NBC Bets on Fallon, As Colbert Cancellation Signals a Shift in Late Night TV
As CBS pulls the plug on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, NBC has doubled down on its more palatable late-night host. Jimmy Fallon, often criticized for being too safe for the hyper-political environment of modern comedy, has signed a contract extension to remain at the helm of The Tonight Show through 2028.
That’s right — while the most partisan voices in late night are beginning to fade, Fallon is being rewarded with job security and even a bigger role within NBCUniversal, including hosting a new reality show, On Brand, and continuing his presence on Password.
It’s a smart business move. And it may signal a return to what late-night comedy used to be: entertainment first, politics second — or not at all.
The Fall of Colbert: Politics Doesn’t Pay
Colbert’s pending exit, which will officially come in May 2026, is no coincidence. The announcement followed his public criticism of CBS for quietly settling a defamation lawsuit with President Donald Trump to the tune of $16 million. The lawsuit centered on Colbert’s repeated jabs at the former president, often crossing the line into personal animosity.
Sources inside CBS say Colbert’s popularity with staff couldn’t shield him from the financial bleeding. “Corporate didn’t like him,” said one insider. “His contract was up, the show was expensive, and the political edge was costing more than it was bringing in.”
Indeed, estimates suggest The Late Show was running at a $50 million annual loss. That’s not just bad business — it’s a clear rejection by viewers of the brand of snide, anti-conservative content Colbert became known for.
Even Donald Trump chimed in, celebrating Colbert’s departure on Truth Social and predicting others — including Jimmy Kimmel — might be next.
“The reason he (Colbert) was fired was a pure lack of TALENT… and it was only going to get WORSE!” Trump wrote.
A Conservative Desert in Late Night
Colbert’s cancellation is hardly isolated. The entire late-night landscape has become a progressive echo chamber. A recent NewsBusters survey found 99% of political guests on major late-night talk shows leaned left between January and June. Only one conservative voice made it on air — compared to 30 Democrats and liberal pundits.
Fallon stood out by staying largely out of the fray. Though he famously drew fire from the left in 2016 after playfully tousling Trump’s hair on The Tonight Show, Fallon has since avoided overt political content. While his counterparts — Kimmel, Colbert, Meyers, and Stewart — turned their shows into nightly political sermons, Fallon focused on skits, games, and good-natured interviews.
That approach may have cost him credibility with Hollywood elites, but it earned him goodwill with viewers who are tired of politics infecting everything — especially comedy.
NBC’s Bet on Middle America
NBC’s faith in Fallon may be driven by a simple reality: political partisanship doesn’t sell the way it used to. The Tonight Show scaled back to four nights a week in 2023 due to budget cuts, yet Fallon managed to retain a loyal viewership and digital presence.
Now, he’s bringing in guests like Fox News host Greg Gutfeld and Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy, both known for conservative-leaning audiences. It’s a quiet pivot that hasn’t gone unnoticed — and it may be a way for NBC to re-capture the large, politically diverse audience that’s tuned out of late night in recent years.
Contrast that with Late Night with Seth Meyers, which had to eliminate its house band to save money. Meyers, like Colbert, leaned hard into progressive content — and is now feeling the consequences.
Kimmel Clings On – For Now
ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! may be the next domino. Kimmel has gone all-in on anti-Trump material, frequently mocking conservatives and treating his show like a DNC fundraiser. And while insiders insist Disney President Dana Walden is standing by him, ratings and audience interest tell a different story.
Even if he’s safe for now, it’s clear the appetite for late-night political satire is waning — especially when it comes from only one side of the aisle.
Back to Entertainment, Please
James Andrew Miller, author of Live From New York, described the changing landscape best: “This isn’t earth-shattering — but the audience isn’t there anymore.”
Audiences want to laugh again. They want to watch TV without being lectured. And in a world where streaming, social media, and YouTube dominate attention spans, the late-night host who plays it straight — who keeps the jokes funny and the politics light — may be the last one standing.
With Fallon now locked in through 2028, NBC is sending a message: Entertainment matters more than ideology. And maybe, just maybe, The Tonight Show can be a refuge for the millions of Americans who still want to laugh without being divided.
About the Author
