Stephen Colbert reportedly didn’t know The Late Show had been canceled until more than two weeks after CBS made the call—because his manager kept the news from him while he was on vacation.
In new report for The Ankler, veteran trade journalist Lesley Goldberg writes that CBS executives informed Colbert’s longtime manager, James “Baby Doll” Dixon, on June 27 that they were pulling the plug on the show. But Colbert “would not learn the news of his show’s demise until he returned from vacation,” Goldberg reports.
“It was after Colbert taped the Wednesday, July 16 episode, I’m told, that Dixon informed him of CBS’ decision,” she writes.
Goldberg’s reporting sheds new light on the timeline of events, noting that Colbert’s management was aware of The Late Show‘s cancellation even before news broke of Paramount’s 60 Minutes settlement with President Trump, and well before a still-unaware Colbert labeled the payoff a “big fat bribe” in his monologue 48 hours before he himself would learn of his show’s fate.
Dixon—who also represents Jon Stewart and Jimmy Kimmel—reportedly chose to wait until he could deliver the news to Colbert in person. Goldberg’s sources say Dixon wanted to “pay a visit to his longtime client” before sharing the network’s decision, which had been kept tightly under wraps.
After learning the show was ending, Colbert chose to announce the news himself on-air the very next day, July 17—faster than anyone else involved anticipated.
Per Goldberg, Skydance executives had not yet been informed themselves that CBS had cancelled the show. It was only after learning that Colbert planned to announce the show’s cancellation to his staff and viewers Thursday night that CBS briefed Skydance executives.
CBS, Paramount, Skydance, Dixon, and Colbert have yet to comment on The Ankler’s report.
Lots of disinformation on this topic being generated by CBS.
I can understand not wanting to ruin Colbert’s vacation, but not telling him on his first day back? Bad form.
Great monologue. He should have been the guest host for the whole week unless he was and they cut it short after his first monologue.
Colbert’s an adult. His manager should have told him immediately.