Overview
- The farewell run opened Monday with a rehearsal-style “Worst Of” episode performed for staff, in what the show framed as new material rather than a clip show.
- CBS’s listings set Tuesday for Jon Stewart and Steven Spielberg with a David Byrne performance, Wednesday for Bruce Springsteen and a Colbert Questionert, and an unannounced finale Thursday.
- Late-night hosts rallied on air, with John Oliver urging viewers to watch the last shows and Fallon and Kimmel planning reruns Thursday, while Colbert has said his staff will lose their jobs immediately after the finale.
- CBS will fill the 11:35 p.m. slot with Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed under a time-buy, a lease where the producer pays for airtime and sells the ads, which Allen says will save the network about $150 million a year.
- CBS says ending the franchise was a financial decision, though critics point to timing that included Paramount’s $16 million settlement with President Trump and merger activity with Skydance.