Comedy Shake-Up: CBS Revamps Late-Night Schedule with Comics Unleashed and Funny You Should Ask
CBS is making changes to its late-night schedule as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert comes to an end. Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen will now air at 11:35pm, moving up from its previous time slot. The show, hosted by Allen, features various comedians and has been in syndication for 18 seasons. It will premiere in its new time slot on May 22, following Colbert's departure.
In addition to Comics Unleashed, another show hosted by Jon Kelley, Funny You Should Ask, will air back-to-back episodes at 12:35am. This comedy game show has been airing since 2017 and is also produced by Allen Media Group. The changes in the late-night lineup come as CBS executives cited financial reasons for canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
CBS executives emphasized that the decision to end The Late Show was purely financial and not related to the show's performance. Paramount's Chair of TV Media, George Cheeks, explained that the advertising marketplace in late night is declining, making it challenging to sustain shows like Colbert's. Despite the cancellation of The Late Show, Allen expressed gratitude for CBS's confidence in his shows and the opportunity to bring laughter to audiences. The new late-night lineup aims to continue providing comedy and entertainment to viewers.