WGAE Statement on the End of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Tonight marks the final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
The Late Show first aired in 1993, with WGA member David Letterman as its inaugural host, and over the last thirty-three years it has become an American institution. The program launched the comedy careers of many WGA members and established lasting cultural touchpoints in American society.
The writers at The Late Show have been at the forefront of many Guild fights. Current Late Show writers were among those who unionized the original Colbert Report, trailblazing the unionization of writing staffs for cable comedy/variety programs. More recently, Late Show writers stood in solidarity with WGAE members at “The Onion” in their fight demanding a fair contract. Late Show writers have consistently used their voices to create a more just workplace and a more powerful labor movement for workers in the media and entertainment industries.
The Late Show writers are a credit to their profession, their craft, and their fellow writers. The Late Show has often challenged and critiqued power, and we are proud that our members continued to do so in the last days of the show. But just as importantly, The Late Show was always funny, an example of what can happen when a group of talented and hilarious writers come together to create a nightly comedy show. The ending of The Late Show is a loss for both comedy lovers and free speech supporters alike and that is a testament to the writers’ brilliance and integrity.
To the writers of The Late Show: Head Writers Ariel Dumas and Jay Katsir, Writers Delmonte Bent, Michael Brumm, Aaron Cohen, Stephen T. Colbert, Paul Dinello, Gabe Gronli, Barry Julien, Michael Cruz Kayne, Eliana Kwartler, Matt Lappin, Caroline Lazar, Pratima Mani, Felipe Torres Medina, Opus Moreschi, Carley Moseley, Aaron Nemo, Asher Perlman, Tom Purcell, Kate Sidley, Brian Stack, John Thibodeaux and Steve Waltien, and Graphic Artists Andro Buneta, Paul Hildebrand, Kristopher Long, William Marko, Ryan Mauskopf and Robert Yulfo—We celebrate you and wish you the best in the future.
Of course, the cancelation of The Late Show is not happening in a vacuum. CBS brazenly announced their decision to cancel the program—the #1 rated late night program in the country—almost immediately after Colbert mocked CBS parent company Paramount’s $16 million settlement with President Trump, a settlement that constituted a transparent attempt to gain favor with the administration while waiting for FCC approval for Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media. The merger was approved by the FCC shortly after the cancelation of The Late Show.
The final episode of The Late Show comes in the midst of Paramount attempting yet another merger in a bid to further consolidate the industry. This latest merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery would be a disaster for writers, for the industry, and for the public. While Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders voted to accept Paramount’s latest bid, this merger is not inevitable. The WGAE was proud to testify at a recent forum hosted by Senator Booker regarding the potential threats of the merger and we urge members to sign the #BlockTheMerger petition that now has over 5,000 signatures.
On behalf of all our members threatened by media feudalism and feckless capitulations to authoritarians, we won’t stay silent as the Ellisons threatens Guild members’ ability to speak truth to power.
The sight of Letterman joining Colbert last week to throw CBS furniture off the roof of the Ed Sullivan theater was an unforgettable moment to mark the end of an era. Let office chairs not be the only thing consigned to the dustbin of history from this shameful era in media.
Tonight, we say goodnight to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and the amazing writers who made that show into an institution. Tomorrow, we get right back to work building power for writers and fighting against the forces that seek to divide and silence us.
Solidarity forever,
Tom Fontana
President
Writers Guild of America East