The Colbert Conundrum: A Show's Bittersweet Swan Song Stephen Colbert's "Late Show" closed its 11 season run last week with a surreal finale that left viewers questioning what was real satire and what wasn't.
Beneath the jokes and music, however, lay a more nuanced story about the complex relationship between late night television and the networks that air them.
Colbert's show was a ratings leader in its time slot for years before being unceremoniously cancelled by CBS.