CBS Announces Major Late-Night Schedule Overhaul Following Stephen Colbert's Departure
CBS has officially revealed its plans to replace the iconic The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in its late-night programming lineup. The network confirmed on Monday that Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen will take over the coveted 11:35 p.m. time slot beginning May 22, 2026.
New Programming Strategy and Schedule Details
The transition will occur immediately following the final episode of Colbert's Emmy-winning show on May 21. Comics Unleashed, a comedy talk show created and hosted by media mogul Byron Allen, will air two back-to-back half-hour episodes from Monday through Friday throughout the 2026-2027 television season.
This represents a significant expansion of the program, which originally premiered in September 2006 and has been airing in the 12:35 a.m. hour since After Midnight with Taylor Tomlinson concluded in June 2025. The show features a rotating panel of comedians including:
- Nate Bargatze
- Sebastian Maniscalco
- Tiffany Haddish
- Gabriel Iglesias
- Cedric the Entertainer
Additional Programming Changes and Executive Statements
Following Comics Unleashed, the 12:35 a.m. slot will be filled by Allen's comedy game show Funny You Should Ask, hosted by Jon Kelley. This program has been airing since 2017 and will complete a two-hour comedy block on CBS's late-night schedule.
"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," Allen stated. "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."
Background on Colbert's Departure and Franchise Conclusion
The schedule changes come less than a year after CBS announced the cancellation of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in July 2025. Network executives described the decision as "agonizing" and attributed it to financial considerations within a challenging late-night television landscape.
"This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night," CBS executives explained in their original statement. "It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount."
However, industry observers have speculated about potential political motivations behind the cancellation. Colbert has been a consistent and vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, most recently satirizing Trump's dismissal of US Attorney General Pam Bondi. Some analysts suggest the cancellation might have been intended to appease Trump, given that Paramount – CBS's parent company – relied on the presidentially-controlled Federal Communications Commission to approve its $8 billion sale to Skydance.
End of an Era for Late-Night Television
Stephen Colbert assumed hosting duties for The Late Show from David Letterman in 2015. The franchise will conclude on May 21 after 33 years on the air, marking the end of one of television's most storied late-night institutions.
"We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise at that time," CBS executives declared in a joint statement last July. "We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television."
The network's new late-night strategy represents a significant shift toward comedy-focused programming, with Byron Allen's production company taking center stage during what has traditionally been one of television's most competitive time periods.
