Stephen Colbert Shares Details of Private Call About His Late-Night Show’s End: ‘I Was Surprised’

Stephen Colbert has revealed his gut reaction to news that his late-night talk show was ending: “I was surprised.”

“Listen, every show’s got to end at some time,” Colbert, host of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, told GQ on November 3. “And I’ve been on a bunch of shows that have ended sometimes by our lights and sometimes by the decision of other people. And that’s just the nature of show business. You can’t worry about that. You got to be a big boy about that. But I think we’re the first number one show to ever get canceled.”

Back in July, CBS announced that The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, which had aired since 2015, would end in May 2026, calling it a “purely financial decision.” Three months later, Colbert won an Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series.

Colbert, 61, told GQ that he learned of his show’s fate during a lengthy phone call with his manager.

“He said, ‘This is going to be the last season,’” said Colbert. “So I sat up and was like, ‘Oh, okay. Well, that’s interesting. I did not expect that.’ And then we talked for hours. Because you don’t have that moment very often.”

After the call, Colbert said he turned to his wife Evelyn McGee-Colbert for support.

“And then I went home and my wife, who was expecting me home in 15 minutes, and she said, ‘That was two and a half hours.’ She goes, “What happened? Did you get canceled?’” Colbert told GQ. “And I said, ‘Yep.’ So we sat down, she got me a drink, and we sat and talked about like, ‘Okay, what do you want to do next?’ That was it.”

On July 17, Colbert announced the network’s decision on-air.

“Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending the Late Show in May,” Colbert said, receiving boos from the crowd. “I share your feelings — it’s not just the end of our show, but it’s the end of the Late Show on CBS. I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.”

Celebrities, including Colbert’s late-night colleagues spoke out in support of the host.

“Love you Stephen,” Jimmy Kimmel, host of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! wrote in an Instagram Story, adding, “F**k you and all your Sheldons CBS.”

Jimmy Fallon, who hosts The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on NBC, wrote in part, in an Instagram Story, “I’m just as shocked as everyone. Stephen is one of the sharpest, funniest hosts to ever do it.”

During his GQ interview, Colbert got wistful when asked which aspect of his job would leave the biggest hole in his heart.

“I’ll miss the ability to go out there and make jokes,” Colbert told GQ, adding, “I will miss every aspect of my job other than wearing makeup.”