Wednesday, June 3, 2026

CBS Keeps Stephen Colbert in Ed Sullivan Theater–Because They Own It

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Laughing at the press release today from CBS regarding Stephen Colbert. Yes, his Late Show will remain at the Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway and 53rd St. Why? Because CBS owns the place, kids! They bought it for the Letterman show in the 90s and paid $4.5 million for it. Funny that CBS waited so long since they took over the running of the Ed Sullivan Theater in 1936, long before Sullivan stepped foot on stage.

Anyway, where did  you think Colbert was going to do the show? There was never a question about it. Of course, the announcement is a relief to the people who work there. But CBS and that theater have too much history. That’s where the Beatles started their careers. And so it shall remain.

Bigger questions are whether Colbert will have a band and musical guests, do a monologue, or play himself.  And whither Paul Shaffer? And when will Letterman end his run? (Probably February ratings sweep.)

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Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman is the founder and editor-in-chief of Showbiz411. He wrote the FOX411 column on FoxNews.com from 1999 to 2009 and previously edited Fame magazine and wrote the "Intelligencer" column at New York magazine. His bylines have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the New York Daily News, the New York Post, Vogue, Details, and the Miami Herald. He is a voting member of the Critics Choice Awards (Film and Television branches), and his movie reviews are tracked by Rotten Tomatoes. is articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. With D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, he co-produced the 2002 documentary "Only the Strong Survive," which screened at Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.

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