The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore canceled; Host 'saddened and surprised' by 'unblackening' at Comedy Central

President of the Network said: 'We just didn't feel like we had enough traction to sign up for another year'

Larry Wilmore presenting The Nighty Show (Comedy Central)

After just a year and a half on air, Larry Wilmore's Comedy Central series The Nightly Show has been cancelled.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the network’s president Kent Alterman explained that the show “hasn't connected with our audience in ways that we need it to, both in the linear channel and in terms of multi-platform outlets and with shareable content and on social platforms as well.”

When The Nightly Show launched, it benefitted from being slotted directly after The Daily Show With Jon Stewart. However, since Trevor Noah took over The Daily Show, ratings have fallen.

Wilmore informed staff of the decision early on Monday - the last show being on Thursday - revealing his disappointment, saying the network was “unblackening”.

"I'm really grateful to Comedy Central, Jon Stewart, and our fans to have had this opportunity," he said in a statement. “But I'm also saddened and surprised we won't be covering this crazy election or 'The Unblackening' as we've coined it. And keeping it 100, I guess I hadn't counted on 'The Unblackening' happening to my time slot as well.”

The timing of the cancellation is likely down to contracts not being renegotiated but will no doubt be frustrating with the Presidential Election only just heating up.

"We just didn't feel like we had enough traction to sign up for another year. It wasn't about the election; it’s about another year of the show,” Alterman added. “As much as we like Larry and the uniqueness of the show and the voices that are on the show — not just in terms of ratings — it hasn't resonated in terms of our fans engaging with show.”

Other late night shows in the US have been poking fun at the current state of politics in the US, particularly Donald Trump who has been on the receiving end of numerous jokes.