The Late Show’s Demise: A Financial Reality Check
The left is currently experiencing a significant emotional event over the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, failing to grasp the underlying financial realities. The truth is, Colbert’s show has been hemorrhaging money for CBS, making its cancellation not just necessary but, dare I say, overdue. Meanwhile, even comedic titans like Jon Stewart and Jimmy Kimmel are beginning to feel the heat regarding their own job security.
Enter Greg Gutfeld: The Unfazed Competition
In stark contrast, Greg Gutfeld remains utterly unconcerned. His show, Gutfeld!, operates on a shoestring budget and a minimal staff compared to Colbert’s production machine, yet it consistently outperforms its competitors, often topping the ratings charts among late-night offerings—even with its cable platform.
Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld dominates late-night television ratings as CBS ends Colbert’s ‘Late Show’
Colbert expressed his bewilderment over CBS’ rationale for the cancellation, questioning, “How could it purely be a financial decision if ‘The Late Show’ is No. 1 in ratings?” However, the reality is that Gutfeld! has held the title of the most-watched late-night program on television for an impressive 21 consecutive months among total viewers, and for a staggering 13 months within the advertiser-favored demographic of adults aged 25-54.
Though the two shows air at different times—Gutfeld! at 10 p.m. ET and Colbert’s at 11:35 p.m. ET—this scheduling quirk doesn’t diminish Gutfeld’s achievements.
As of July 20, 2025, Gutfeld! is averaging 3.1 million viewers, while Colbert’s Late Show managed only 1.9 million. For context, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! drew 1.5 million, NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon garnered 1.1 million, and Late Night with Seth Meyers captured a mere 751,000.
In the critical advertising demographic, Gutfeld! pulled in 398,000 viewers, significantly outpacing Colbert’s 288,000. Gutfeld also leads among younger audiences, averaging 248,000 adults aged 18-49, compared to Colbert’s 188,000, Kimmel’s 175,000, Fallon’s 160,000, and Meyers’ 113,000.
The Competitive Landscape: Gutfeld’s Playful Jabs
Gutfeld has even taken the opportunity to poke fun at Colbert on his own show. His playful jabs reflect not only confidence but also a savvy awareness of the shifting tides in late-night television. Check out this tweet:
Colbert’s $50 Million Flop pic.twitter.com/7mw9O7qcG2
— Gutfeld! (@Gutfeldfox) July 22, 2025
The Future of Colbert: A Tenuous Situation
As for Colbert, his recent tirades against Trump and others suggest a man rattled by the loss of his platform. One must wonder: can he survive until his contract ends next May, or are we witnessing a slow-motion exit as he lashes out in frustration?


Lies! Lies! Lies!