Well, the writing’s not just on the wall for Stephen Colbert—it’s flashing in neon, and the ratings are backing it up in brutal fashion. After years of leaning hard into far-left monologues, smug finger-wagging, and anti-Trump sermons disguised as jokes, The Late Show is crashing toward its finale with all the elegance of a lead balloon.
According to Nielsen, Colbert’s numbers in the 25–54 demo—the golden goose of television advertising—have cratered to just 285,000 viewers. That’s not just bad. That’s apocalyptic for a show on a broadcast network.
This is free TV, the stuff you can watch with a pair of rabbit ears. And yet, the key demo is tuning out in droves. We’re talking about a show that costs CBS an estimated $40 million a year, and the ratings nosedive proves the hemorrhaging audience saw the door long before the network finally decided to shut it.
What’s worse? This isn’t just a seasonal slump. This is shaping up to be the worst January ever for Colbert in that key demographic. And with just a few months left before his May swan song, there’s no sign of a rebound, no last-minute rush of outrage-fueled support from Trump critics or loyal viewers. That Hail Mary? It didn’t just fall incomplete—it never left the pocket.
Even with total viewership last week at 2.249 million—just ahead of Kimmel and miles ahead of Fallon—Colbert still got absolutely smoked by Greg Gutfeld, who hauled in 3.2 million on cable. That’s right, cable. Gutfeld is winning the late-night race from a network that most people need a subscription to even access, while Colbert can’t hold attention with the full power of CBS behind him.
Stephen Colbert’s ratings hit lowest January in the shows history amid anti-Trump rants.
In the 25-54 demographic, the show pulled in 285,000 viewers- the worst in the show’s 10 year history.
The program is set to be cancelled in May after losing $40 million a year. pic.twitter.com/BvmShq3vzP
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) January 28, 2026
Why? Because the product is stale. The schtick is tired. The sanctimony is unbearable. And even left-leaning viewers are tired of being patronized.
People didn’t tune in to late-night for political therapy sessions. They wanted comedy. They wanted charm. They wanted a host who could read the room instead of lecturing it. Colbert never figured that out. From the moment he transformed from a satirical cable genius to a self-righteous network preacher, he alienated half the country—and bored the other half.
The irony? Even folks who disagree with Bill Maher politically will admit he can still land a punchline. Gutfeld wins not just on politics but on personality—he’s sharp, funny, and doesn’t take himself too seriously. Colbert, on the other hand, got lost in his own echo chamber. No charisma, no laughs, no real connection with his audience.
In the end, CBS didn’t cancel The Late Show out of malice. They canceled it because the numbers stopped lying. The emperor had no audience.
