Stephen Colbert’s successor is… Byron Allen—and a very different kind of late night
In a decision that marks CBS’s official departure from original late-night programming, the network announced Monday that it has sold off its hour-long time period starting at 11:35 pm, which has for more than 30 years been occupied by two of the biggest stars in late-night history, David Letterman and Stephen Colbert, to Byron Allen’s Allen Media Company.
The change will take effect Friday, May 22, the night after Colbert’s final broadcast.
Comics Unleashed, the comedy panel show Allen created in 2006, will replace Colbert’s Late Show, moving from its current spot at 12:37 am on CBS, to the main room of late night, the 11:35 pm hour on a network.
Concurrently, another Allen Media program, the game show Funny You Should Ask, will slide in behind Comics Unleashed at 12:37.
The move gives Byron Allen, who also serves as host of Comics Unleashed, control of CBS’s entire late-night block for the 2026- 2027 season, through what is known in the television business as a time-buy, expanding the model the company first employed at 12:37 am after the cancellation of After Midnight.
In both cases, CBS defended its decision to walk away from supplying programming to its affiliated stations—and the nation’s viewers—as an economic necessity. CBS has said that The Late Show, the successful franchise created when CBS pulled Letterman away from NBC in 1993, was losing tens of millions of dollars.
People close to the decision to commit to another sale of network time to Allen said the same rationale was in place. Late night is “financially challenging.”
As CBS sees it, the agreement to again take payments from Allen Media means that the network will make money instead of losing it for the hours involved.
CBS also cited Allen as a good partner in the 12:37 time period, and concluded that expanding the deal with him was the sound decision to make.
For the moment, at least.
The deal is just for one year. The network is not foreclosing the possibility that some future late-night format may someday be devised that could bring CBS itself back to the time period, assuming the format came with a better financial model. As in, something that would make money for CBS, which selling off the time period is doing for the network now.
As LateNighter first reported last year, Allen’s arrangement with CBS at 12:37 has been a time-buy, meaning his company pays CBS for the airtime and sells the advertising within the show. The 11:35 deal extends that approach to the network’s entire late-night block.
The move by Byron Allen is consistent with the plan he first laid out at last fall’s Advertising Week conference in Manhattan. When I asked him if he would be “putting his hand up” for the Colbert time slot as well, he said, “It’s already raised.”
Funny You Should Ask has been in syndication since 2017. The game format resembles the venerable Hollywood Squares, with comics—in chairs instead of behind tic tic toe boxes—being asked trivia questions, supplying joke answers, and contestants deciding if they believe the answers or not.
Typical joke: True or false, in mating ritual the female sagebrush cricket eats the males wings. Answer (from the late comic Louie Anderson): “Well, who doesn’t love wings?”
CBS’s move comes despite Colbert’s Late Show remaining the most-watched program in its time slot. CBS’ claims that the show was losing money have been met with some skepticism, most notably from Jimmy Kimmel.
Unlike traditional late night, Allen’s shows are produced at significantly lower cost, rely on non-topical “evergreen” comedy, and are financed through direct ad sales—an approach he has used for years across syndicated programming.
“I truly appreciate CBS’ confidence in me by picking up our two-hour comedy block,” Allen said in a statement. “The world can never have enough laughter.”
The shift raises broader questions about the future of late night on broadcast television. CBS noted that “as late night evolves, there is potential to consider new forms of original programming with a better financial model,” suggesting the network may continue experimenting beyond the current deal.
For now, though, a franchise that once defined the format—from David Letterman to Stephen Colbert—will transition to a fully outsourced, advertiser-supported model.
And with it, CBS becomes the first network to fully abandon the traditional late-night paradigm at 11:35.
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Ugh, of course they sold the time to Bryon. At this point I’d rather just have the stations sign off at 11:35 then watch anything from Allen Media Group.
Your comment is brutal, savage-like, and totally necessary. I love it! LOL.
Byron Allen thinks big….of himself.
Oh my god, so pathetic.
Mr. Allen has no concept of how to run or manage his local television station group. Allen Media has canceled newscasts, fired long term achors that were not paid much, and then, meteorologists. As local viewers decried these “management” decisions, said weatherman were “rehired.” Gray just purchased three of Allen Media’s television stations.
What a dumb move. I suspect either Kimmel or Fallon to now dominate in the 11:35 time slot with their respective shows once Colbert leaves. CBS is run by morons.
Jimmy is spineless just like Stephen is. So viewers will flock to his TDS focussed “monologue.” Remember, Jimmy could have been “King” but chose to act like a queen instead.
You wanted him to be politically incorrect, like his old friend, Adam Carolla?
That’s a guaranteed way to get cancelled!
I have no doubt Byron and his ass-kissing lieutenants are cheering in their downsized offices in Culver City, but I do doubt they realize the amount of mockery that will be forthcoming from not only the comedy community (and the comedians who’ve been stiffed on getting decently paid for their appearance on Comics Unleashed), but also from the media world at large.
There is “value” in their appearance being aired over and over again even if they are not being paid. I have never heard of any of these “comedians.”
Byron Allen is no friend to creatives. This is so embarrassing for fans of late night TV.
Is it because he is cheap? His company is bleeding money and is attempting to sell its telvision stations which are in financial distress. Gray Media just purchased three of Allen Media’s television stations.
Well, THAT will be easy to skip. Dumb move, CBS.
This news is as hilariously bad as anything Allen has ever produced.
From the Tiffany Network to a network who will next be selling their prime time time slots to infomercial brokers.
can’t wait for the spin on this:
“We at CBS love promoting the talents of African-Americans” – the network
“I am honored to follow in the footsteps of Johnny Carson as I help usher in a new era of late night hilarity!” – Byron allen
the truth: ALLEN IS LITERALLY PAYING CBS VIA BARTER DEAL FOR THE TIME SLOT AND THEY ACCEPTED BECAUSE THE SHIT HE MAKES IS CHEAP AS HELL!!!!!!
“CBS has said that The Late Show, the successful franchise created when CBS pulled Letterman away from NBC in 1993, was losing tens of millions of dollars.”
Just a reminder: the money Paramount/Skydance (the owners of CBS) spent to pay for Netflix’s $2.8B breakup fee for Warner Bros. Discovery (not the total price for WBD, but just the fee paid to Netflix because they DIDN’T get WBD) could have covered the supposed $40M annual losses from producing the “Late Show” for SEVENTY YEARS.
Late night is simply not a priority for the people at CBS or their parent company.
Between paying the breakup fee to Netflix and now handing over *both* late-night hours to Allen when they previously said they’d be returning those hours to affiliates, Paramount has left no doubt in my mind that their decision to cancel Colbert and “abandon” late night was really about silencing Colbert to appease Trump. I look forward to it backfiring spectacularly.
I also look forward to at least one affiliate to push the Byron Allen Hours back in favor of an extended late news.
What a bunch of BS.
CBS cancelled James Corden and that low-rated After Midnite show.
How is earning a profit and not losing $50 million per year backfiring on CBS?
I know you want to believe those meanie late night hosts got fired because nobody’s interested in them, but don’t try to pitch that lie to us! We have the internet! We can check that out ourselves!
Name the late-night show that replaced Corden?
That’s right…they didn’t, you moronic dimwit.
Didn’t CBS cancel Late Late Show when Dementia Joe Biden was president?.
Technically, Mark, CBS ended/canceled the Late Late Show *franchise* when Corden left and replaced it with After Midnight.
More importantly, though, they didn’t do it to appease a narcissistic and quite possibly insane wannabe dictator who’s determined to cause as much chaos and damage as possible before he’s out of office.
Can you name the late night replacement for Corden? Nah, you can’t because CBS cancelled the Late Late Show. Corden replaced Ferguson, who replaced Corden?
I know, Mike, thanks for providing evidence to my point that CBS is looking to get out of the late-night show genre long well before 2025.
You’re saying stupid shit, because you want people to believe the late night hosts are getting cancelled for attacking your Dear Racist Toddler Drumpf! And not what really happened, which was Drumpf telling the Ellisons to fire Colbert for giving him a sad!
Why do you fucking lie, boy?
Colbert got fired for letting his show lose $50 million a year because he couldn’t attract a younger audience.
Mediocre white men like Colbert should be canned for being such losers.
Colbert wasn’t fired for low ratings! He was fired because your racist hero Drumpf ordered the Ellisons to cancel him for saying mean truths about him! Despite having one of the top rated shows on late night!
If you’re going to insist that 60 Minutes tops the ratings with their MAGA fuelled shows, despite evidence that shows they’re dying, then you need to apply that to The Late Show too, lest you be branded as a hypocrite, which you do here regularly!
Colbert was fired for losing $50 million per year and could barely register 2 million viewers, and couldn’t attract a younger audience. Loser.
Colbert was fired, because your Dear Toddler Drumpf pressured the Ellisons to do so! You saying otherwise is a big fat lie!
Why would CBS choose to lose money rather than make it. Byron Allen will pay them to air the show not sell commercial inventory. It is a win for CBS until affiliates revolt.
And they will (revolt) when they see how bad the ratings are.
Goodbye, Paramount
this is just gonna shine of spotlight on how bad and cheap byron’s shows are! Not just the “comedy” shows he produces but also his 5 million courtroom shows…they’re all the same set!!!!
This was the plan all along. Allen is giving CBS all their new Late Nite content for free and splitting ad revenue. What do they care if it’s crap. It’s all upside for the bean counters.
Yep. byron allan is 100% a salesman and nothing more…exactly the type of person the idiots running the networks and studios want to do business with. He shares their same cynical approach to content, comedy, etc.
What a trash show. CBS might as well schedule a strip of Green Acres and The Beverly Hillbillies.
In a year when they cancel those two mediocre shows, maybe they’ll just run reruns of “Columbo”.
This is truly a canned staged horrible show without an ounce of spontaneity. No surprise that CBS would go for cash over quality. Missing Colbert’s intelligence and grace already.
I will never watched CBS again after May 21st.
Bye.
Grow up, boy!
The definition of time period filler that saves money. Blech!
I won’t be watching.
That format is just so canned. Boring.
Each comic is sitting there waiting for their pre-approved turn to deliver their pet quip; they are not really engaged with the group and it’s so brief there’s no context or development.
Nope.
Am I the only seeing a late night spinoff of Family Feud as Feud After Dark being developed by Fremantle in order to compete with Funny You Should Ask in the future?
Obviously Harvey as host and Ervin as announcer featuring drunk frat boys and sorority girls answering filthy-minded survey answer to equally filthy-mided survey questions of course.
Woo Hoo!
The farce is almost over and it’s a win-win for everybody!
Byron Allen replaces a white man as the first minority led late show in years.
Colbert gets to write Lord of the Rings screenplays that will be shitty and bomb.
And CBS gets paid for the timeslot instead of losing $50 million per years, allowing CBS some leeway to retain the NFL.
….yay?
Also, you don’t know how the screenplay is gonna turn out and prematurely predicting failure. If there is one win-win from this whole scenario it’s seeing the end of your contrarianism.
The majority of CBS viewers, both traditional and digital, are leaving after this move and many other terrible decisions since the Bari Weiss Takeover. The general reaction is mostly negative~
BTW Byron is not replacing anyone; he gets the Late Show slot but NOT the show itself. A billionaire like him does not deserve even one shout-out from Colbert~
Also, didn’t Amber Ruffin from “Have I Got News for you?” host a late night show for a brief minute? So really it’s only been like… a FEW YEARS~
MANY new CBS News viewers appreciate Bari Weiss. Stephen thought he had the power of David Letterman. Clueless. Dave’s show printed money for CBS.
What new viewers? CBS News has lost a huge chunk of its viewers since Weiss started turning it into Fox News Lite! They’re now at the bottom of the ratings!
And Colbert has been at or near the top in lat night viewing for years!
What makes you think you can get away with lying here, boy!
It will be a shit movie if it ever gets made in the first place – doubtful
Majority of CBS viewers come from sports, so CBS is fine with viewership.
Why does Byron Allen need a shout-out from a mediocre white male like Colbert? Racist much?
Amber Ruffin also got her talk show cancelled, but under Dementia Biden’s regime years.
You have no idea what Colbert will put out! You naturally assume it’ll be shit, because you consider Colbert a horrible person for giving your thin skinned diaper baby in chief a sad!
And you’re in no fucking position to be calling out others on racism, given your slurping of Drumpf and your attacks on the Obamas, as has been pointed out, repeatedly!
Boy, get some fucking help, already!
I wonder if either Jimmy will pick up the 3 million viewers that are up for grabs or will it not help them at all. ABC and nbc should make sure they are new that week after Colbert folds tent,
Interesting question to think about….
My understanding is the majority of Colbert’s linear channel audience skews older, so I wonder if they’ll turn to the most Colbert-like host, Kimmel, or their viewing habits will altogether change, and they end up putting on a local channel’s reruns of whatever they have airing. Or, they’ll watch TCM or some other classic movie channel.
I’m guessing Colbert’s younger audience will go to Kimmel, because Fallon….ooof….
You’re right on the nose about where viewers will flock to next.
I definitely will stick to Kimmel and Seth Meyers, especially with both of them contract sealed for at least another year~
Goodbye cbs you have nothing to offer anymore. 60 minutes a joke. Evening news a grimace from Tony poking fun at parents whose children died because of careless monitoring of social media platforms and young children. Cancelling Cobair and replacing with who????. Why???? Because you want to make as much money as Fox and show disdain for truth, integrity, compassion, and trust cbs has stood for forever. A special report about both sides of 1/6. For real? Crime against Federal property, person, and election has now become a joke when viewed through CBS networks eyes. A LAST BASTION OF HOPE FOR AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS AND SURVIVAL OF VOTING SYSTEM.
I have been watching the news every night my entire life since 5 and am appalled at what I see going on.
TDS.
Pedo defender/apologist~
CBS has the NFL and College Football, the Grammys, the Tonys, and the Super Bowl every several years…so it has a lot to offer.
60 Minutes is improving – did you see this past Sunday episode showing the billions wasted on California’s heavy rail system? Gavin Newscum is in trouble, and will probably be going to jail.
Many people are appreciating 60 Minutes new willingness to go after Democrat party corruption.
Yes, it got 8 million viewers without an NFL lead-in in late March….one of the highest rated programs outside of sports.
Got any proof of having more than 3 combined brain cells? Didn’t think so.
Check out US TVDB website and type in 60 Minutes
60 Minutes Daily Ratings
Demo Audience Rating
HH 7,340,100 5.73
P2+ 10,299,000 3.19
P18-49 1,524,500 1.12
P25-54 1,834,900 1.46
So, since you suck at reading, the 3/29 episode of 60 Minutes had almost 10.3 million viewers
Now, do you like eating shit even with your brain being full of shit?
recent reports highlight a significant downward trend in its viewership, reaching record lows in early 2026.
Key Recent Rating Trends
Historic Lows: A January 18, 2026, broadcast averaged 4.9 million viewers, a steep drop from the 8.32 million season average for 2024-2025.
Strategic Branding: To protect the official season average, CBS reportedly rebranded low-rated episodes as “60 Minutes Presents,” allowing those numbers to be excluded from the flagship show’s formal tally.
Overall Network Decline: Under a leadership overhaul led by Bari Weiss, CBS News programs have been shedding viewers at an “alarming rate,” with some reports indicating record-low quarters for the network’s news division.
Contributing Factors
Programming Shifts: Analysts point to a move toward “harder” content and the shelving of certain segments—such as a delayed report on El Salvador’s mega-prison—as reasons for audience abandonment.
Sports Competition: Recent low ratings coincided with high-profile playoff football games, such as the Rams vs. Bears on NBC, which drew away significant portions of the traditional Sunday night audience.
Talent Attrition: High-profile departures, including correspondent Anderson Cooper reportedly declining to renew his contract, have signaled internal instability that may be impacting viewer loyalty.
Changing Media Habits: Like much of linear TV, the show faces long-term pressure from a lack of a robust digital-first strategy and a perceived “bubble” in mainstream reporting that alienates some demographics.
Despite these declines, 60 Minutes still frequently ranks as the #1 news program on broadcast television, demonstrating that its “decline” is relative to its own historic heights while it remains competitive in a shrinking linear market.
That’s from the Hollywood Reporter
While 60 Minutes may have the lead, it’s due to it’s past as a heavyweight! But viewing habits and Weiss interfering with 60 Minutes and CBS News has it on shaky ground!
Not the own you think it is, Mucky Boy!
Why are you posting an article from January, when I just showed you ratings data from March 29, 2026?
You do know that March comes after January? Maybe not.
Anyway, the most recently rated telecast of 60 Minutes did over 10 million viewers, so thank you Bari Weiss for making improvements to 60 Minutes and look forward to many new improvements.
Since you insist 60 Minutes has improved its ratings because of Drumpf licker, Barry Weiss, then you need to insist that the Late Show is considered one of the best late night shows around, seeing as they’re constantly one of the top rated late night shows on TV! You don’t get to call one top rated show brilliant while trashing another, based upon how they treat your Dear Toddler Drumpf! Especially since his approval rating is falling off of a steep cliff!
You got nothing, boy!
Got proof 60 Minutes is improving, since Weiss started smearing her shit all over it? Then you had better provide that proof, right now, boy!
You give us hard proof statistics about your bullshit! No one here’s gonna take your word, because you’re a lying, deceitful sack of shit!
Would you like a tissue?
Shouldn’t you be licking your lord and master Drumpf’s unwiped ass?
absolutely pathetic, just lame
the miniscule ratings will be fun though
Gutfeldian level of comedy
Byron and CBS should go all the way and throw in the 25+ year old “The Byron Allen Show” episodes into the late night mix as well…they were supposed to be timeless “evergreens” shows if not his very first.
His talk show was pretty decent for being mediocre. Byron is a visionary in his own right, but has become a race hustler in his business dealings. His company has no clue ion how to run its television stations either.
And dumb!
Byron Allen understands Business, but NOT how to run his local station group. His shows are produced on the cheap, timeless (“Evergreen”), and consistent. Whatever that is. This is how to make money producing a show one-time and rerunning it over and over again. He has become a bit of a race hustler in his business deals, but I still love and admire him. LOL.
Get help!
I know this is going to be off topic. but I wonder if David Letterman ever regretted hiring Stephen Colbert as his replacement host to this day.
Colbert was fired because the thin skinned Crybaby in Chief Drumpf ordered the Ellisons to fire him, if they want any of their television deals OKed by him!
Yeah, tell that to his “original king of comedy” friend who ruined a once beloved Mark Goodson classic due to adding “my third leg” jokes to the survey’s of 100 people in both questions and answers in that range.
Perhaps you should seek that, instead of ranting on the internet!
I figured I was going to get backlash on the last comment, but to be fair, it’s not a race thing, I just find that he looks misreable and depressed to be there also I am not a fan of the disturbing and sexually-themed suvey questions/answers at all.
In fact, if Fremantle-owned game shows were the women of Sex and the City, Family Feud or should I say “Family Filth” would’ve most likely been the Samantha Jones of the group since it talks, loves, craves and wants the d*ck inside of them no matter what. But I digress!
Anyway, back on topic, despit being on cable, Gutfeld seems to be the more superior late night host than, Colbert, Kimmel and Fallon combined. But again, my opinion maybe different that all of yours.
It’s stupid!
didn’t like the comment huh?
mmKay?
You’re a South Park Fan huh?
Does anybody remember Who Wants to Date a Comedian? why could they air that on CBS instead of Funny You Should Ask?