THE LATE Show host Stephen Colbert’s show ratings are higher than those of Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon, The U.S. Sun can report.
The CBS show was canceled last week 10 years after Stephen first took the reigns, and more than 30 years after David Letterman first launched the show.
Stephen Colbert broke his silence on the cancellation on July 18[/caption]
Jimmy Kimmel has responded to the news, lashing out at CBS[/caption]
Jimmy Fallon called Stephen the ‘sharpest, funniest’ host[/caption]
During the second quarter of 2025, The Late Show boasted 2.4 million viewers, while Jimmy Kimmel Live! had 1.8 million viewers.
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon came in third with 1.2 million viewers, according to The Late Nighter.
The surprising ratings come after speculation that more late-night shows could be axed in the wake of the shocking cancellation.
Variety reporter Daniel D’Addario claimed it was a “chilling sign of what’s to come.”
“It looks like the beginning of the end of an entire category of television,” he wrote.
“With one network now opting out of late-night talk entirely, how long will it be before the genre just goes away?”
‘END OF OUR SHOW’
Stephen broke his silence on the news at the beginning of his July 18 episode.
When the audience booed at the cancellation news, Stephen said: “Yeah, 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.
“I do want to say that the folks at CBS have been great partners.
“I’m so grateful to the Tiffany network for giving me this chair and this beautiful theater to call home.
“And of course I’m grateful to you, the audience, who have joined us every night in here, out there, all around the world, Mr. and Mrs. America and all the ships at sea.
“I’m grateful to share the stage with this band, these artists over here every night.
“And I am extraordinarily, deeply grateful to the 200 people who work here.
“We get to do this show- we get to do this show for each other every day, all day.
Current Late-Night Shows
Late-night shows have become a staple on American television, filled with humorous takes on news, interviews with guests, and music performances.
- Jimmy Kimmel Live, ABC
- Late Night with Seth Meyers, NBC
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, NBC
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS
- After Midnight, CBS
- Watch What Happens Live, Bravo
- The Daily Show, Comedy Central
- Real Time with Bill Maher, HBO
“And I’ve had the pleasure and the responsibility of sharing what we do every day with you in front of this camera for the last 10 years.
“And let me tell you, it is a fantastic job. I wish somebody else was getting it.
“And it’s a job that I’m looking forward to doing with this usual gang of idiots for another 10 months.
“It’s going to be fun. Y’all ready?”
Both Jimmys ralled around Stephen to support him in the wake of the bombshell news.
“I’m just as shocked as everyone. Stephen is one of the sharpest, funniest hosts to ever do it,” Jimmy Fallon posted on Instagram. “I really thought I’d ride this out with him for years to come.”
Jimmy Kimmel was a little more harsh in his delivery.
“F*** you and all your Sheldons CBS,” he ripped the network.
Stephen appeared on a September episode of Jimmy Kimmel’s show[/caption]
Stephen and Jimmy Fallon embraced at the 2014 Emmy Awards[/caption]
