With the hosts Merv Griffin, Pat Sajak, David Letterman and Stephen Colbert, CBS has taken many runs at late-night TV. Some were more successful than others.

CBS’ decision to cut ties with Stephen Colbert and its decades-old “Late Show” franchise come next May will leave a major hole in the format — but one that has been widening. TV networks have been cutting costs at their late-night mainstays for the past few years.

CBS has axed Stephen Colbert's "The Late Show." Here's a look at how his career in comedy led him from "The Daily Show" to Letterman's old seat.

Maybe the “Late Show” decision is purely financial. But after Paramount’s cave over “60 Minutes,” it is hard to trust.

When it was announced in 2014 that Stephen Colbert would succeed David Letterman as host of the CBS “Late Show,” reaction was mixed. Letterman, who retired after helming the talk show for 22 years, had a loyal audience. At that point, Colbert was best known for playing a satirical version of himself on Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report.”

Why did CBS cancel "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert"? And is this a harbinger of doom for all of late-night TV?

Colbert, who lives in Montclair, New Jersey, isn’t being replaced, either. CBS is axing the “Late Show” entirely. The iconic program, which was previously hosted by David Letterman, has been on the air for nearly 32 years.

After David Letterman retired from hosting The Late Show on CBS in 2015, Stephen Colbert stepped in as host of the show. But now, CBS and Colbert have revealed that The Late Show is ending forever. Not only is Colbert stepping down,