CBS Shakes Up Late-Night Lineup

In a surprising late-night shift, CBS has decided to substitute Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” with Byron Allen’s “Comics Unleashed.” This follows the network’s announcement in July that “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” would conclude in May 2026 after running for over ten years.

Critics, particularly from the liberal side, claim that the decision to cancel the show was an effort to placate former President Donald Trump and might be linked to the merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media.

The long-standing tension between Colbert and CBS is set to wrap up this spring. Starting May 22, CBS will air “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen” at 11:35 p.m., followed by another show produced by Allen, titled “Funny You Should Ask,” at 12:35 a.m. The last episode of “The Late Show” will be on May 21.

Interestingly, “Comics Unleashed” has also been airing in different slots during the current Writers and Actors Strike.

IMDb describes Allen’s “Comics Unleashed” as a platform for comedians to share stories and laugh together, highlighting that it’s “Funny. Unpredictable. Undeniably hilarious.”

Byron Allen, who started this show two decades ago, expressed gratitude to CBS for their confidence in offering a two-hour comedy block with both his shows, emphasizing that “there isn’t enough laughter in the world.”

The transition to Allen’s show seems to resonate with a shift in the late-night landscape. Many traditional programs, including Colbert’s, have taken a more political turn, which some believe has distanced them from wider audiences, who often prefer political discussion on podcasts.

The final season of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” faced criticism from publications like Variety, which described it as “not-so-good television” that struggled to connect with typical viewers due to its focus on celebrity interviews.