Homeless Colbert fans are expected to make Jimmy Kimmel the most-watched host in late night
Increasingly the most interesting story surrounding the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is what will happen with his audience.
The final episode will air on May 21, meaning on Monday May 24 that audience will be looking around for a new show to fall asleep to on the couch. Some will stick around with Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed, but CBS has effectively abandoned the audience for the highest rated network show in late night.
Nobody knows the late night space better than reporter Bill Carter, who late last week appeared on his monthly Late Nighter roundtable podcast and talked about recent ratings data showing that in recent months anytime Colbert runs a repeat, the audience are choosing to move over to watch Jimmy Kimmel.
Watch from around 9:50:
Carter’s thinking is that audiences are seeing Kimmel as the heir apparent of sorts and in this politically charged moment, Colbert viewers are seeing watching Kimmel as a sign of resistance against Trump.
Where I think this is interesting is that, as Carter talks about in the podcast, Kimmel has been fairly public about his reticence to continue hosting his show. But, with a mass influx of viewers combined with political cultural winds behind his back, could this actually convince Kimmel to stay on the air for longer than he planned – at least past the next US Presidential election in 2028?
For the first time in, well, decades, we are seeing reduced competition in US late night with a single host soon expected to control the bulk of the audience.
By picking a fight with Kimmel, Trump seems to be fuelling the conditions that will lead to Kimmel staying on the air for years longer than he’d planned.
ABC certainly aren’t going to be pushing Kimmel off the air anytime soon after he large volume Disney+ cancellations by pissed off viewers when ABC caved to political pressure and took Kimmel off the air last year.
News Desk
NBC has cancelled Brilliant Minds and Stumble. Still no word on Law & Order. Read: THR
Netflix has pushed the release of Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician's Nephew to February 12, 2027, with a launch on Netflix April 2, 2027. It was expected in cinemas this year in November, with a Christmas release date. This now gives the film a much longer run in cinemas. Read: Indiewire
RIP character actor Beau Starr, a regular on Due South along with an extensive number of TV shows and movies. Read: TMZ
ITV is planning a new version of game show Name That Tune. Alison Hammond is set to host. The current US revival of the format, hosted by Jane Krakowski, is five seasons in. Read: C21
Netflix is now in production on a sequel to its mindless sharks in Paris movie Under Paris. Movies are back, baby! Read: Variety
A very quiet screening of a 2.5 hour assembly cut of Gremlins, the second greatest Gremlins movie ever made, has taken place. Read: The AV Club | Screencrush
CBS is reducing the episode counts for several of its high-profile dramas. For example, Fire Country will deliver just 13 episodes this coming season vs the 20 it produced last season. It’s an effort to get more TV shows on the air each season. Read: Deadline
Amazon has denied that a revival for The Apprentice is in active development, meaning the likelihood of Don Jr hosting a new version of the show is as likely as the supposed hunting/fishing show he was attached to for Warner Bros Discovery. Read: Deadline
Trailer Park
Marty, Life Is Short debuts May 12 on Netflix.
The definitive documentary on beloved comedian Martin Short, using beautiful, intimate, never-before-seen archive.
Important journalism is on display with The Mystery of Richard Simons: A Diana Sawyer Special. It debuts May 12.
A Poignant Look at a Beloved Pop-Culture Figure Who Rose to Fame as a Fitness Guru and Television Personality, His Decade-Long Disappearance From Public Life, Planned Comeback and Sudden Death
That’s the newsletter for the today.
Consider becoming a paid supporter of Always Be Watching.
Connect with Dan on Bluesky. Connect with Dan on Letterboxd. Connect with Dan on Linkedin. Challenge him on the NYT word game Crossplay. Email Dan @ alwaysbewatching.com or just reply to this email.
