Stephen Colbert Explains Why 'The Late Show' Became More Political

Stephen Colbert says he initially tried to avoid political comedy when he took over "The Late Show" from David Letterman in 2015, but quickly found himself drawn back in — comparing himself to Clint Eastwood's character in "Unforgiven" who buried his guns, only to dig them up again.

In a new interview with The New York Times, Colbert revealed that CBS initially discouraged him from being topical. "It was my instinct to be less topical, because I didn't want to have to engage with what I saw was an increasingly contentious public discourse," he said. But after a few months, a producer friend told him the audience wanted to see him fired up, and Colbert realized he had to "go dig up the guns."

Colbert attributed the friction with the Trump administration to the nature of comedy itself. "Comedians are anti-authoritarian by nature, and authoritarians are never going to like anybody to laugh at them," he said. He pushed back on the idea that his critique of Trump is partisan: "I have a problem with Trump being a complete narcissist who is only working for his own interest and does not appear to care if the entire world burns."

CBS announced last year it was canceling "The Late Show," citing financial reasons. The final episode airs May 21. Colbert acknowledged the business case but noted the timing: "Less than two years before they called to say it's over, they were very eager for me to be signed for a long time. So, something changed."

**What This Means For You:** Colbert's departure marks the end of an era for politically sharp late-night television. With broadcast networks struggling to monetize against YouTube and streaming, expect more shows to follow. If you value political comedy as a check on power, the landscape is shrinking — and that's worth paying attention to.