Conan O’Brien Looking at the End of Late Night After Colbert’s Go Away
Late night TV which has been a mainstay of American entertainment since the 1950’s is at a crossroads for a great change. At the Television Academy Hall of Fame induction on August 16, 2025 Conan O’Brien put forth that we are at the dawn of the end of this genre. He said that what we have seen up to this point in late night TV is a thing of the past. T
his comes also in the wake of CBS’ surprise call to end “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” which they did for bottom line reasons as more audiences go to streaming. Also at the induction O’Brien reported that late night TV as we have known it since almost 1950 is going away but that the talent which makes these shows great will do very well in other media.
A Disappearing Past Era
Late night TV has been a cultural institution for almost 80 years which put college students to air until the internet and online entertainment came along. O’Brien noted out that late night in the beginning was a way to fill in the off hours for college aged viewers. But this tradition is in danger of going away as we see changes in viewing habits and the business models of broadcast.
O’Brien spoke of the “earth moving” changes which are taking place in TV, that which is true is that streaming services have become the main places that young people go for comedy and related content. The traditional late night formats which depend on network TV and scheduled programming are having a hard time relevantly and financially in this new media setting.
Stephen Colbert: A Lighthouse in the Change
While the form may change, O’Brian put forth that the comics which have shaped late night TV will not die out. He put forward Stephen Colbert as a study in this resilience and adaptability. Colbert who saw his show on CBS cancelled but is still a favorite of the audience is to transition and “shine even better” in new formats which he may fully control.
O’Brian’s words point to a future in which late night personae will use platforms like streaming, pod casting, or other digital areas to grow and extend their reach. Also Colbert himself has put out that he is to look at what streaming services have to offer which is a move away from traditional TV host role to that of on demand and many sided content creator.
Financial Realities and Political Controversies
CBS and it’s parent company Paramount reported that the put out of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” was for pure financial reason. The network reported competition in the late night programming from the rise of streamers like Netflix and Apple TV which played a role. Also at play was Paramount’s $16 million settlement with former President Donald Trump which had been a main target of Colbert’s satirical take.
When Trump celebrated the cancellation he added a political element to the issue which brought to light the complex role of comedy and politics in late night TV. Colbert’s show had set itself apart with it’s political humor which may have had the affect of turning off large audiences and in turn played into present network business models.
Streaming’s Place in the Growth of Comedy Entertainment
O’Brien reports that what we are seeing is a shift from TV to stream as a change in how content is delivered to audiences rather than a decline in talent or creativity. What we are now experiencing is that which artists and hosts can use these streaming platforms to connect with their audiences in a way that suits them best, away from the structure of network schedules and issues of advertising.
This transition is also a larger issue in entertainment as we see a push for on demand options and direct audience interaction. O’Brien was positive about the fact that the core of great connection, talent and ideas is still present in whatever medium we are using. Also he brought up today’s success stories like “Abbott Elementary” and “Hacks” as proof of the industry’s innovation and appeal to young audiences. What these changes do show is that although the way we get our content is changing the fundamental elements of great entertainment are the same. bleedingcool
Industry Response to and the Future of Hosting
The removal of Colbert’s show has brought up issues of late night TV’s sustainability which other hosts are reporting. Seth Meyers of NBC’s “Late Night” reports he is worried that the industry has out lived its support for this format. He says we are moving from a place of focus on personal performance to a issue of the late night TV as a whole. Also some hosts like Kimmel and Fallon and also comics on HBO and Comedy Central are standing with Colbert.
From former host Jay Leno we get that political polarization may be what is to blame for late night shows’ loss of mass appeal which in turn may be causing the format’s death. But also we see that the ratings of Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld are doing very well which in turn some say proves there are still some audiences out there for certain late night formats. foxnews
Conan O’Brien’s positive legacy and ongoing influence
Although Conan O’Brien’s time as a late night host came to a close with the end of “Conan” which ran on TBS in 2021, he is still very much a force in entertainment through his podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” and other business ventures. His perspective is that of someone who has had a50 year run in the late night space which included his time on “Late Night, “The Tonight Show, and “Conan.
O’Brien’s prognosis may mark the end of an era but also is a report out of a reinvention for comedians and performers who are to put together new ways to connect with audiences. That which he puts forth that “those voices are not going anywhere” is a statement of comedy’s ongoing cultural relevance just in different packages for a transformed media setting.
Conan O’Brien’s recent comments mark a turning point in late night TV. The end of Stephen Colbert’s run is a case in point of the financial and cultural issues which the format is dealing with. At the same time however O’Brien is positive that icons like Colbert will transform to different media platforms which will in turn see them connect with audiences in new ways. The old school of late night may be dying out, but the comedy talent and spirit which made it what it was will live on and adapt in this new age of entertainment. deadline
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