America depends on late night hosts like Colbert
By Jason Bailey / Bloomberg Opinion
The role of a late-night talk show host has always occupied a uniquely liminal space in American life, traversing the uncertain territory between comedian, social commentator, political pundit and moral compass.
Among these roles, the first quality is always the most important: audiences tune in to be entertained. But the lines between satire and political commentary have always blurred on the late-night format, and America has benefited greatly from the overlap. So when Paramount Global’s CBS announced the cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” it was clear that the move would be a disservice to the public.
Despite the obvious — Colbert’s frequent criticism of Trump and Paramount’s need for FCC approval amid a high-profile merger — the network framed the decision as simply a dollar-and-cents issue. “This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,” its statement read. “It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”
That explanation has drawn skepticism, given “The Late Show” topped its competitors last quarter and was the only late-night program to gain viewers.
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