Colbert’s exit signals the end of the deep interview

Colbert’s exit – A viral moment from Stephen Colbert’s show—Andrew Garfield breaking down while discussing his mother’s pancreatic cancer—captures what made Colbert’s late-night interviews feel different. Now Colbert is set to take his final bow on “The Late Show” Thursday nig

When Stephen Colbert asked Andrew Garfield to talk about his mother’s recent death from pancreatic cancer, the conversation stopped chasing laughs.

Garfield, who had joined “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in 2021 to promote his Netflix musical “Tick, Tick… Boom!. ” began in familiar territory—how he prepared for the role. his dynamic with the film’s director Lin-Manuel Miranda. and the tunes he was tasked with singing on-screen. Colbert followed with banter, goofy anecdotes, an impromptu a capella moment, and plenty of audience laughs.

But as the scheduled close approached, Colbert shifted the tone. He asked Garfield to reflect on his mother’s death from pancreatic cancer. Garfield was visibly moved and then delivered an uninterrupted monologue about her life as an “unfinished song.” “I hope this grief stays with me. ” he told Colbert. tears pooling in his eyes. “because it’s all the unexpressed love that I didn’t get to tell her.”.

Nearly five years later, that clip still lands with the same force. It is the kind of moment that has defined why Colbert’s show stood apart in late-night TV—warm, funny, yet willing to slow down when a guest’s life, and not just their project, demands space.

Colbert’s departure comes after CBS hired him in 2015 to fill the shoes of legendary comedian David Letterman. who retired after hosting “The Late Show” for more than two decades. Before that. Colbert’s most recent role had been as a satirical news anchor—described by him as a self-styled “poorly informed. high-status idiot”—on Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report.”.

On “The Late Show. ” he built a reputation as an interviewer who could blend humor with studied inquiry. drawing out guests in ways that felt less like scripted promotion and more like genuine conversation. Colbert’s defenders say the skills he brought are increasingly rare—even among his still-standing late-night peers. including Jimmy Fallon. Jimmy Kimmel. and Seth Meyers.

The business reason for the switch is now driving the story. even if people disagree on what’s really behind it. CBS has said yanking its most-watched talk show was “purely a financial decision.” Critics. however. point to politics—describing the move as a capitulation to President Donald Trump. who has publicly celebrated that “Colbert got fired.”.

Colbert himself has given fuel to both interpretations. “It’s possible that two things can be true,” he told The New York Times. “Broadcast can be in trouble. They cannot monetize because of things like YouTube, because of the competition of streaming. They’ve got the books. and I do not have any desire to debate them over what they say their business model is and how it does not work for them anymore.”.

Whatever the motive, the wider shift is visible—one that moves the center of gravity away from the kind of interview Colbert made famous and toward formats built for speed, comfort, and shareable snippets.

As talk-show hosts lean harder into gimmicks. skits. and goofy bits to keep audiences tuned in and keep A-listers returning. the decline of substantive celebrity interviews is no longer confined to a single studio lot. Influencers have been pulled into red-carpet work. and interviews with content creators—including guests tied to Jake Shane’s “Therapuss” and Alex Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy. ” as well as the fried-chicken-themed double whammy of “Hot Ones” and “Chicken Shop Date”—now dominate the media circuit.

In these spaces, friction is treated like a bug, not a feature. Celebrities gravitate toward environments that let them promote themselves with fewer complications, while fans get soundbites optimized for TikTok and Instagram Reels.

Jake Shane’s “Therapuss” is described as especially accommodating. The source points to Shane being criticized for asking reductive questions at Vanity Fair’s Oscars after-party and later for asking Kacey Musgraves to explain a straightforward lyric about time zones. It also describes Shane’s approach as giving celebrities full editorial control over their appearances on “Therapuss.” Asked if he would cut a quote or a segment at the behest of his guest. Shane told Rolling Stone. “Always. always.” He added. “I think it’s really selfish to not honor someone’s discomfort with something that they’ve said. ” and said. “I want to create a comfortable. friendly environment for my guests.”.

Shane has also said he does not consider himself a journalist. Still, the source argues his model—and the models of other hosts—affect the media landscape by shaping public opinion, cultural tastes, and beauty standards, and that they should be scrutinized in exchange.

Shane even acknowledged why celebrities opt for podcasts like his. “I don’t care,” Shane said. “I’m just happy to have them.” The source also says Shane admitted celebrities “probably” choose his format to avoid being vulnerable with skilled interviewers while still fulfilling promotional responsibilities.

Colbert, by contrast, is held up as proof that a host can be welcoming, funny, and probing all at once. The source credits him with creating room for Andrew Garfield’s grief. discussing faith and death with Dua Lipa. and gently plumbing the depths of John Mulaney’s anxiety. His approach, the story argues, valued conversation over comfort.

Colbert is scheduled to take his final bow on “The Late Show” Thursday night. For many viewers, the memory of that Garfield interview—and the way a late-night desk briefly became a place for unscripted truth—will be the difficult part to replace.

Stephen Colbert The Late Show Andrew Garfield Tick Tick Boom pancreatic cancer CBS David Letterman Late-night TV media economics viral interviews Jake Shane Therapuss Call Her Daddy Hot Ones Chicken Shop Date Jimmy Fallon Jimmy Kimmel Seth Meyers Donald Trump