Stephen Colbert's friends and colleagues are in shock at The Late Show's surprise cancellation.

At the beginning of his Thursday night broadcast, Stephen Colbert forced a sad smile as he addressed the audience with some grim news. “Before we start the show, I want to let you know something that I found out just last night,” intoned the veteran comedian. “Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending The Late Show in May, and—”

From Hollywood to the Hasty Pudding, we waft like smoke from an unfiltered Pall Mall through Cawrson’s worlds, most of which are gone.

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.