This seems to be part of an ongoing pattern in television programming, particularly when it comes to late-night comedy shows. After seven seasons on TBS, Samantha Bee’s show “Full Frontal” will not be returning this fall. The network, owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, will be “going in a different direction.” Amazingly, the network does not appear to be doing this because of the controversial nature of the show and the crass language that is frequently featured. It’s just a business decision as ratings and advertising revenue for the late-night shows have been slumping. Everyone is saying all of the right things about how great it’s been and how they will all miss the relationship, but that’s not going to stop the ax from falling. (Variety)

Samantha Bee’s “Full Frontal” is getting a kick in the rear from Warner Bros. Discovery.

The show, which became a signature program for the large cable network TBS, “will not return to the network in the fall,” according to a statement from Bee’s representatives.

“As we continue to shape our new programming strategy, we’ve made some difficult, business-based decisions,” TBS said in a statement. “We are proud to have been the home to ‘Full Frontal With Samantha Bee’ and thank Sam, and the rest of the Emmy-nominated team for their groundbreaking work.

Variety does a good job of connecting the dots in terms of where the industry is currently heading. If it were just Bee’s show getting the boot, we would suspect that either her audience has been abandoning her or her advertisers had been frightened away. But that doesn’t seem to be the case. TBS also ended Conan O’Brien’s show last summer and that one was far less controversial than Full Frontal. Comedy Central canceled two of its three late-night shows over the past year. And CBS is replacing the host of The Late, Late Show next season and shopping around for “a cheaper alternative.”

It’s very likely that we’re observing something of a cultural shift taking place as well. Most of these shows deal regularly with political news and combative social trends. That used to be prime territory for humor and it still is to some extent. But we’re not living in the same type of country that once allowed show hosts like Johnny Carson and Arsenio Hall to flourish. Both would regularly feature guests from both sides of the aisle and everyone was able to laugh at themselves and go along with the jokes.

American society today is far more verbally combative, and occasionally physically combative as well. If you have a show that’s promoting either the left or the right in American politics (or can simply be perceived as doing so) you can basically write off half of your potential audience before the curtain goes up. That immediately limits a show’s financial viability. But it’s not just a matter of people failing to tune in. If Full Frontal had been a show featuring right-wing guests and themes, the left would have gone after her and announced boycotts until they canceled her long before TBS could get around to doing so.

Just by way of disclosure, I’ll confess that I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Samantha Bee, despite her political hot takes. I suppose that’s because I did a segment with her on The Daily Show back in 2014. (One of two times I was on the show.) Despite what you might think of her politics and tactics, I had a great time and found her to be as funny in casual conversation as she is on screen. She was nothing but pleasant, despite our vastly different political views and I left the experience with more respect for her than I might have otherwise. I’ll close with a photo of me and Sam back in happier times.