Simply hours earlier than Colbert’s firing was introduced, Jon Stewart opened up on “The Weekly Present” podcast, candidly admitting that he has “no thought” what the longer term holds for “The Day by day Present,” which he just lately returned to host.
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Jon Stewart Voices Concern Over Future Of ‘The Day by day Present’
“Sadly, we haven’t heard something from them,” Stewart stated of Comedy Central and dad or mum firm Paramount. “They haven’t known as me and stated like, ‘Don’t get too comfy in that workplace, Stewart!’” He added with amusing, “I’ve been kicked out of sh-ttier institutions than that. We’ll land on our ft.”
However even with humor, Stewart’s unease was clear. “I’d wish to consider that… with out ‘The Day by day Present’, Comedy Central is type of like muzak at this level,” he stated. “I believe we’re the one kind of life that exists on a present foundation aside from ‘South Park.’”
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The 62-year-old host expressed hope that the present nonetheless brings “sufficient worth” to Comedy Central, although he acknowledged that might not be a part of the corporate’s present “consideration,” particularly as Paramount faces main upheaval amid its proposed $8 billion merger with Skydance.
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Stephen Colbert’s Axing Sparks Trade Panic
CBS shocked followers and business insiders alike when it confirmed Thursday that “The Late Present with Stephen Colbert” would finish its historic run in Could 2026. The choice, CBS stated, was “purely a monetary choice in opposition to a difficult backdrop in late night time,” and never a mirrored image of Colbert’s efficiency or political content material.
Nonetheless, the timing has raised eyebrows. Colbert had simply gone on a fiery rant on-air, blasting Paramount for settling a $16 million lawsuit with Donald Trump over claims the community manipulated a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris.
Calling the settlement a “massive, fats, bribe,” Colbert accused Paramount of giving in too simply. “They know ‘utterly with out advantage.’ Paramount produced ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beast,’ in any case,” he quipped.
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Now, studies declare “The Late Present” was hemorrhaging $40 million yearly, making it a straightforward goal for the chopping block as Paramount restructures forward of the merger.
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Inside Stephen Colbert’s Exit
Stephen Colbert, whose closing broadcast is about for Could 2026, reportedly realized that “The Late Present” was being canceled round July 4. The choice got here from Paramount Co-CEO George Cheeks, who then went on trip, leaving CBS executives to strategize behind Colbert’s again, as CNN reported.
Colbert confirmed the information internally on Thursday, racing to tell his crew personally earlier than phrase leaked to the press. The comic was stated to be involved that his employees would possibly in any other case discover out about their looming unemployment from information headlines reasonably than their very own management.
Whereas some speculated that Colbert’s vocal criticism of Donald Trump could have performed a job within the present’s demise, media analyst Matthew Belloni pushed again on that idea. He famous that though Colbert, together with Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel, has turn into identified for his constant Trump-targeted monologues, usually criticized by viewers as tiresome, there isn’t a confirmed proof that his cancellation was designed to appease the previous president.
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Trump Celebrates Colbert’s Cancellation, And Takes Purpose At Late Night time Rivals
President Donald Trump wasted no time weighing in on Stephen Colbert’s “Late Present” cancellation, and his response was predictably gleeful.
Taking to Truth Social on Friday, Trump wrote, “I completely love that Colbert acquired fired. His expertise was even lower than his scores.” He didn’t cease there, turning his consideration to fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon.
“I hear Jimmy Kimmel is subsequent. Has even much less expertise than Colbert,” Trump claimed, earlier than praising Fox Information’ Greg Gutfeld because the reigning voice of late-night. “[He’s] higher than all of them mixed, together with the Moron on NBC who ruined the as soon as nice ‘Tonight Present,’” Trump added, referencing Fallon.
The president has lengthy held a grudge in opposition to the normal late-night circuit, which he’s steadily slammed as biased and out of contact.
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Is Stewart Subsequent?
Whereas “The Day by day Present” isn’t going through rapid cancellation, Jon Stewart’s remarks and the precedent set by Stephen Colbert’s ousting have followers anxious.
Stewart, who initially hosted “The Day by day Present” from 1999 to 2015 earlier than returning earlier this yr as a rotating host, acknowledged the uncertainty of staying on a community the place legacy franchises are all of a sudden being shuttered.
As Paramount and Skydance put together to finalize their merger, which nonetheless requires federal approval, even longtime stars like Stewart are feeling the instability creeping into once-reliable establishments of late-night TV.
For now, Stewart stays in his Comedy Central chair, however because the panorama continues to shift beneath his ft, even he admits that nothing is assured.
