Late-night television veteran David Letterman issued a critical response to CBS following the network’s cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” He released a 20-minute video on his YouTube channel featuring past critiques of the network.
The 78-year-old former host shared the video on Monday, July 22, 2025, with the caption “You can’t spell CBS without BS,” as reported by several sources. The video, titled “CBS: The Tiffany Network,” included eight clips from 1994 to 2013, during Letterman’s 22-year stint hosting “The Late Show” on the network.
Letterman hosted “The Late Show” on CBS from 1993 until 2015, when Stephen Colbert took over. The compilation video represents his first public commentary on the network’s controversial decision to cancel the late-night program entirely in May 2026.
Included in the compilation is a 1994 segment where Letterman mocked CBS for losing its NFL broadcast rights to Fox. This segment featured a Top Ten list of “New CBS Slogans” with entries such as “Could be sold,” “CBS, now on Fox,” and “More powerful than the Weather Channel.”
Another clip showed Letterman criticizing CBS for a USA Today advertisement that highlighted shows like “NCIS,” “The Unit,” and “Cane,” while minimizing “The Late Show” to a small mention. Letterman expressed frustration with the network’s treatment of his show.
A memorable segment included Letterman’s reaction to CBS mistakenly using a photo of rival host Jay Leno from NBC’s “The Tonight Show” in online advertising for its People’s Choice Award nominees. Letterman responded, “He’s not on CBS! I am on CBS! What is the matter with these people?”
Another clip featured Letterman joking about CBS executives being unsure how long “The Late Show” had been airing. He suggested calling the CBS switchboard to see if they knew basic details about their programming.
CBS announced the cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on July 17, citing financial reasons amid challenges facing late-night television. The network emphasized that its respect for Colbert made the decision difficult, and it was not related to the show’s performance.
The timing of the cancellation drew scrutiny, occurring shortly after Colbert criticized Paramount Global’s $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview. Paramount Global, CBS’ parent company, was seeking approval from the FCC for a merger with Skydance Media, approved on July 24.
Colbert returned to “The Late Show” on Monday night following the cancellation announcement, addressing the controversy. He questioned the financial rationale given, as “The Late Show” was leading in ratings.
Colbert also responded to Trump’s social media comments, where the president called him “untalented.” Colbert countered with remarks about Trump’s suitability for office, ending with an uncensored expletive directed at the president.
Late-night hosts have shown support for Colbert following the cancellation. Jimmy Kimmel expressed his anger at CBS via Instagram, while Jon Stewart defended Colbert on “The Daily Show,” suggesting the cancellation could be appeasement toward Trump rather than purely financial.
Reports indicate “The Late Show” was incurring losses of $40 million to $50 million annually, reflecting broader challenges in late-night television as audiences shift to streaming platforms and other entertainment options. Advertising revenue for late-night shows has significantly decreased in recent years.
Letterman’s YouTube channel also shared additional content supporting Colbert, including footage from his 2006 White House Correspondents’ Dinner performance and a 2010 appearance with Jon Stewart. These uploads suggest coordinated support for Colbert and criticism of CBS’ decision.
The cancellation ends “The Late Show” franchise after over three decades on CBS, covering both Letterman’s and Colbert’s tenures. Industry analysts continue to discuss whether the decision is financial or reflects broader political pressures on the network and its parent company.
