CBS sent shock waves through the entertainment world last week when it announced the cancelation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, an institution at the network for over 30 years. While the network stated the decision was “purely financial,” many people—including Colbert’s former Daily Show co-star Jon Stewart—believe it has something to do with Colbert’s brazen criticism of President Donald Trump.
In addition to going on a long rant on his own show about the cancelation, Stewart showed up to his old friend’s show on Monday night to show his support—and so did Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver. It was a late night host soirée!
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They weren’t the only ones who showed up, either. They, along with other stars like “Weird” Al Yankovic, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Adam Sandler, and Andy Cohen. Deadlinesummed up the skit beautifully. It began with Yankovic and Miranda singing a Coldplay song, and the camera turned to the audience to reveal the cavalcade of celebs. Cohen was stage-kissing his “BFF” Anderson Cooper and NBC hosts Fallon and Meyers casually pounded back brews. Meanwhile, Colbert’s former Daily Show co-stars took a more active, aggressive approach, flipping the bird right at the camera.
Suddenly, Colbert demanded the music come to a stop. “It says here,” he said referencing a letter he’d just opened, “this is purely a financial decision.” When the Hamilton star asked him to elaborate, Colbert replied, “Since you started playing that song, the network has lost, and I don’t know how this is possible, $40M-$50M.” The joke was a clear tongue-in-cheek reference to CBS’ announcement heard ’round the world.
The gag also alluded that Colbert believes the cancelation was due to political pressure. The camera showed a cartoon Trump sitting in the audience, and Miranda said, “Tell me this has nothing to do with who we put a spotlight on.”
