Stephen Colbert’s Late Show is being canceled. For those of the “maga” world, who espouse the freedom of speech in the marketplace of ideas, please understand: Colbert succeeds. [FN1] The show is being canceled because it airs on CBS. CBS is owned by Paramount. 1/8

A sale of Paramount to Skydance Media is pending, but requires trump administration approval. [FN2] CBS already wimped out & paid damages to trump for a segment of “60 Minutes” trump didn’t like. History shows that comedy pokes holes in tyranny. 2/8

“Lysistrata,” a play by Aristophanes, would be considered filthy by some. First performed around 411 B.C.E., it depicts the women of Greece going on strike to end the Peloponnesian war. [FN3]
In the early 1960s, Lenny Bruce & Richard Pryor broke through society’s mores. 3/8

They explored topics such as race & sex. Some say race & sex received comic treatment at the other ends of the political & entertainment spectra. But humor on albums such as “A Truck Stop Is the Best Place to Eat” [FN4] is racIST and sexIST. How to tell the difference? 4/8

Before you re-tell a joke from “Truck Stop,” you have to look over your shoulder. [FN5]
One person commented on Colbert’s show being canceled: “Pretty boring when all 3 late night talk shows have exactly the same political slant.” To which I must say: 5/8

So what, you stupid fuck? You don’t have to watch them. There are > 3 channels these days & a lot of others watch them. Colbert didn’t get canceled for bad ratings. You might want to check out “Truck Stop,” but it’s only in cassette. I guess they sold out the 8-tracks. 6/8

Footnotes:
FN1. 2nd quarter Nielsens: Colbert w/2.42 million viewers, 9% of the audience & best in timeslot; only show w/more viewers than previous quarter + received Emmy nomination for outstanding talk series. de Guzman, “CBS Cancels Stephen Colbert’s Late Show ...” TIME, 7/18/25.
FN2. Id. 7/8

FN3. The play has racy passages, but, since it does not depict pederasty, might not appeal to those really “in” trump’s world.
FN4. Gene Tracy, “A Truck Stop Is the Best Place to Eat,” Good Time Productions (1972).
FN5. Seriously. Think about it. 8/8