David Letterman appears to be taking a not-so-subtle jab at CBS following the network’s decision to cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert after a decade on air. While Letterman hasn’t directly addressed the cancellation, his latest move speaks volumes.
The legendary host, who helmed The Late Show from 1993 until his retirement in 2015, took to YouTube on July 21 to share a compilation of moments from his own tenure — all poking fun at CBS.
“You can’t spell CBS without BS,” the caption read.
The tongue-in-cheek montage included clips from various episodes between 1994 and 2013, highlighting Letterman’s long-standing humor — and occasional jabs — aimed at the network.
In one 2003 segment, Letterman quipped, “They don’t know and they don’t care… I don’t want to get in trouble here, but I’m gonna call the CBS switchboard and see if they know how long we’ve been on air.”
CBS Ends Colbert Era Citing ‘Financial Decision’
The video comes just days after CBS officially announced the end of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The show will wrap up in May 2026, with CBS citing “purely financial” reasons for shutting down the long-running late-night franchise.
“We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise in May of 2026,” CBS said in a statement. “He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late-night television.”
Colbert, who took over from Letterman in September 2015, confirmed the news during his July 17 monologue.
“Next year will be our last season,” he told viewers. “The network will be ending The Late Show in May. I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.”
Despite the disappointment, Colbert praised CBS as a “great partner” over the years.
Letterman’s Silence Speaks Loud
Though Letterman hasn’t made a public statement, his nostalgic — and critical — throwback video seems to serve as a quiet protest, or at least a wink to longtime fans who remember his rocky yet iconic relationship with CBS.
As one of the most influential voices in late-night history, Letterman’s subtle dig adds another layer to the conversation about the evolving state — and shrinking future — of late-night TV.
