CBS Names Byron Allen to Replace Stephen Colbert
CBS late-night replacement Stephen Colbert 2026
CBS officially announced on Monday, April 6, 2026, that the 11:35 p.m. time slot currently held by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will be filled by Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen beginning this May. The long-running talk show will conclude its historic eleven-season run on Thursday, May 21, marking the end of an era for the network’s late-night programming.
Starting Friday, May 22, CBS will broadcast back-to-back half-hour episodes of Comics Unleashed, followed by the syndicated game show Funny You Should Ask in the 12:37 a.m. slot. According to reporting from CNN, this programming shift follows a strategic time-buy agreement between CBS and Allen Media Group, where the network receives a direct payment for the airtime while the production company retains advertising revenue.
The transition to Byron Allen’s programming represents a significant departure from the traditional high-budget late-night talk show format that has defined the 11:35 p.m. hour for decades. CBS executives cited the mounting financial pressures of the late-night landscape as a primary driver for the decision, characterizing the move as a necessary evolution for the network’s bottom line.
However, the cancellation of Colbert’s show has sparked widespread speculation regarding potential political motivations, particularly given the host’s frequent and sharp criticism of the current administration. As detailed by TV Insider, the network’s parent company, Paramount, was recently seeking federal approvals for its merger with Skydance, a process that coincided with the settlement of a high-profile defamation lawsuit involving President Donald Trump.
Byron Allen, the founder and CEO of Allen Media Group, expressed his gratitude for the expanded partnership, noting that his comedy block aims to provide much-needed laughter for a national audience. Comics Unleashed, which has aired intermittently in syndication and on CBS’s later time slots since 2006, features a roundtable format with various stand-up comedians.
The addition of Funny You Should Ask, hosted by Jon Kelley, further solidifies Allen’s presence on the network following the conclusion of Taylor Tomlinson’s After Midnight in June 2025. According to updates from Consequence, the new lineup will also stream live on Paramount+, ensuring that the digital audience remains engaged with the network’s late-night offerings during the 2026-2027 television season.
The end of The Late Show follows a trend of networks scaling back their late-night investments in response to declining linear ratings and the rising costs of star-driven talent. While Colbert remained a ratings leader among total viewers, the network emphasized that the time-buy model offers a more predictable and profitable financial structure for the future.
Industry observers have noted that this move could signal a broader industry shift toward lower-cost syndicated content in traditional broadcast windows. As reported by ScreenCrush, the final weeks of Colbert’s tenure are expected to feature a series of retrospective guests and tributes to the show’s impact on American culture. For now, the television landscape prepares for a major realignment as one of its most prominent political voices prepares to leave the airwaves this spring.
