CBS is officially closing the curtain on an era — and ushering in a very different kind of late-night lineup.
Following the final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on May 21, the network will hand over its iconic 11:35 p.m. time slot to Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen, beginning May 22.
Hosted by Byron Allen, the long-running comedy series will air back-to-back half-hour episodes each night. It will be followed by another Allen Media Group production, Funny You Should Ask, at 12:35 a.m.
This move marks a major shift for CBS, which is officially stepping away from traditional late-night programming after more than three decades of The Late Show franchise.
A Strategic (and Financial) Pivot
Rather than producing its own late-night content, CBS is leaning into a time-buy model — with Allen Media Group purchasing the airtime and handling ad sales. The strategy is expected to turn late night into a profitable block for the network amid a declining ad market.
CBS executives have previously made it clear that the decision to end The Late Show was financial, not creative — despite the continued success and cultural relevance of Stephen Colbert’s run.
A Full-Circle Moment for Byron Allen
For Allen, this isn’t just a business move — it’s personal.
After publicly expressing interest in the 11:35 slot in 2025, he now steps into one of television’s most historic time periods with a format that blends stand-up and panel-style conversation.
Originally launched in 2006, Comics Unleashed has featured a wide range of comedians including Tiffany Haddish, Cedric the Entertainer, Gabriel Iglesias, and Nate Bargatze — offering a space for comics to riff, react, and deliver quick-hit sets.
Meanwhile, Funny You Should Ask, hosted by Jon Kelley, continues its mix of trivia and comedy, featuring celebrity panelists helping contestants answer questions.
The Bigger Picture
CBS’ exit signals a broader shift in the late-night landscape, where rising production costs and shrinking ad revenue are forcing networks to rethink the format entirely.
And while the end of The Late Show marks the closing of a legacy, this new era raises a bigger question:
Is this the future of late night — or the end of it as we know it?