CBS' shock announcement sparked speculation over whether there was a political motive for the program's cancellation.

S tephen Colbert, the CBS late-night talk show host, was unequivocal in his assessment of Paramount Global’s $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump. “I believe this kind of complicated financial settlement with a sitting government official has a technical name in legal circles,” he said. “It’s a big fat bribe.”

Skydance, the movie studio trying to buy CBS and Comedy Central parent company Paramount, appears eager to rid CBS of “a liberal taint.”