David Letterman speaks out on CBS replacing Colbert’s show, says network doesn’t want to ‘spend any money’
open_in_new
Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/04/15/media/david-letterman-speaks-out-on-cbs-replacing-…
fact_checkFact-Check Results
10 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.
help
Insufficient Evidence
5
verified
Verified By Reference
2
info
Single Source
1
report
Misleading
1
check_circle
Corroborated
1
“David Letterman, who hosted “The Late Show” for decades before Stephen Colbert’s current iteration, spoke out in a new interview on CBS’ decision to replace it, saying the network doesn’t want to ‘spend any money’”
SINGLE SOURCE
Only one source (David Letterman's comment) mentions CBS not wanting to spend money; other sources confirm cancellation but not the reason.
travel_explore
web search
NEUTRAL
— CBScanceled "TheLateShow" in July, ending the long-runninglate-nightcomedy institution previously hosted by David Letterman. But thenetworkhad until now not revealed what it planned to air ...
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2026/04/06/c…
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2026/04/06/c…
travel_explore
web search
NEUTRAL
— CBSwill replace "TheLateShowWithStephenColbert," ending May 21, with Byron Allen's syndicatedshowswhilethenetworkdevelops newlate-nightconcepts, signaling its desire to stay in ...
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/20…
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/20…
travel_explore
web search
NEUTRAL
— In July 2025,CBSshocked everyone when it cancelled TheLateShowWithStephenColbert. Weeks ahead of its official finale,CBSconfirmed its replacement with Comics Unleashed. Comedian David Letterman, who h…
https://www.cbr.com/david-letterman-cbs-late-show-replacemen…
https://www.cbr.com/david-letterman-cbs-late-show-replacemen…
“CBS announced in July that it had canceled Colbert’s program and that it would officially go off the air next month”
MISLEADING
Sources state the show ends in May 2026, but the claim falsely claims it ends 'next month' (implying imminent end).
travel_explore
web search
NEUTRAL
— LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -"TheLateShowwithStephenColbert," the most-watchedlate-nightprogram on U.S. ...Colberttold his audience on Thursday ...
https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/stephen-col…
https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/stephen-col…
travel_explore
web search
NEUTRAL
— TheLateShowWithStephenColbertwillenda decade-long run onCBSin May 2026,Colbertannounced during Thursday ’sLateShowtaping.
https://tvline.com/news/late-show-with-stephen-colbert-endin…
https://tvline.com/news/late-show-with-stephen-colbert-endin…
travel_explore
web search
NEUTRAL
— CBShas announced that TheLateShowwithStephenColbertwillendin May 2026, bringing theshow’shistoric run—and theLateShowfranchise ...
https://latenighter.com/news/cbs-cancels-the-late-show-with-…
https://latenighter.com/news/cbs-cancels-the-late-show-with-…
“Liberal critics have accused CBS and Paramount of ending the show to appease President Trump and receive approval for a long-planned merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web sources independently report liberal critics accusing CBS/Paramount of ending the show to appease Trump for the Skydance merger.
menu_book
wikipedia
NEUTRAL
— CBS News is the news division of the American television and radio broadcaster CBS headquartered in New York City. Along with ABC News and NBC News, it has long been among the big three broadcast news…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS_News
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS_News
menu_book
wikipedia
NEUTRAL
— CBS was founded as a radio network in 1927 and then expanded to television in the 1940s. Although it primarily remained an independent, publicly traded company (NYSE: CBS) throughout most of the 20th …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_CBS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_CBS
menu_book
wikipedia
NEUTRAL
— Stephen Tyrone Colbert ( kohl-BAIR; born May 13, 1964) is an American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host. He is best known for hosting the Comedy Central new…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Colbert
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Colbert
+ 3 more evidence sources
“The network will lease Colbert’s old time slot to Byron Allen’s “Comics Unleashed,” a comedy talk show”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No sources confirm CBS leasing the time slot to Byron Allen's show.
“They charge Byron Allen some reasonable price. He sells all the advertising for his ‘Comics Unleashed,’ and it’ll be, I think, 90 minutes or two hours of comics talking about funny stuff”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
No sources confirm CBS charging a price or Allen selling all advertising for the show.
menu_book
wikipedia
NEUTRAL
— Allen Media Group, alternatively known by its former name of Entertainment Studios, Inc., is an American media and entertainment company based in Los Angeles. Owned and founded in 1993 by businessman …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Media_Group
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Media_Group
menu_book
wikipedia
NEUTRAL
— Byron Allen (born Byron Allen Folks on April 22, 1961) is an American businessman, film and television producer, and comedian. He is the founder of the American media company Allen Media Group (former…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byron_Allen
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byron_Allen
menu_book
wikipedia
NEUTRAL
— Comics Unleashed is a half-hour comedy talk show produced by the Entertainment Studios production company and hosted by Byron Allen, with John Cramer as announcer and DJ Cobra or sometimes DJ A1 provi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comics_Unleashed
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comics_Unleashed
“The programming move by CBS is a unique one — and perhaps lucrative — since Allen Media Group is the one footing the bill for airtime, not CBS”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
No sources confirm the financial arrangement between CBS and Allen Media Group.
menu_book
wikipedia
NEUTRAL
— Comics Unleashed is a half-hour comedy talk show produced by the Entertainment Studios production company and hosted by Byron Allen, with John Cramer as announcer and DJ Cobra or sometimes DJ A1 provi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comics_Unleashed
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comics_Unleashed
menu_book
wikipedia
NEUTRAL
— Allen Media Group, alternatively known by its former name of Entertainment Studios, Inc., is an American media and entertainment company based in Los Angeles. Owned and founded in 1993 by businessman …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Media_Group
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Media_Group
menu_book
wikipedia
NEUTRAL
— Byron Allen (born Byron Allen Folks on April 22, 1961) is an American businessman, film and television producer, and comedian. He is the founder of the American media company Allen Media Group (former…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byron_Allen
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byron_Allen
“Matt Belloni reported that “The Late Show” was losing CBS $40 million a year and had been running on a whopping $100 million budget per season”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No sources confirm Matt Belloni's financial claims about The Late Show.
“The replacement of Colbert’s iteration of “The Late Show” appears to be a sign of the times. The sheer volume of podcasts and other alternatives to the late-night format has weakened their ratings”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No sources confirm the role of podcasts in the show's cancellation.
“Variety ripped the final season of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” as ‘not very good TV’ and out of touch with everyday Americans”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No sources confirm Variety's criticism of the final season.
“Fox News Digital reached out to CBS and did not receive an immediate reply”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No sources confirm Fox News Digital contacting CBS.
info
Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.