CBS has announced it will replace the late-night slot currently held by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert with a two-hour comedy block led by Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen.
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The network said the new schedule will begin on May 22, one day after the final episode of Colbert’s program airs. The show, which currently occupies the 11:35 p.m. time slot, is set to end its run on May 21.
Under the new arrangement, CBS will air two consecutive episodes of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen each night to fill the hour beginning at 11:35 p.m. The program is a half-hour stand-up comedy series featuring a panel of comedians discussing and joking about topical issues.
The following slot at 12:35 a.m. will be taken by Funny You Should Ask, a syndicated comedy game show created by Allen and hosted by Jon Kelley.
Shift in the Late-Night Schedule
Comics Unleashed has already been part of CBS’s overnight lineup. The show moved into the 12:35 a.m. slot in September after the network cancelled the game show After Midnight.
By expanding the program to the earlier hour, CBS will effectively replace its long-running late-night talk format with a comedy panel show.
In a statement, Allen said he welcomed the decision by the network.
“I truly appreciate CBS’ 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,” said Allen, a comedian and the founder and chief executive of Allen Media Group.
Time-Buy Agreement
CBS confirmed the programming arrangement is part of a time-buy agreement with Allen Media Group for the 2026–27 season. Under this type of deal, the production company pays the broadcaster to air its programming, rather than the network commissioning or funding the shows directly.
The approach differs from the traditional late-night model in which networks produce or finance talk shows and generate revenue through advertising.
End of a Long-Running Talk Show
CBS announced less than a year ago that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would conclude in 2026, citing financial pressures affecting late-night television. The network described the decision at the time as “agonizing.”
Late-night programs across US television have faced declining advertising revenue and shrinking audiences as viewers increasingly shift toward streaming platforms and online content.
However, some observers suggested the cancellation may have had political dimensions. Colbert has been a frequent critic of President Donald Trump.
At the time CBS made the decision, its parent company Paramount was seeking approval from the Trump administration for a proposed sale to Skydance Media.
In the weeks before the cancellation was announced, CBS also reached a settlement in a defamation lawsuit filed by Trump, a case that several legal analysts had previously characterized as weak.
Allen’s Interest in the Slot
Allen had publicly expressed interest in taking over the time slot previously held by Colbert. Speaking during New York Ad Week in October, he said he would be ready to step in if the opportunity arose.
“If they’re looking for a show, my hand is already up,” he said at the time.
With the new schedule confirmed, Allen’s programming will now occupy both the 11:35 p.m. and 12:35 a.m. slots on CBS beginning in late May.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 8 April 2026
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