Stephen Colbert Is ‘Going to Have To Completely Reinvent Himself’ After ‘Late Show’ Ends In May (Exclusive)

The clock is winding down on Stephen Colbert’s time with CBS.

With the final episode of The Late Show fast approaching, a source tells the National Enquirer that the 61-year-old host is crushed that the long-running series is coming to an end on Thursday, May 21.

“The grim realities of winding down a major production like The Late Show are playing themselves out in a pretty dark way in Stephen’s own personality,” says the source, “especially now that he’s been openly fighting with CBS bosses and facing the reality that he doesn’t have a ton of options once the show wraps.”

As the Enquirer previously reported, Colbert is already being erased from CBS. His photos have been removed from their broadcast center in Manhattan and staff have been cut off from company-wide emails.

“It’s all created a dark, toxic vibe at the show and on the set because these network-backed writing and producing jobs are hard to come by in New York City and people stay in them for decades if they can,” the source explains. “You can practically smell the misery and pain that hangs in the air at that place.”

Colbert “has not outlined a plan for what he’s going to do” after The Late Show ends, reveals the source, or who among the estimated 200-person staff is coming with him.

“Sure, there’s been chatter for a while that he can start a podcast and even transform himself into the left-wing answer to Tucker Carlson, but that’s not what Stephen would personally prefer,” says the source. “What he’d like to do is stay on network television and do pretty much the same show he’s been doing for the last 10 years, just for different bosses.”

However, “there’s … very little confidence in Stephen’s reps to pull a rabbit out of their hat with a magical offer to headline a new late night show,” the insider admits. “He needs to face the reality that he’s going to have to completely reinvent himself.”