Jimmy Kimmel shows support for Stephen Colbert as CBS confirms end of 'The Late Show'

Jimmy Kimmel has expressed public support for Stephen Colbert after CBS confirmed it will end The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and retire The Late Show franchise at the close of the 2025-26 season.

Posting on Instagram, Kimmel wrote, “Love you Stephen. F*** you and all your Sheldons CBS,” in response to Colbert’s announcement during the opening of his show.

While Kimmel did not clarify the remark, it may reference CBS’ The Big Bang Theory and its spinoffs Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.

CBS stated the decision was “purely financial against a challenging backdrop in late night” and unrelated to the show’s performance or other Paramount matters.

The announcement follows The Late Show receiving another Emmy nomination for Outstanding Talk Series, underlining its continued strong performance.

Colbert, who has hosted the show since 2015, has been an outspoken critic of former President Donald Trump and recently described Paramount Global’s settlement of a Trump lawsuit as a “big fat bribe” during coverage of the pending Skydance merger.

Kimmel and Colbert, known for their collaborative relationship, previously joined forces during the writers’ strike with other late-night hosts to support their staff. They have made appearances on each other’s shows and shared the stage at events, including a joint segment at the 2019 Emmy Awards.

The ending of The Late Show marks the first closure of a flagship 11:30 PM broadcast late-night programme in the current era, placing focus on the future of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on NBC as the late-night landscape continues to shift.