Home / Arts and Entertainment / Late Night TV's Uncertain Future as Iconic Shows Face Cancellation
Late Night TV's Uncertain Future as Iconic Shows Face Cancellation
6 Aug
Summary
- John Oliver believes Last Week Tonight's awards success has kept it on air
- CBS cancelled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert due to Paramount merger
- Younger comedians inspired by legendary late night hosts like Johnny Carson
The world of late night television is facing a period of uncertainty as of August 2025. According to John Oliver, host of the critically acclaimed Last Week Tonight, the show's past awards success - it earned six Emmy nominations for the upcoming 2025 ceremony - has played a significant role in convincing HBO and parent company WBD to keep the satirical series going, despite its topical and potentially controversial subject matter.
Oliver expressed his concern over the recent cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert by CBS. The network cited financial failings as the core reason, even as it coincided with Skydance's merger with Paramount. While opinions may differ on the show's content, Oliver believes the impact of iconic late night hosts like Johnny Carson, David Letterman, and Conan O'Brien on younger generations of comedians and writers should be a positive takeaway.
Looking ahead, the future of late night television remains uncertain. NBC's Tonight Show and Late Night have made financially motivated cutbacks in 2024, and more changes could be on the horizon as the hosts' contracts expire. Jimmy Kimmel's future also remains unclear, as the President's recent actions may fuel his desire to retire sooner rather than later. With The Late Late Show and After Midnight already gone, the landscape is shifting, and some networks may even experiment with AI-powered hosts running endless viral internet clips.
