David Letterman’s Cryptic Rebuke: “You Can’t Spell CBS Without BS” Signals Displeasure After Colbert’s Axing

As the dust begins to settle from the seismic announcement that CBS is pulling the plug on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the late-night television world has been abuzz with reactions. While many prominent figures have voiced their thoughts, David Letterman, the very architect and original host of The Late Show franchise, had remained notably silent—until now. His recent move on YouTube, a platform he’s embraced in his post-retirement years, has sent a subtle yet unmistakable message that’s resonating across the industry: a 20-minute montage pointedly titled, “You can’t spell CBS without BS.”

This video, a carefully curated compilation of classic moments from Letterman’s long tenure where he directly roasted CBS, is being widely interpreted as a passive-aggressive “Bronx cheer” directed at the network that was once home to his iconic late-night legacy. Far from mourning Stephen Colbert’s impending departure, the tone of Letterman’s YouTube offering suggests he’s doing quite the opposite—he’s mocking it, and by extension, the corporate decisions that led to the end of a television institution.

The montage itself is a masterclass in vintage Letterman. It’s replete with his signature wit, irreverence, and the effortless blending of humor with sharp, understated critiques. Viewers are treated to a parade of jabs aimed directly at CBS executives, fictional corporate figures like “Lloyd Emerson,” and self-deprecating jokes about being excluded from corporate disputes because he’s “a goon.” These segments, pulled from broadcasts spanning from 1994 to 2013, serve as a potent reminder of Letterman’s unique ability to be both entertaining and subtly subversive, particularly when taking aim at his own employers. The sheer timing and bluntness of the video’s title, “You can’t spell CBS without BS,” leave little to the imagination regarding Letterman’s true sentiments.

While CBS has, as of yet, refrained from offering a formal comment on Letterman’s YouTube release, the contextual timing could not be more pointed. The upload appeared just four days after Colbert himself announced the end of The Late Show, stating that the network was not replacing him, but rather ending the franchise entirely in May 2026. This montage, therefore, feels less like random archival content and more like a quiet condemnation of CBS’s strategic handling of its flagship late-night property. It’s as if Letterman is delivering a taste of the network’s own medicine, using their past content to highlight present corporate missteps.

For a broadcast network that once proudly positioned itself as the definitive home of late-night television, the decision to abruptly pull the plug on The Late Show—a franchise that Letterman himself built into a cornerstone of its programming lineup and that Stephen Colbert subsequently carried forward—is undeniably an uncomfortable and reputation-damaging move. The swiftness and apparent lack of a direct successor for the long-running slot have raised eyebrows across the media landscape, leading many to question the network’s commitment to its own historical legacy in this lucrative and influential time slot.

Letterman’s actions, though playfully delivered, could indeed be interpreted as a damning indictment of CBS’s current management and their approach to their late-night heritage. With The Late Show being axed completely, it presents a stark image of CBS effectively erasing its own history, perhaps without fully comprehending the immense cultural importance that the franchise once held. The Ed Sullivan Theater, meticulously renovated for Colbert and serving as the show’s iconic New York home since Letterman’s tenure began in 1993, will now stand vacant, a silent testament to a bygone era of network television dominance.

This situation also casts a spotlight on the broader financial considerations that networks face in the evolving media landscape. While CBS CEO George Cheeks stated that the decision was “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,” citing potential annual losses of $40 million, the timing of the cancellation—just weeks after Colbert critically discussed a $16 million settlement between CBS parent company Paramount and Donald Trump—has fueled speculation of political motivations. Regardless of the exact confluence of factors, Letterman’s montage serves as a powerful, albeit subtle, reminder of the creative and cultural heights CBS once reached, now seemingly overshadowed by corporate decisions that prioritize immediate financial considerations over long-term cultural significance and brand loyalty.

For the legions of David Letterman’s devoted fans, this YouTube video is more than just a nostalgic trip down memory lane; it’s a testament to his enduring irreverent style and his continued, albeit indirect, influence in the dynamic world of late-night television. It reaffirms his reputation as a comedic maverick who was never afraid to challenge authority, even that of his own network.

For CBS, however, the video serves as a potent, unvarnished reminder that once a network begins to sever ties with its foundational roots and the very personalities who shaped its identity, even the most legendary figures in television might not have much to say verbally. Yet, as Letterman has so brilliantly demonstrated, they will certainly find other, equally impactful ways to show precisely what they think, leaving an indelible mark on the narrative of the network’s own legacy. In a rapidly changing media landscape, where streaming platforms and fragmented audiences continually redefine viewership, Letterman’s subtle rebuke underscores a critical truth: sometimes, the most cutting roasts are delivered without uttering a single word.