CBS Shakes Up Late Night Lineup as The Late Show Ends After Decades
In a major shift for broadcast television, CBS's late-night schedule will undergo a significant transformation next month following the conclusion of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. After more than 30 years as a staple of network programming, with Colbert hosting for over a decade, the show will officially air its final episode on May 21.
Byron Allen's Comedy Block Takes Over Prime Slot
Starting May 22, the coveted 11:35 p.m. time slot will be filled by Comics Unleashed, a comedy talk show executive-produced by media mogul Byron Allen. This roundtable series, which first launched in syndication two decades ago, features Allen alongside four comedians who, according to its synopsis, share stories, tell jokes and bring the biggest laughter to television. Currently airing right after The Late Show, it will now lead the late-night hour.
Following Comics Unleashed, the hour will be taken over by the comedy game show Funny You Should Ask, also executive-produced by Allen. This program, which currently airs at 1:35 a.m. on CBS, will move into the earlier slot, creating a two-hour comedy block.
Allen's Vision for Late-Night Laughter
In a press statement, Byron Allen expressed his enthusiasm for the new arrangement, stating, I created and launched Comics Unleashed 20 years ago so my fellow comedians could have a platform to do what we all love — make people laugh. He added, I truly appreciate CBS's confidence in me by picking up our two-hour comedy block of Comics Unleashed and Funny You Should Ask, because the world can never have enough laughter.
End of an Era for Stephen Colbert
CBS shockingly announced in July that it was canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, confirming there were no plans to bring in a new host. Reflecting on the decision during an April 8 episode with guest Oprah Winfrey, Colbert shared his emotional response, saying, I don't want to let anything go yet. He elaborated, I still have a white-knuckle grip on all these people who I love, who I've worked with all these years.
The final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is set to air on May 21, marking the end of a long-running chapter in late-night television history.
