Jon Stewart Rips Into Paramount Following Colbert Cancelation

If you thought Jon Stewart was going to lay into Paramount over its decision to cancel the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, you were right — but even network executives couldn’t have prepared for the blistering 10-minute takedown Stewart delivered on their own airwaves during Monday’s episode of The Daily Show.

“Obviously, I’m certainly not the most objective to comment on this matter,” Stewart began, acknowledging his long history with Colbert, which dates back to his days as a correspondent on The Daily Show. Colbert then hosted The Colbert Report on Comedy Central (which Stewart produced) before taking over for David Letterman on Late Show.

“Watching Stephen exceed all expectations in the role and become the No. 1 late-night show on network television has become an undeniable great pleasure for me as a viewer and as his friend,” Stewart continued.

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“And now Stephen has been canceled for purely financial reasons,” Stewart said, looking straight into the camera and letting out an incredulous “ehhh?” He continued, “And by the way, not just Stephen’s show — CBS has canceled the entirety of Late Show franchise.”

“I acknowledge that late-night TV is a struggling financial model,” Stewart noted, referencing reports that Colbert’s show was losing between $40-$50 million annually. “We are all basically operating a Blockbuster kiosk inside a Tower Records. But when your industry is faced with changes, you don’t just call it a day. When CDs stopped selling, they didn’t just go, “Oh well music, it’s been a good run! The fact that CBS didn’t try to save their number one rated late-night network franchise that’s been on the air for over three decades is part of what is making everyone wonder whether this is purely financial or rather the path of least resistance for your eight billion dollar merger.”

“I believe CBS lost the benefit of the doubt two weeks prior when they sold out its flagship news program [60 Minutes] to pay an extortion program to [Donald Trump].”

Stewart repeatedly harkened on this theme of capitulation throughout his monologue — especially as it relates to CBS parent company Paramount’s pending merger with Skydance— and possible political pressure from the Trump administration to silence Trump critics on the network (such as Colbert and those featured on 60 Minutes).

“But understand this, truly,” Stewart continued. “The shows you now seek to cancel, censor, and control… a not insignificant portion of that $8 billion value came from those fucking shows. That’s what made you that money. Shows that say something, shows that take a stand, shows that are unafraid… If you believe, as corporations or as networks, you can make yourself so innocuous that you can serve a gruel so flavorless you’ll never again be on the boy king’s radar, A.) who would ever watch you? and B.) you are fucking wrong. You want to know how impossible it is to stay on Lord Farquaad’s good side? Donald Trump is suing Fox News.”

“So here’s the point: if you’re trying to figure out why Stephen’s show is ending… I think the answer is in the fear and pre-compliance that is gripping all of America’s institutions at this very moment, institutions that have chosen not to fight the vengeance and vindictive actions of our pubic hair-doodling commander and chief. This is not the moment to give in. I’m not giving in, I’m not going anywhere… I think.”

Former Late Show host David Letterman has also backed Colbert, sharing a YouTube video earlier on Monday with the caption, You can’t spell CBS without BS.”

For its part, CBS said Colbert’s cancelation “is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”