David Letterman delivered a scathing rebuke of CBS over the cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," dismissing the network's official rationale as dishonest. In a new interview, the legendary late-night host called CBS "lying weasels" and insisted Colbert's departure stems from Skydance's acquisition of the network rather than ratings performance or any other stated reason.
Letterman's criticism cuts deeper than typical industry commentary. He claims CBS executives misrepresented why they terminated Colbert's show after nearly a decade on air. According to Letterman, Skydance's potential buyers of the network dictated the cancellation decision, forcing CBS to manufacture alternative explanations for public consumption.
The timing matters here. Paramount Global's negotiations with Skydance accelerated dramatically in recent months, with the deal closing in late 2023. Late-night programming carries significant overhead, making shows like Colbert's an easy target during merger activity when new ownership teams reassess budgets and creative direction.
Colbert's show maintained solid viewership in cable late-night markets, averaging around 3 million viewers nightly. While those numbers don't match broadcast primetime standards, they remained competitive within the segment. CBS had backed the host through a 2025 contract extension just months before the surprise cancellation announcement, adding weight to Letterman's conspiracy theory.
Letterman's willingness to publicly attack his former employer marks an unusual moment of candor. As a CBS institution who hosted "Late Show" for 33 years before Colbert inherited the slot in 2015, Letterman understands network politics intimately. His comments validate long-standing suspicions within the television industry that corporate consolidation and ownership changes, rather than creative or commercial failure, drive late-night cancellations.
The criticism also highlights growing