**Samantha Bee Reflects on ‘Awful’ Cancellation of *The Late Show*, Cites Financial Woes and Merger Politics**

Former late-night host Samantha Bee recently shared her thoughts on CBS’s decision to cancel *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert*.

During a candid discussion on the “Breaking Bread with Tom Papa” podcast, Bee expressed both sympathy for Colbert and understanding of the financial and political motivations behind the network’s decision.

Bee, who hosted *Full Frontal with Samantha Bee* on TBS for seven seasons, described the cancellation as a “no-brainer” for CBS, particularly in light of the upcoming merger between Paramount, CBS’s parent company, and Skydance.

She suggested that the decision was driven by a combination of financial struggles and an effort to “curry favor with the president” during the merger process.

“I think both things are true,” Bee said. “It definitely was hemorrhaging money. These legacy shows are hemorrhaging money with no real end to that in sight. People are just not tuning in.”

Bee pointed out the shifting habits of modern audiences, who are increasingly glued to their phones for news and entertainment. “People are literally on their phones all the time for one thing, so they actually don’t necessarily need a recap of the day’s events. They’re very well-versed in what has happened,” she explained.

From her own experience hosting *Full Frontal*, Bee noted that avoiding controversy during network mergers was often a key consideration. She believes CBS’s decision to end *The Late Show* was influenced by similar concerns.

“It’s so much easier for them to cut it loose with this merger coming down the pike,” she said. “It makes the decision such a no-brainer, and probably the most agonizing decisions they were having were about how do we float this? How do we not get a lot of blowback? I’m sure they knew it was happening a long time ago.”

Despite her pragmatic view of the situation, Bee didn’t shy away from expressing her disappointment over the cancellation. “I love Stephen,” she said. “I consider him to be a friend. I think he’s amazing. I’m shocked, not surprised.”

Bee described the sudden end of *The Late Show* as “awful” and lamented the broader challenges facing late-night television. With audiences increasingly turning to alternative platforms for entertainment and news, legacy shows like Colbert’s are struggling to maintain relevance and profitability.

The cancellation of *The Late Show* marks a significant shift in the late-night landscape, as networks grapple with changing viewer habits and the financial realities of producing high-cost programming.

While Bee’s remarks highlight the practical reasons behind CBS’s decision, they also underscore the emotional toll of losing a show that has been a staple of late-night television for years.

As the merger between Paramount and Skydance moves forward, the fate of other legacy programs remains uncertain. For now, Bee’s reflections serve as both a critique of the current state of late-night television and a tribute to Colbert’s contributions to the genre.

Though *The Late Show* may be gone, its impact—and Colbert’s legacy—will undoubtedly endure.