For an essay on the end of “The Late Show” on CBS, I spoke to its first host, David Letterman, who was cleareyed about the program’s cancellation. Here are edited excerpts from our conversation: What was your first thought when you found out “The Late Show,” which you helped create and where you served as the first host, was canceled?

On the Monday, May 11 episode, Colbert will reunite the Strike Force Five, featuring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver, and Seth Meyers. The group of late-night hosts previously came together for a podcast series amid the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes,