Network replaces long-running late-night talk format with two-hour comedy lineup beginning May 22.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
CBS will end its long-running late-night talk show format with the final broadcast of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on May 21, closing an 11-year run led by Stephen Colbert and transitioning the time slot to a new comedy-focused lineup anchored by Byron Allen.
The network confirmed that beginning May 22, Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen will take over the 11:35 p.m. ET/PT slot, a position historically associated with late-night talk programming dating back to David Letterman’s tenure.
The updated schedule will feature two consecutive half-hour episodes of Comics Unleashed, running through 12:37 a.m. ET/PT, followed by the addition of Funny You Should Ask, a comedy game show hosted by Jon Kelley, airing from 12:37 a.m. to 1:37 a.m. ET/PT.
CBS said both programs will air weeknights on the network and be available for live streaming on Paramount+. The shows are produced by Allen Media Group, expanding Allen’s role in the network’s programming lineup.
Allen, founder and chief executive of Allen Media Group, said in a statement released through CBS Entertainment, “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’ confidence in me by picking up our two-hour comedy block … because the world can never have enough laughter.”
Comics Unleashed, which debuted in 2006, features panels of comedians delivering commentary on current topics. Funny You Should Ask, first launched in 2017, combines trivia with comedic responses from celebrity panelists.
The change marks a shift away from the traditional late-night talk show format that has defined CBS programming for decades. The 11:35 p.m. slot had been anchored first by Letterman and later by Colbert, whose program combined interviews, monologues, and commentary.
Colbert assumed hosting duties in 2015 following Letterman’s retirement and became a central figure in late-night television during his tenure.
The new programming structure signals a transition by CBS toward a comedy-based format in late night, replacing the single-host talk show model with a multi-show lineup built around stand-up and panel-driven entertainment.