You could almost hear the smug deflation echoing from late-night studios across Manhattan when CBS announced the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on July 17. But if you were Bill O’Reilly, you heard something else: validation.
Because, as it turns out, O’Reilly—never one to pass up a moment of “I told you so”—had already predicted the downfall of his longtime nemesis. In a video posted to his YouTube channel on July 18, O’Reilly warned Colbert that his days were numbered. The only catch? CBS had already lowered the boom the day before.
Still, the clip wasn’t your usual “post-hoc prophecy.” It seems O’Reilly recorded the video before CBS made the announcement public. He even dropped this gem: “Well you’re not going to be around much longer, pal. And when SkyDance buys, you’re gone. So, I hope you saved your money.”
Some folks online pointed out that the video wasn’t posted until after the axe had officially swung, but here’s the thing: Bill’s been around long enough to know how the Hollywood sausage is made. When corporate sharks start circling, it’s only a matter of time before they smell the flop-sweat and move in for the kill.
And flop he did. Colbert, once the darling of the virtue-signaling elite, had been sliding into irrelevance faster than a woke streaming service. What started as a cheeky parody of right-wing punditry turned into a repetitive rant against Donald Trump that got less funny—and less watched—every year. It turns out that Americans don’t want a nightly sermon; they want entertainment.
But let’s rewind a bit. The feud between O’Reilly and Colbert was the kind of media drama that used to make for great late-night TV—back when people actually watched it. O’Reilly was the unapologetic voice of traditional America, while Colbert built his career off mocking him, both as a comedian and as the self-styled “Stephen Colbert” character. Their jabs went back and forth for years, and O’Reilly even appeared as a guest on The Late Show a few times.
Then came 2017, when Fox News cut ties with O’Reilly following sexual harassment allegations. True to form, Colbert didn’t waste a moment before gloating—though he claimed not to. “I take no pleasure in his downfall,” Colbert said at the time, before cueing some off-camera spectacle that got his audience clapping like seals at feeding time.
Funny thing about karma, though—it’s not always immediate, but it sure is patient.
Now, nearly a decade later, the tables have turned. And Colbert? He’s not leaving because of scandal, but because even CBS can’t justify keeping a show afloat that’s hemorrhaging viewers and relevance. Paramount’s recent $16 million settlement with Trump must’ve been the final straw for Colbert, who mocked the payout like it was a joke. O’Reilly saw the writing on the wall and gave him a farewell warning.
“Hope you saved your money.” That’s a line that’s going to age like fine wine.
Sure, O’Reilly has had his share of controversies, but say what you want—he didn’t spend the past ten years as a corporate court jester, spewing tired monologues about the same political boogeyman every night while pretending to be edgy. Colbert had the opportunity to innovate, to evolve, to challenge norms. Instead, he turned his show into a progressive lecture series dressed up in a necktie and a laugh track.
So, while Colbert fans are busy tweeting their disappointment and composing heartfelt tributes to his “courageous comedy,” the rest of us are just enjoying the long-overdue moment when someone at CBS finally said, “Yeah, this isn’t working anymore.”
As for O’Reilly, he’s already moved on to writing columns and reminding folks that, yes, he was right. Again. He even tweeted out the link to his latest take on “the REAL story behind #StephenColbert’s demise.” And honestly, who could blame him?
In a world where conservatives are constantly told to “shut up and take it,” there’s something sweet about watching a left-wing icon trip over his own irrelevance.
So long, Colbert. Don’t let the studio door hit you on the way out.
