Stephen Colbert Says He’s ‘More Conservative Than People Think’ as Show Nears End

Stephen Colbert, host of “The Late Show,” revealed in a new interview that he doesn’t identify as a progressive figure and expressed surprise at his show’s recent cancellation by CBS.

In a conversation with GQ, Colbert stated his often critical commentary during the presidency of Donald Trump led to a misperception of his political leanings. “People perceive me as this sort of lefty figure; I think I’m more conservative than people think,” he said. “I just happen to be talking about a government in extremis.” He described his show as a “reaction video to the day,” comparing it to Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” but with jokes, particularly in response to events like the deployment of troops in cities. The cancellation came days after Colbert joked about the network’s parent company settling a lawsuit with the former president, a connection he declined to directly address but acknowledged was “reasonable” for others to assume.

Colbert also discussed the financial realities of late-night television, noting that shows like his operate with significant overhead costs. “These late-night shows are kind of like symphony orchestras,” he explained. “They need a certain amount of personnel to do them. You can’t really do a show in the Ed Sullivan Theater … for the cost of a podcast.” Despite the cancellation, Colbert emphasized the show’s success, stating it was the top-rated late-night program for nine years, a position he believes offered a degree of protection from network interference. This cancellation marks a shift in the landscape of late-night television, a genre that has historically served as a platform for political and social commentary.

“The Late Show” is scheduled to conclude in May, and Colbert admitted he is unsure how the final episodes will unfold. He expressed a sense of “relief that [he] might not have to put the snorkel on and get into the sewer every day,” but also acknowledged he will miss most aspects of the job. CBS has not yet announced a replacement for Colbert, and network executives have indicated they are evaluating future options for the time slot.