Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' Cancellation 'Didn't Seem To Make A Lot Of Sense': Media Professor

HEMPSTEAD, NY — The decision by Paramount last week to cancel the top-rated "Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on CBS sent shockwaves across the country. Paramount executives said the show is getting pulled for financial reasons.

However, the timing comes as Colbert has been critical of his Paramount bosses, who recently agreed to a $16-million settlement with President Donald Trump over his "60 Minutes" lawsuit.

"It was shocking and surprising for a lot of people," said Nicole Clarity, Hofstra University Media Studies Professor.

Just days before Colbert was axed, he made a monologue joke about the lawsuit "basically bribing Trump with their settlement," she said.

While the overall audience is down in late night, Colbert is still the most-watched show in that time period with millions of viewers.

"So, this doesn't seem to make a lot of sense," Clarity said. "The reasoning Paramount was using didn't really fly with a lot of people."

Colbert will not be replaced, as the show, launched for David Letterman in 1993, will not return.

Colbert was contrite when he addressed the cancellation on his show last Thursday, but on Monday night he had support from his friends, including Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver, who made cameos. Additionally, Stewart went after CBS and Paramount, which also owns "The Daily Show."

Clarity, who is also a journalism professor, said Paramount's decision "is hitting on that chilling effect we've been feeling coming from the administration."

She said the country is going down a slippery slope with Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press for broadcasters and entertainers.

Trump recently filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal regarding an article they did linking Trump with Jeffrey Epstein.

"We see some of these news organizations caving in and settling on a lot of these lawsuits," Clarity said.

"It's a difficult time" for journalists. "It's our job to hold people in power to account. That's really what our job is."

It remains to seen where Colbert's next job will take him, but Clarity expects streaming outlets will make a play for him.