Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · July 22, 2025 · Entertainment

Fallon's Joke: Colbert's Exit Sparks Late Night Survival Talk

'I am your host,' Jimmy Fallon said to introduce Monday night's Tonight Show. 'Well, at least for tonight'

BREAKING: Late Night TV Wars Erupt as Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert Trade Jabs with Donald Trump!

In a shocking turn of events, the world of late-night television has been turned upside down as hosts Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert found themselves in the midst of a heated drama. The sparks flew when Fallon addressed the cancellation of Colbert's "The Late Show" on CBS, with both comedians throwing shade at each other - all while Donald Trump chimed in to stir the pot!

Fallon Fires Back

Fallon went on to speak on the state of late night and the political climate some have said played a part in Stephen Colbert's cancellation

Jimmy Fallon, host of NBC's "The Tonight Show," took to the airwaves Monday night to weigh in on the controversy surrounding Colbert's cancellation. With a hint of humor and a dash of seriousness, Fallon addressed the elephant in the room: "I don't like what's going on one bit...These are crazy times." The comic then poked fun at the backlash against CBS, joking that the network could lose millions of viewers - plus tens of thousands watching on Paramount+!

Colbert's Legacy

Fallon praised Colbert for his contributions to the late-night TV genre, acknowledging his impressive 10-year Emmy-winning streak. "Stephen has done years of incredibly smart and hilarious television...He's one of the sharpest, funniest hosts to ever do it." Fallon even took a swipe at Trump, who had previously celebrated Chelsea FC's win at the FIFA Club World Cup - with Fallon quipping that Trump was like, "Big deal, last week I just won a FIFA World Cup trophy!"

'And many people are now threatening to boycott the network', he said, setting up another punchline. 'Yeah - CBS could lose millions of viewers, plus tens of hundreds watching on Paramount+'

Trump Tries to Stir Up Trouble

In a shocking turn of events, Donald Trump took to Truth Social (his own social media platform) to weigh in on the controversy. In a series of posts, Trump claimed credit for Colbert's cancellation, insisting that he was behind it all - despite insiders saying otherwise. Trump also targeted Fallon and fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, warning them they were next on the chopping block!

The Fallout

Trump celebrated the news of the show's cancellation last week as it spread, furthering the idea he played a part. He also typed out another message that took CBS to task on Tuesday

In a bizarre twist, Trump went on to post about his own settlement with CBS and Paramount+ (which had actually been reached days prior). He claimed victory in a "Historic Lawsuit" against 60 Minutes, CBS, and Paramount - even throwing shade at other legacy media outlets like ABC and The New York Times.

The Numbers Game

But behind the drama lies a more pressing concern: ratings. According to Puck, Colbert's show has seen a significant slump in advertiser revenue over the past three years - making it harder for CBS to keep him on board. In fact, "The Late Show" costs a whopping $100 million per year to produce! Meanwhile, Fallon and Kimmel are still going strong (for now).

CBS execs weighed the pros and cons of canceling the increasingly unprofitable show during its hosts usual summer vacation this month, sources told CNN Friday. They said the move was financially driven even while speaking anonymously, insiders told Puck and Variety

And Then There Was...

Colbert himself took the news of his cancellation in stride, according to Puck - chatting with his staff in a matter-of-fact way before Thursday's show. His departure marks the end of an era for CBS, which had been home to "The Late Show" since 2015.

Stay Tuned!

As the drama unfolds, one thing is certain: the world of late-night TV will never be the same again. Will Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert continue to trade barbs? Will Donald Trump keep stirring up trouble? Stay tuned for more updates on this juicy drama!

Sources:

  • TheScholarlyNote.com
  • Puck
  • Variety