Former “Tonight Show” host reflects on the shifting television landscape during Hall of Fame induction speech

Published Time: 08-18-2025, 22:15

Veteran comedian and television host Conan O’Brien believes the traditional late-night talk show format is nearing its end. However, he offered an optimistic outlook for Stephen Colbert, predicting that the “Late Show” host will thrive in new creative formats beyond network television.

O’Brien shared his perspective during his Television Academy Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday, where he reflected on his decades-long career and the changing nature of the television industry.

Conan O’Brien on the Future of Late-Night Television

O’Brien, who hosted NBC’s “Late Night” and later “The Tonight Show” before leading his long-running TBS program “Conan,” told the audience that the familiar structure of late-night TV is fading.

“Yes, late-night television, as we have known it since around 1950, is going to disappear. But those voices are not going anywhere,” O’Brien said.

He emphasized that personalities like Colbert remain too vital to vanish from the entertainment landscape.

“People like Stephen Colbert are too talented and too essential to go away,” O’Brien continued. “Stephen is going to evolve and shine brighter than ever in a new format that he controls completely.”

The State of Late-Night Ratings in 2025

While O’Brien suggested the format is declining, some late-night programs continue to draw significant audiences. According to Nielsen ratings reported by Fox News, Greg Gutfeld’s program “Gutfeld!” averaged 3.1 million viewers through July 20, 2025.

By comparison:

• CBS’s outgoing “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” averaged 1.9 million viewers
• ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” drew 1.5 million viewers
• NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” averaged 1.1 million viewers
• NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” brought in 751,000 viewers

These numbers highlight the challenges traditional late-night shows face as streaming platforms, podcasts, and social media increasingly dominate audiences’ attention.

Colbert’s Upcoming Exit from CBS

Colbert succeeded David Letterman as host of The Late Show in 2015. After more than a decade on air, CBS announced earlier this year that the program will officially end in May 2026. No successor has been named.

The decision fueled speculation that the cancellation was politically motivated, with some pointing to Colbert’s frequent criticism of former President Donald Trump. Supporters alleged that parent company Paramount sought to avoid conflict with Trump while pursuing federal approval for a merger.

Politics, Paramount, and Controversy

The debate surrounding Colbert’s departure intensified following Trump’s lawsuit against Paramount. The former president alleged that CBS’s “60 Minutes” interfered in the 2024 election by misrepresenting an interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris.

Paramount eventually settled the case, paying Trump $16 million. Colbert later joked on-air that the payment amounted to a “big fat bribe.”

“I believe that this kind of complicated financial settlement with a sitting government official has a technical name in legal circles—it’s ‘big fat bribe,’” Colbert quipped during a broadcast.

Despite speculation, CBS executives denied that politics played a role in ending The Late Show. Instead, they cited significant financial losses, with the program reportedly costing the network $40 million annually amid declining broadcast viewership.

O’Brien’s Optimism About Storytelling in Television

During his Hall of Fame speech, O’Brien—who also wrote for “Saturday Night Live” and “The Simpsons”—offered a broader reflection on the resilience of storytelling in media.

“Technology can do whatever they want. It can make television a pill. It can make television shows a high-protein, chewable, vanilla-flavored capsule with added fiber. It still won’t matter, if the stories are good, if the performances are honest and inspired, if the people making it are brave and of goodwill,” O’Brien said.

His remarks underscored his belief that while platforms and formats may change, creative storytelling will remain central to the industry.

The Bigger Picture

The looming cancellation of The Late Show marks a turning point for the late-night genre, once a cornerstone of American television. Colbert’s next move is highly anticipated, particularly as digital platforms continue to reshape entertainment.

O’Brien’s perspective suggests that while the late-night desk-and-monologue tradition may fade, the hosts who defined the genre—like Colbert—will continue to influence audiences in new and innovative ways.