Here's a pretty good article about the Stephen Colbert matter by Jason Zinoman. One aspect of all this that intrigues me is the suggestion, hinted at in this article and stated outright in others I've read, that the decline in audience for late night shows is because they've gotten too political.
I'm curious — and there may never be a real answer to this — how many viewers flock to Colbert's show and others because of the politics and how many are driven away. We can all understand how someone who thinks Donald Trump is Jesus Christ with too much bronzer might not want to watch monologues that bash him and studio audiences cheering the bashing. Okay…but I know some folks who hate Trump but don't want to be reminded of him just before bedtime.
I'll admit there have been times lately when I've watched Colbert and thought, "Is there anything else in the world you guys have a joke about?" There's probably no way to ever know how many viewers come and go because of this but I'd at least like to know what Mr. Colbert's educated guesses are about it.