EXCERPT:
COLBERT: “CBS, our network, CBS, who I want to reiterate, have always been great partners, put out a statement saying very nice things about me and about the show, and thank you to them for that. They clarified that the cancellation was 'purely a financial decision.' But how could it be purely a financial decision if 'The Late Show' is number one in the ratings?
(Cheering and Applause)
Yeah. It’s confusing. A lot of folks are asking that question, mainly my staff’s parents and spouses. Well, over the weekend, somebody at CBS followed up their gracious press release with a gracious anonymous leak, saying they pulled the plug on our show because of losses pegged between $40 million and $50 million a year. $40 million’s a big number. I could see us losing $24 million, but where would Paramount have possibly spent the other 16 mill — oh, yeah.”