bel-Air
Peacock’s reimagined drama will debut it’s fourth and final season Nov. 24.
Renewed: Password
Get ready for more outrageous clues, wild guesses and comedic moments as Keke Palmer returns as host alongside wordplay master Jimmy Fallon for season three.
Renewed: The Institute
The horror series was for season two, which should come as no surprise given that The Institute ranks as the best premiere ever on MGM+.
Renewed: America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys
Season three will follow the 2025-2026 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders squad from start to finish—kicking off at auditions and training camp and continuing all the way through the NFL season.
Renewed: Solo Traveling
Tracee Ellis Ross‘ Roku Channel travel series will continue jet-setting to fabulous destinations with season two.
Renewed: American Ninja Warrior
The intense NBC competition series will continue to make jaws drop when more contestants compete for the $250,000 price on the upcoming 18th season.
Ending: And Just Like That…
Series creator Michael Patrick King revealed the Sex And The City spin-off starring Sarah Jessica Parker will end after the current third season in a two-part finale.
“And just like that…the ongoing storytelling of the Sex and the City universe is coming to an end,” Michael said in an Aug 1 Instagram post. “While I was writing the last episode of And Just Like That…season 3, it became clear to me that this might be a wonderful place to stop.”
“SJP and I held off announcing the news until now because we didn’t want the word ‘final’ to overshadow the fun of watching the season,” he added. “It’s with great gratitude we thank all the viewers who have let these characters into their homes and their hearts over these many years.”
Renewed: Untamed
Netflix’s new series set in Yellowstone National Park and starring Eric Bana scored a season two renewal, according to Variety.
Renewed: Pluribus
The new series, in which the most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness, was renewed by Apple TV+ even before its season one premiere.
Renewed: Days of Our Lives
The long-running Peacock soap opera will return with more drama for seasons 62 and 63.
Renewed: Stick
Owen Wilson‘s Apple TV+ comedy scored a season two pickup.
Renewed: Top Chef
Bravo’s culinary competition will return for season 23 set in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Renewed: Wednesday
The Jenna Ortega-starring Addams Family spinoff will return to Netflix for a third season.
Canceled: The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
CBS announced they would shutter the late night franchise, with its last episode airing in May 2026.
Renewed: King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch
The Netflix reality series will return for season three.
Renewed: The Ultimatum: Marry or Move on
The Netflix reality series was renewed for season four.
Renewed: Murderbot
Apple TV+ announced a season two renewal for its acclaimed comedic thriller Murderbot starring Alexander Skarsgård.
Renewed: The Flip Off
The HGTV competition series will be back for season two.
Canceled: The Flipping El Moussas
Tarek and Heather Rae El Moussa‘s HGTV renovation show won’t be returning for more home makeovers.
