CBS ended its 33-year run of “The Late Show” on May 21, 2026, when Stephen Colbert hosted his final episode after 11 years as host, concluding a late-night franchise that began in 1993. The network also cancelled two other series—the medical drama “Watson” after two seasons and the workplace comedy “DMV” after one season—as part of its 2026-2027 programming decisions announced in March.
Colbert’s finale drew 6.74 million viewers and featured surprise guest appearances from celebrities including Paul McCartney, Jon Stewart, Ryan Reynolds, Paul Rudd, and Bryan Cranston. The show ran 17 minutes longer than its usual hour-long format, with McCartney closing the broadcast by performing “Hello, Goodbye” alongside Colbert and other performers.
CBS announced in July 2025 that it would end “The Late Show” as a “purely financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.” The network replaced Colbert’s time slot with Byron Allen’s “Comics Unleashed” beginning in June 2026.
CBS show cancellations 2027 include Late Show finale, Watson, DMV
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“Watson,” a Sherlock Holmes adaptation starring Morris Chestnut, and “DMV,” a comedy set in a Los Angeles Department of Motor Vehicles office, were both pulled from CBS’s 2026-2027 lineup. The cancellations were part of a broader slate of renewals and cancellations the network announced on March 27, 2026.
Sources
- CBS News — Stephen Colbert’s final Late Show episode on May 21, 2026, with guest details and viewership figures
- The Hollywood Reporter — Cancellation of Watson and DMV announced March 27, 2026
- Deadline — Watson and DMV cancellation details and series finale dates
- Rolling Stone — Late Show finale viewership of 6.74 million viewers
