Celebrities respond to cancelling “Late Night Stephen Colbert”
Hollywood celebrities and journalists respond to the news that “Late Night with Stephen Colbert” has been cancelled.
From the World News Headquarters at Comedy Central in New York, it’s…wait, who is Josh Johnson?
The award-winning news comedy show has driven John Stewart to fame and has added a new spinning host to its lineup, watching him return as an anchor for the week in 2024.
Johnson, a show writer since 2017 and on-screen presence since 2024, has pinned the July 22nd show (11pm ET/PT at Comedy Central) and will be his first turn as a host this week. He will be taking part in a spinning cast of anchors who helped lead the program into a new format after host Trevor Noah (Stewart’s first alternative) left the desk in 2022.
Other Achaiers include Renee Chieg, Jordan Happer, Michael Costa and Desi Riddick.
Who is Josh Johnson?
A fresh face with healthy social media following, Johnson represents a new wave of comedians who gain fans beyond traditional stand-up gigs and performances on late-night circuits, adding internet fame to the mix.
He enters the hosting circuit during a fresh, dangerous time of late night programming, with the cancellation of “Late Show with Late Show,” which shares parent company Paramount with the “Daily Show.”
Former “Daily Show” comic and Stewart apprentice Colbert will not only place his position during last week’s episode, but also the entire CBS late-night show. The company said the decision, which it said in its statement, is “purely financial,” but some in the industry have questioned the claims and instead argued that it was the result of political transport.
Paramount is seeking FCC approval for the proposed $8.4 billion merger with SkyDance Media.
A few days before the “late show” sunset, Colbert criticized Paramount for resolving President Donald Trump’s honour-damaged lawsuit, calling for a $16 million donation to Trump’s future presidential library “a big fat bribe” to his administration that would help him get Merger’s FCC approval.
It remains to be seen whether Colbert’s cancellation will reach Comedy Central across channels. “The Daily Show” deals with a slightly different, more politically unstable audience, and “Late Show” was once known for its more entertainment-focused tone.. Colbert brought about a sharp tone that was politically critical.
But before Colbert’s cancellation was announced, Stewart said his Spidey sense had been activated.
On a July 17 episode of his podcast, the comedian said he is unsure about the future of “The Daily Show,” but knows that he “brings value.”
“They didn’t call me and said, ‘Don’t be too comfortable in that office, Stewart.’ But I was kicked out of the facility “worst” than that,” he continues.
“There’s no “The Daily Show” and it’s like Muzak, like Comedy Central at this point,” he said. “I think we are the only life that exists on our current base other than ‘South Park’. If they see it purely as a real estate transaction, I think we will bring a lot of value. ”
Contribution: Kimie Robinson
