Variety Columnist Brands Colbert's Farewell an 'Ego Trip'
A scathing new op-ed from Variety has launched a sharp critique against Stephen Colbert's recent array of episodes on The Late Show, characterising them as 'an ego trip' rather than a tasteful farewell. The liberal publication, through writer Daniel D'Addario, pokes fun at the host for a series of spots deemed simpering and overly self-indulgent.
Celebrity Tributes Under Scrutiny
The piece singles out several high-profile celebrity appearances that have punctuated Colbert's final season. Actor John Lithgow appeared this week to read Colbert a 'special poem', with lyrics painting the host as a folk hero unjustly cancelled. 'So why is he canceled? Why trash all that pleasure? Why yank off the air this beloved national treasure?' Lithgow's verses questioned.
In October, Bette Midler serenaded Colbert with a song styled after 'Wind Beneath My Wings', where the line 'You stand for what's right with wit and class' was rhymed with 'You never kissed the orange ass'. This performance mirrored an ode she gave to Johnny Carson in 1992. Drew Barrymore also offered a fully clothed version of her iconic striptease, originally performed for David Letterman, to celebrate Colbert's accomplishments in September.
Political Undertones and Puffy Performances
D'Addario argues these showings not only stoked Colbert's ego but highlighted an unproven theory that the cancellation was Paramount's attempt to curry favour with the Trump administration. Fellow late-night host Jimmy Fallon appeared as a guest for the first time last week, delivering an over-the-top rendition of Frank Sinatra's 'My Way' that also touted Colbert as a de facto resistance fighter.
According to the columnist, these performances came off as 'puffy' and 'dramatic', with the endless bouquets making the studio smell 'a bit cloying'. He concedes that Colbert's 'resistance' effort was genuine initially but contends the show's focus on its host's misfortune has become outsized. '[W]ith everything else going on in the world, we have to go through a monthslong celebration-of-life for a comedian whose job is coming to an end?' the piece insists.
Background of the Cancellation
The op-ed connects these episodes to broader context. Colbert openly criticised Paramount—CBS's parent company—in July, days before the network announced the show's renewal until May. He called a $16 million settlement with Donald Trump over a 2024 60 Minutes interview 'a big fat bribe', coinciding with a Paramount-Skydance merger. Shortly after, Colbert received news of his show's cancellation, attributed to declining ad revenue and annual losses of $40 million.
D'Addario concludes that the show's recent structural shift likely comes 'from the top', suggesting a producer would push back on excesses like Lithgow's tribute otherwise. He adds he 'doesn’t get the sense Colbert really minds'. Both Paramount and CBS maintain the decision was financial, with the final episode set for May. Colbert, 61, has yet to announce future plans.
