David Letterman and Stephen Colbert trash CBS – Business News
David Letterman marched back into the Ed Sullivan Theater on Thursday night time and unloaded on CBS over its determination to cancel Stephen Colbert’s late-night show — earlier than serving to toss couches, watermelons and a marriage ceremony cake off the roof of the landmark Manhattan venue.
The former “Late Show” host joined Colbert for a blistering on-air phase that mocked the community and its new possession simply days earlier than Colbert’s last broadcast.
At the conclusion of the phase, the outgoing host requested Letterman if he wished to offer some parting phrases to viewers.
David Letterman returned to the Ed Sullivan Theater on Thursday night time and joined Stephen Colbert in a rooftop stunt concentrating on CBS after the community canceled “The Late Show.” Scott Kowalchyk /CBS
Letterman took the chance to handle CBS, as a substitute, saying: “To the folks at CBS, in the words of the great Edward R. Murrow, good night and good luck, motherf–kers.”
The now-retired late-night legend paid homage to Colbert whereas drawing loud applause from the studio viewers.
“Well, you know what happened backstage? I’m standing backstage, a guy comes over, he says he’s from CBS and he fires me,” Letterman joked after strolling onstage to a prolonged standing ovation.
“What is going on over there?!”
Letterman, who launched “The Late Show” in 1993 and hosted it for more than 20 years earlier than passing the baton to Colbert, made clear he was nonetheless livid over the community’s handling of the franchise.
“I have every right to be pissed off, so I’ll be pissed off here a little bit,” Letterman mentioned.
Colbert and Letterman hurled couches and props off the Ed Sullivan Theater roof during a phase blasting CBS and Paramount. CBS
The look rapidly shifted to a stunt aimed squarely at CBS.
After Letterman requested whether or not the community owned the furnishings on the set, crew members hauled couches and props to the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater, the place they have been hurled onto a giant CBS emblem in what the pair described because the “wanton destruction of CBS property.”
Letterman additionally despatched Colbert’s desk chair flying off the building, together with watermelons and a marriage ceremony cake.
CBS’ determination final summer season to tug the plug on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” after an 11-year run surprised the leisure world.
The transfer got here as Skydance Media was merging with CBS mother or father company Paramount Global, however CBS insisted the choice was purely an financial one, saying Colbert’s show was dropping $40 million a 12 months.
Critics together with Letterman and fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel vociferously questioned that clarification, pointing to Colbert’s penchant for Trump-bashing because the merger required federal approval.
The two took intention at CBS by aiming the furnishings at a goal that bore the community emblem close to the Ed Sullivan Theater in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday. CBS
President Trump celebrated Colbert’s cancellation on Truth Social, writing that he “absolutely love[d] that Colbert got fired” whereas saying the comic had much less “talent” than his scores.
Letterman has repeatedly accused CBS executives of hiding behind company speaking factors whereas dismantling one of the community’s signature packages.
Earlier this month, he blasted the company’s house owners as “lying weasels” and recommended the financial rationale surrounding Colbert’s ouster was removed from the total story.
He has additionally defended Colbert personally, praising the host for what he referred to as a “masterful job” confronting political points on air whereas arguing executives have been ignoring the broader cultural impression of gutting late-night tv.
During Thursday’s look, Letterman combined anger with nostalgia as he mirrored on the Ed Sullivan Theater, which housed “The Late Show” franchise for more than three a long time.
An workplace chair thrown from the roof crashes into the CBS Eye emblem on the ground. CBS
“This theater, you folks wouldn’t be in this theater if it weren’t for me, and Stephen wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me,” Letterman mentioned.
He went on to lament that Colbert’s run had “come to a screeching halt by other hands.”
The former late-night star additionally joked concerning the unsure future going through the format itself.
“What will become of the Jimmys?” Letterman quipped, referring to Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon.
“We’ve got a plan to put them in a captive breeding program,” Colbert shot back.
Colbert additionally threw a marriage ceremony cake off the roof as Letterman regarded on. Scott Kowalchyk /CBS
The drama over Colbert’s cancellation has unfolded as Paramount Skydance strikes to finalize its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Former Paramount chair Shari Redstone defended the cancellation, insisting late-night tv had turn out to be “financially not viable.”
“I love Stephen. He does a great job, but we really needed to be in a financially valuable business,” Redstone mentioned final 12 months at Axios’ Media Trends occasion in New York.
Letterman returned to his previous “Late Show” home and unloaded on CBS over the community’s determination to cancel Stephen Colbert’s program. Scott Kowalchyk /CBS
Redstone additionally rejected solutions that Colbert’s cancellation was politically motivated, saying the choice had been made “months prior to the announcement.”
The Post has sought remark from Paramount Skydance.
Colbert’s last episode is scheduled to air Thursday, May 21.
