Stephen Colbert shares lessons for 2025 after ‘The Late Show’ was canceled

Stephen Colbert He had a big 2025, and after the year he had it, he had an important lesson to share.

while speaking Andy Cohen57 and Anderson Cooper58 years old, in their CNN New Year’s Eve coverageColbert was asked to reflect on the past 12 months.

“So much has happened in the last year of your life that I’m curious what you left behind and what you learned last year? What were the main lessons you learned?” Cohen asked.

In response, timeThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert The 61-year-old host quipped: “What have I learned? Don’t trust billionaires!”

colbert vs. traitor host Alan Cumming In April 2025, performed a parody of the song “Billionaires Are Actually Good” on an episode of Billionaires late night show.

“All these billionaires have a huge influence on our politics today,” Colbert said while introducing the song on the show. He added, “So you know your government understands what you’re going through, folks. They have to buy eggs, too. Faberge eggs. But still.”

The late-night host then asked: “Why do they need political power and rocket launches when everyone sees them in magazines looking high and horny?”

Colbert went on to say that wealthy people try to fill an “emotional void” and that the song’s existence can help. The song’s lyrics openly mock the interests of the super-rich.

“Some say we should eat the rich/I don’t blame them, they look delicious,” the duo sings. “Shut up and buy their self-driving cars/If you’re lucky, you’ll be their slave on Mars.”

Two months later, Colbert announced CBS has axed late night showwhose final episode ends in the 2025/2026 season ten years after it aired.

“Before the show starts, I want you all to know something I just found out last night. Next year will be our last season and CBS is ending The Late Show in May,” Colbert said before the show’s July 17 taping.

As the audience booed, he continued: “I agree with you. It’s not just the end of our show, it’s the end of the show.” late night show on CBS. I will not be replaced. All this is about to disappear. I do want to say that the folks at CBS have been great partners…and I thank you, the viewers, for joining us every night, here, there, and around the world. “

Co-CEO of Paramount Worldwide and President and CEO of CBS George Cheeks, President, CBS Entertainment Amy Reisenbach and president of cbs studios david staff The cancellation was addressed in a statement at the time.

“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end its historic run at the end of the broadcast season in May 2026. We think Stephen Colbert is irreplaceable and will retire late night show “We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and his broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats who have graced late-night television,” the statement read.

Colbert spoke further about his end late night show limit during an interview Q Magazine November 2025.

“Listen, every show has to end at some point,” Colbert told Q. “I’ve been on a lot of shows that sometimes ended because of our lights, sometimes they ended because of other people’s decisions. That’s the nature of show business. You don’t worry about that. You have to take it seriously. But I think we were the first No. 1 show to be canceled.”

That being said, Colbert admitted that he loves doing the show but also feels “relieved” that it’s over.

“I love what we do and I love the grind,” he said. “If you really cared about what you were saying, you could just do one of those shows and tell jokes every night, year after year, for 20 years. That’s what I did. But I had a sense of relief that I might not have to put on a snorkel and go into the sewer every day.”