If it’s true that “The Late Show” costs $100 million a year to produce, and if it’s true that it loses $40 million a year, and if it’s true that Stephen Colbert receives $20 million a year in compensation, and if it’s true the show’s viewership is around 2 million a night, and if it’s true PresidentDonald Trump forced the show’s cancellation because of Paramount’s proposed merger with Skydance, let’s consider the “if it’s true.”
If the show loses $40 million a year, one reason for cancelling the show might be that Paramount is trying to clean up its balance sheet for the merger, which is the case in many mergers and acquisitions. Also, by allowing the show to lose $40 million and stay on the air, was CBS not contributing to the Democratic Party?
If Colbert earns $20 million and he wants the show to stay on the air, maybe he could take a pay cut like Jay Leno when “The Tonight Show” was no longer bringing in the revenue from advertisers because of the loss of viewers.
If Trump has pressured CBS to cancel the show, it seems odd that he would not force them to cancel it immediately rather than allowing Colbert 10 more months to deride him.
I do not watch “The Late Show” and Stephen Colbert. I have watched snippets on YouTube. I have watched many snippets of “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” that came on after CBS’s “The Late Show.” As far as pure entertainment goes, Ferguson is, by far, more entertaining and comedic.
Steve Fischer, Mt. Lookout
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: ‘The Late Show’s’ real problem wasn’t politics. It was ratings | Letter
Reporting by Letters to the editor / Cincinnati Enquirer
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