Colbert's Late Show Axed: Samantha Bee Calls Move 'No Brainer'
THE LATE SHOW SHOCKER: STEPHEN COLBERT'S AXING A "NO-BRAINER" MOVE, SAYS SAMANTHA BEE
In a juicy twist of fate, late-night host Samantha Bee has spilled the tea on the sudden cancellation of Stephen Colbert's The Late Show. According to Bee, 55, it was no secret that the show was hemorrhaging money and viewers, making it a "no-brainer" for CBS to axe it.
Speaking candidly on her Breaking Bread with Tom Papa podcast, Bee revealed that she believes the real reason behind the cancellation had nothing to do with low ratings or profits. Instead, she thinks CBS's parent company Paramount made a calculated move to curry favor with none other than Donald Trump in exchange for federal approval of their merger deal with Skydance.
"Both things are true," Bee said, laying it out straight. "It definitely was hemorrhaging money. These legacy shows are hemorrhaging money with no real end to that in sight. People just aren't tuning in like they used to."
Bee noted that the way people consume news has changed dramatically, and viewers are no longer relying on late-night shows for a recap of the day's events. "People are literally on their phones all the time for one thing," she said. "So, they don't necessarily need a recap of the day's events. They're very well-versed in what has happened."
But that's not all - Bee also implied that CBS may have been under pressure from Trump himself to cancel Colbert's show. As we know, Colbert wasn't afraid to speak truth to power and had previously made jokes about the former President on his show.
"He's a thin-skinned idiot," Bee said bluntly. "We know he's like a pernicious cancer and he cares about that stuff."
The controversy surrounding The Late Show's cancellation gained steam after it was revealed that Paramount had settled a lawsuit with Trump for $16 million, reportedly over deceptive editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris.
Two days after the settlement, Colbert took to his show to call out the deal, describing it as a "big fat bribe." And just hours later, it was announced that The Late Show would be coming to an end.
As for Trump, he gloated over the news on Truth Social, writing: "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings."
But here's the thing - insiders have been saying all along that The Late Show was a money pit, losing a staggering $40 million per year. With Colbert's salary ranging from $15 to $20 million annually, it's likely that his staff made up most of the rest of the cost.
So, what really happened behind closed doors? Did CBS cave in to Trump's demands or was it simply a case of a show struggling to stay relevant?
One thing is for sure - The Late Show may be gone, but its legacy will live on. And as Bee so aptly put it: "It was a no-brainer."
THE FCC WEIGHS IN
As the drama unfolded, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) weighed in on the merger deal between Paramount and Skydance. In a statement, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said that his agency's review of the proposed merger had nothing to do with the lawsuit or Colbert's show.
However, Carr did welcome Skydance's commitment to "make significant changes" at the once-storied CBS broadcast network. He hailed what he called a victory in "the FCC's efforts to eliminate invidious forms of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) discrimination."
But not everyone was convinced by Carr's claims. Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez dissented from the 2-1 vote to approve the deal, citing concerns over the impact on diversity and inclusion.
A MERGER OF EPIC PROPORTIONS
The proposed merger between Paramount and Skydance is a massive deal worth $8.4 billion. If approved, it would clear the way for an acquisition of some of the most prominent names in entertainment, including CBS, Paramount Pictures, and Nickelodeon.
So, what's next? Will we see more changes at CBS or will this merger mark a new era in television history?
Only time will tell, but one thing is certain - the drama has just begun.