AceShowbiz - In a sharply critical interview with The New York Times, David Letterman did not hold back his frustration towards CBS and Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison over the network's decision to cancel The Late Show hosted by Stephen Colbert. Letterman dismissed the official financial reasoning provided by CBS, suggesting that the true motives behind ending the program were less transparent.

Letterman expressed his dismay by questioning the treatment of Colbert after inheriting the iconic 11:30 p.m. timeslot. “Then I wondered: What the hell have they done to Stephen? And I would say farther down on the list is your point: Wait a minute, this used to be my show. It’s like driving by your old neighborhood and realizing that where you used to live, they’re putting up an adult bookstore,” he said, emphasizing the personal impact of the cancellation.

He acknowledged that while television may no longer be the lucrative venture it once was, the human element seemed overlooked in this decision. “What about the humanity for Stephen and the humanity of people who love him and the humanity for people who still enjoyed that 11:30 respite?” Letterman questioned. According to him, the cancellation was driven by the network’s sale to Skydance, which included the show as part of the deal with assurances that Colbert’s presence would cause no issues. “I’m just going to go on record as saying: They’re lying ... They’re lying weasels,” he declared.

Following the cancellation, The Late Show will be replaced starting May 22 by Byron Allen’s program Comics Unleashed. Letterman had previously commented on this change on his podcast, noting that cost considerations were likely a major factor for CBS. He explained, “They don’t want to spend any money, so they’re going to make money. They charge Byron Allen some reasonable price. He sells all the advertising for his ‘Comics Unleashed’ and it’ll be, I think, 90 minutes or two hours of comics talking about funny stuff.”

Letterman described Allen’s show as a panel format with seated comedians rather than traditional stand-up, calling it “a pretty good idea.” Despite his harsh words about the network and its executives, he found some consolation in knowing that comedy would still occupy the late-night slot.

In the interview, Letterman praised Byron Allen’s success and impact on the industry, stating, “He’s been wildly more successful than any hundred of us. I periodically talk to him, and neither he nor I understand how he became a billionaire. God bless him.” He then expressed his disdain for CBS and Skydance leadership, saying, “To hell with CBS. To hell with Skydance. To hell with the Winslow [Ellison] twins or whoever the hell these guys are.” However, he reiterated that Allen’s continued presence at 11:30 p.m. offered a “valuable bit of resolution.”

This development marks a significant shift in late-night television at CBS, with the legacy of [strong]Stephen Colbert[/strong]’s tenure ending abruptly and a new, more cost-effective comedy program taking its place. While fans of The Late Show may be disappointed by the cancellation, Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed aims to fill the void with a fresh format and continued humor during the late-night hour.

This article is based on reporting originally published by TheWrap.