First on LateNighter: After Midnight with Taylor Tomlinson will air its series finale on Thursday, June 12th, 2025, marking the end of two eras at CBS: one for the show and another for its time slot.
News first broke that After Midnight would be ending its two-season run in late March. Though the show had reportedly been renewed for a third season earlier this year, that decision was said to have been reversed after Tomlinson made it known that she intended to step away from the show at the end of this season.
“Hosting After Midnight has genuinely been the experience of a lifetime, and I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunity to be part of this incredible journey,” Tomlinson said in a statement at the time.”Though it was an extremely tough decision, I knew I had to return to my first passion and return to stand-up touring full-time.”
After Midnight’s executive producer and lead-in Stephen Colbert supported Tomlinson’s decision in a statement of his own.
“While we were excited and grateful for our third season to start in the fall, we respect Taylor’s decision to return to stand-up full time,” he said. “I want to thank CBS for their constant support and invaluable partnership on After Midnight and the whole staff for their amazing dedication.”
After Midnight first debuted on the network in January 2024, taking the time slot following Colbert’s Late Show. It was renewed for a second season just five months later.
CBS has said it will not replace After Midnight with new programming, leaving its 12:35am hour vacant for the first time in three decades.
That development is the latest blow to late night as ratings and revenues on linear TV continue to decline. NBC slashed budgets for its two nightly shows, forcing Late Night with Seth Meyers to cut its house band, while The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon stopped airing new episodes on Friday nights.
CBS had introduced After Midnight itself as a less expensive alternative to traditional late-night programming. The show, adapted from Comedy Central’s 2013-2017 series @midnight, replaced The Late Late Show with James Corden after Corden stepped down in 2023.
Tomlinson has maintained a very active standup comedy career while hosting After Midnight. She has often said that one of the most appealing aspects of the hosting job was her ability to continue touring as a comic. After Midnight typically tapes its entire four-episode week on Mondays through Wednesdays, allowing Tomlinson to travel for shows on weekends.
CBS has not yet revealed what (if anything) will air in place of After Midnight following the top-rated Late Show. Prior to the premiere of The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder in 1995, the network aired movies and repeats of primetime programming in that hour. Alternatively, the network could give the hour to its affiliates to air local or syndicated programming.
sucks…
Honestly, I’ve only started watching this show this season in August or September (Late Night Television was never really my thing… However I did want to show support in her message, and only way you really do that is by getting a ticket to her tour, grabbing some merch like a cap, or if you’re as lame as I am do all that and turn the tv on at a certain time even if it’s a rerun and let it roll, if you were lucky enough ya might of caught a laugh or two) and I gotta say full heartedly that she made that show what it was. I laughed more at stuff that wasn’t supposed to be funny than what was scripted. So if you’re really rooting for this legend, ya’ll understand her decision with love and acceptance, also try to understand that she was going from touring to hosting like a whole lot (that can be mentally draining for anybody). Felt like she was working herself a bit too hard if you ask me. Like running on low battery too long, on any longer and eventually she would of crashed. So, instead of seeing it as an ending, try and see it as a new chapter for her stand-up and new phase in her life (she was Woman Woman with work). For if it wasn’t for her stand-up we wouldn’t know who she is, she wouldn’t have Netflix specials (that’s how I discovered who she is), an Aftermidnight reboot wouldn’t have even been a thought (I believe that show was only rebooted with her in mind from the gekco, try to change my mind). So I honestly look forward to catching her again in Chicago. Maybe front row tickets next time round.
taylor, I watched your hilarious bits on u tube, and loved all of it. And was so excited to see your new show. I am a night owl and watched every night. As dark as this country has become you and all your wonderful guests made me laugh out loud and God how I needed it! THANK YOU! This old lady loves you and I will miss the shit out of your show!!! Please try to come to Sacramento if you can
Bummer! I like AM. I might have to track Taylor down for a live performance.
I enjoy your time After Midnight program especially when you air my favorite star celebrity female actor woman of all time MILANA MILANA VAYNTRUB I am going to hàte to see you leave the show Sincerely Roy Perez
erAt spme point, the “dangerous” quality of a TT evaporates, and becomes sacharine and old show biz. Taylor had her time, and if the powers that be are savvy at all, she’s best now if played as a discard. And of course, Go foriid she’s allowed to decide herself, right?r