Colbert just posted the highest ratings of his career. And South Park’s takedown of Trump was their most-viewed episode in 26 years.

Stephen Colbert recently experienced a significant career milestone with high ratings before his show's cancellation, and South Park's recent episode satirizing President Trump achieved its highest viewership in 26 years.

'South Park' co-creator jokes he's 'terribly sorry' over premiere that drew White House anger - AP News
Source: apnews.com

'South Park' co-creator jokes he's 'terribly sorry' over premiere that drew White House anger - AP News
Source: apnews.com

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified August 3, 2025

Business Insider reported South Park's episode drew almost 6 million viewers, breaking a 26-year record.businessinsider.com
The Guardian and AP News detailed the episode's content and context involving Trump and Paramount.theguardian.com theguardian.com
Multiple sources confirm Colbert's Late Show cancellation followed his criticism of Paramount's Trump lawsuit settlement despite high ratings.apnews.com

The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

Recent reports confirm that South Park's season 27 premiere episode, titled "Sermon on the Mount," which included a pointed satire of President Donald Trump, attracted nearly 6 million viewers, marking the highest audience for the show in 26 years. This episode also targeted CBS and its parent company Paramount, coinciding with a $1. 5 billion streaming deal.

Meanwhile, Stephen Colbert's "Late Show" reached its highest ratings in his career shortly before its cancellation by CBS/Paramount. The cancellation followed Colbert's public criticism of Paramount's settlement of a lawsuit with President Trump, which some sources suggest was politically motivated. While Colbert's ratings peak is documented, the show was canceled soon after, complicating the narrative of ongoing success.

South Park's episode is widely recognized as their most-viewed in over two decades and is noted for its sharp political satire of the current sitting president as of 2025, Donald Trump.

Primary trail