John Oliver is the latest late night host to react to the shocking cancellation of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.
“Obviously, I love Stephen. I love his staff. I love that show. It’s incredibly sad. I’m partly excited to see what they’re gonna do for the next 10 months,” the Last Week Tonight host told reporters over the weekend in Erie, Pennsylvania, per Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter.
“It’s terrible, terrible news for the world of comedy,” the British comedian lamented.
Both Oliver, 48, and Colbert, 61, were correspondents on The Daily Show — though not at the same time — before landing their own late night shows on HBO and CBS, respectively. Colbert took over The Late Show from David Letterman, while Oliver’s weekly series began in 2014.
“Late-night shows mean a lot to me, not just because I work in them, because even growing up in England, I would watch Letterman’s show, which of course was Stephen’s show, and think about what a glamorous world that was,” Oliver added.
He continued, “So to have got to have been on Letterman’s show and Stephen’s show was always one of the most fun things. So it’s very, very, very sad news. I look forward to seeing what [Colbert is] gonna do next because that man will not stop.”
Colbert broke the news of his show’s cancellation during the taping of the Thursday, July 17, episode.
“Before we start the show, I want to let you know something that I found out just last night: Next year will be our last season, the network [CBS] will be ending The Late Show in May,” he told the studio audience.
“I share your feelings,” he responded to boos from the audience. “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 … And I’m grateful to the audience, you, who have joined us every night, in here, out there, and all around the world.”
In a statement the same day, CBS said the decision to end The Late Show was purely a financial one unrelated “in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”
“We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television,” the network said.
CBS continued, “Our admiration, affection, and respect for the talents of Stephen Colbert and his incredible team made this agonizing decision even more difficult. With much gratitude, we look forward to honoring Stephen and celebrating the show over the next 10 months alongside its millions of fans and viewers.”
