David Letterman is speaking out against CBS as Stephen Colbert‘s “The Late Show” tenure approaches its end.
The legendary broadcaster expressed his disbelief and anger regarding the network’s decision to end the program he helped build, which Colbert currently hosts.
Letterman has directed sharp criticism at the executives involved, accusing them of being dishonest about the true motivations behind the show’s departure from the airwaves.
When Letterman first learned that “The Late Show” was being shut down, his initial reaction was shock, comparing the situation to a poorly handled robbery.
In an exclusive interview with The New York Times, Letterman, while dishing on the fiasco, admitted that while enough time has passed for him to no longer feel a personal sense of ownership over the variety talk show, he remains fiercely protective of the show’s legacy and its current staff.
Notably, his primary concern was for Colbert and the viewers who relied on the program as a nightly escape, questioning the lack of “humanity” shown by the corporate leadership during this transition.
Letterman openly challenged the network’s official stance that the cancellation was strictly a financial necessity driven by the rise of streaming and digital media. He insisted that their claims about the budget were a cover for the reality of the business deal.
“I’m just going to go on record as saying: They’re lying. Let me just add one other thing, Jason. They’re lying weasels,” he said.
Despite CBS’s firm denial of these accusations, the former host remains convinced that the network was not being truthful about why they dumped the late-night staple.
How David Letterman Reacted to New Time Slot Replacing Stephen Colbert
Letterman’s frustration with the network’s honesty extends to their new business strategy, which involves shifting away from traditional broadcasting to a leasing model.
Instead of producing original content, CBS plans to lease the late-night time slot to Byron Allen for his show, “Comics Unleashed,” allowing him to manage his own advertising. The former host compared this change to the rise of storage facilities on highways.
Despite his anger toward the network, he expressed a surprising amount of respect for the man taking over the 11:30 p.m. slot. Having known Allen since the 1970s, Letterman admitted he never saw Allen’s future as a billionaire coming.
“God bless him [Allen]. To hell with CBS. To hell with Skydance. To hell with the Winslow twins or whoever the hell these guys are,” Letterman said.
“But Byron, he’ll still be providing comedy in that time period. I think that’s a valuable bit of resolution here,” he added.
David Letterman Previously Weighed In On The New Late-Night Strategy
This is not the first time Letterman has opened up about his feelings towards the transition. The Blast previously reported that during an April episode of “The Barbara Gaines Show,” Letterman criticized the executives for choosing a path that prioritizes profit over high-quality original programming.
He explained that by charging Allen a fee for the time slot, the network is avoiding the massive costs of producing a major talk show while still collecting a guaranteed income.
The former host remarked that while the network’s move is clearly a cost-saving measure, the show taking over the slot is actually a solid concept.
Stephen Colbert Is Reluctant to Leave Late Night
While Letterman’s critiques focus on the corporate maneuvers behind the scenes, the man currently in the host’s chair is grappling with the emotional reality of his departure.
Colbert, who has led the franchise since 2015, is now navigating the final weeks of his tenure after CBS announced that the show would conclude after this season.
Oprah Winfrey recently took over the interviewer’s seat to ask Colbert how he was handling the upcoming transition and what he felt ready to leave behind. The host admitted that he is not yet ready to let go of the professional world he has inhabited for the last decade.
He described his attachment to his staff and crew as a “white-knuckle grip,” specifically naming his band and the technical teams behind the scenes as people he is struggling to part with, per The Blast.
Stephen Colbert Is Set To Write The New ‘Lord of the Rings’ Film
Colbert’s reluctance to leave his current community is tempered by the news of an ambitious next chapter in his career.
According to The Blast, the 62-year-old host is moving from the late-night desk to the world of blockbuster filmmaking, where he will co-write “Shadow of the Past,” a new film in the “Lord of the Rings” universe.
This project is a family affair, as Colbert is developing the script alongside his son, Peter McGee.
Veteran screenwriter Philippa Boyens. Warner Bros. confirmed the collaboration with a social media announcement featuring Colbert discussing the movie’s vision with director Peter Jackson.
