David Letterman is speaking out against CBS as Stephen Colbert‘s “The Late Show” tenure approaches its end.
The legendary broadcaster expressed his disbelief and anger regarding the network’s decision to finish this system he helped construct, which Colbert currently hosts.
Letterman has directed sharp criticism on the executives involved, accusing them of being dishonest in regards to the true motivations behind the show’s departure from the airwaves.
When Letterman first learned that “The Late Show” was being shut down, his initial response was shock, comparing the situation to a poorly handled robbery.
In an exclusive interview with The Recent York Times, Letterman, while dishing on the fiasco, admitted that while enough time has passed for him to not feel a private sense of ownership over the range talk show, he stays fiercely protective of the show’s legacy and its current staff.
Notably, his primary concern was for Colbert and the viewers who relied on this system as a nightly escape, questioning the dearth of “humanity” shown by the company leadership during this transition.
Letterman openly challenged the network’s official stance that the cancellation was strictly a financial necessity driven by the rise of streaming and digital media. He insisted that their claims in regards to the budget were a canopy for the fact of the business deal.
“I’m just going to go on record as saying: They’re lying. Let me just add one other thing, Jason. They’re lying weasels,” he said.
Despite CBS’s firm denial of those accusations, the previous host stays convinced that the network was not being truthful about why they dumped the late-night staple.
How David Letterman Reacted to Recent Time Slot Replacing Stephen Colbert
Letterman’s frustration with the network’s honesty extends to their recent business strategy, which involves shifting away from traditional broadcasting to a leasing model.
As an alternative of manufacturing original content, CBS plans to lease the late-night time slot to Byron Allen for his show, “Comics Unleashed,” allowing him to administer his own promoting. The previous host compared this variation to the rise of storage facilities on highways.
Despite his anger toward the network, he expressed a surprising amount of respect for the person taking on the 11:30 p.m. slot. Having known Allen for the reason that Seventies, Letterman admitted he never saw Allen’s future as a billionaire coming.
“God bless him [Allen]. To hell with CBS. To hell with Skydance. To hell with the Winslow twins or whoever the hell these guys are,” Letterman said.
“But Byron, he’ll still be providing comedy in that point period. I believe that’s a worthwhile little bit of resolution here,” he added.
David Letterman Previously Weighed In On The Recent Late-Night Strategy
This shouldn’t be the primary time Letterman has opened up about his feelings towards the transition. The Blast previously reported that in an April episode of “The Barbara Gaines Show,” Letterman criticized the executives for selecting a path that prioritizes profit over high-quality original programming.
He explained that by charging Allen a fee for the time slot, the network is avoiding the huge costs of manufacturing a serious talk show while still collecting a guaranteed income.
The previous host remarked that while the network’s move is clearly a cost-saving measure, the show taking on the slot is definitely a solid concept.
Stephen Colbert Is Reluctant to Leave Late Night
While Letterman’s critiques deal with the company maneuvers behind the scenes, the person currently within the host’s chair is grappling with the emotional reality of his departure.
Colbert, who has led the franchise since 2015, is now navigating the ultimate weeks of his tenure after CBS announced that the show would conclude after this season.
Oprah Winfrey recently took over the interviewer’s seat to ask Colbert how he was handling the upcoming transition and what he felt ready to depart behind. The host admitted that he shouldn’t be yet able to let go of the skilled world he has inhabited for the last decade.
He described his attachment to his staff and crew as a “white-knuckle grip,” specifically naming his band and the technical teams behind the scenes as people he’s struggling to part with, per The Blast.
Stephen Colbert Is Set To Write The Recent ‘Lord of the Rings’ Film
Colbert’s reluctance to depart his current community is tempered by the news of an ambitious next chapter in his profession.
In line with The Blast, the 62-year-old host is moving from the late-night desk to the world of blockbuster filmmaking, where he’ll co-write “Shadow of the Past,” a brand new film within the “Lord of the Rings” universe.
This project is a family affair, as Colbert is developing the script alongside his son, Peter McGee.
Veteran screenwriter Philippa Boyens. Warner Bros. confirmed the collaboration with a social media announcement featuring Colbert discussing the movie’s vision with director Peter Jackson.