Stephen Colbert Out, CBS Rolls Out New Comedy-Focused Late Slot [WATCH]

CBS announced Monday that it will replace “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” with a new comedy programming block led by media executive and comedian Byron Allen, marking a significant shift in its late-night lineup, as reported by The New York Post.

The network said it will begin airing back-to-back episodes of Allen’s show “Comics Unleashed” at 11:35 p.m. starting next month for the 2026–2027 season.

The change follows CBS’s decision last July to exit the traditional late-night format altogether.

Byron Allen’s “Comics Unleashed” is officially moving into “The Late Show’s” time slot when the Stephen Colbert-hosted series takes its final bow on CBS next month. https://t.co/GDI0Sv7Tec

— KRON4 News (@kron4news) April 7, 2026

CBS confirmed that the first episode of the new lineup will air after Stephen Colbert concludes his 11-year run on May 22.

Here’s What They’re Not Telling You About Your Retirement

“Comics Unleashed,” which originally debuted on CBS in September 2006, features a roundtable-style format with stand-up comedians.

The show has included appearances by performers such as Sebastian Maniscalco, Tiffany Haddish, Gabriel Iglesias, Cedric the Entertainer, and Nate Bargatze.

As part of the transition, Allen’s company, Allen Media Group, will also bring the comedic game show “Funny You Should Ask” to the 12:35 a.m. time slot.

The show, hosted by Jon Kelley, will air in a 30-minute format with back-to-back episodes Monday through Friday, beginning May 22.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

Allen commented on the programming shift and his long-running show.

“I created and launched ‘Comics Unleashed’ 20 years ago so my fellow comedians could have a platform to do what we all love – make people laugh,” Allen said.

“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.”

CBS had previously aired “Comics Unleashed” in the 12:35 a.m. slot before deciding to expand the show’s presence in its late-night lineup.

My trip to Urgent Care left me needing further treatment
From the new season of Comics Unleashed on Paramount+ and CBS!@comicsunleashed pic.twitter.com/boxTkqUP01

— Joe DeVito (@JoeDeVitoComedy) February 3, 2026

The move comes after the network’s decision to discontinue its late-night programming despite “The Late Show” holding the highest ratings among its competitors at the time of its cancellation.

Network executives stated that ending Colbert’s show was driven by financial considerations rather than performance.

CBS leadership described the cancellation as “a purely financial decision against a challenging backdrop of late night.”

They also said the decision was “not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”

The programming shift occurred as Skydance pursued its acquisition of CBS parent company Paramount Global in a deal valued at $8.4 billion. The transaction followed a prolonged and complex merger process.

Colbert addressed speculation surrounding the cancellation during a November appearance, acknowledging public questions about potential political motivations.

“It’s a reasonable thing to think” his cancellation was politically motivated, Colbert said, but he added that he would not “engage in that speculation.”

CBS’s new late-night strategy replaces a traditional host-driven format with a multi-show comedy block, signaling a departure from its previous approach as it prepares for the upcoming broadcast season.

Warning: Account balances and purchasing power no longer tell the same story. Know in 2 minutes if your retirement is working for you.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.