Byron Allen is taking over the 11:35 p.m. ET late-night slot on CBS after the network cancelled "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" [1].
This transition marks a significant shift in the U.S. late-night landscape, replacing a politically charged program with Allen's comedy-centric approach. The move signals a pivot by CBS toward a different style of entertainment for its late-night audience.
Speaking on NPR's "All Things Considered," Allen said he has a friendship with Colbert and they have a mutual admiration for legendary host Johnny Carson [2]. Allen said Colbert is a "wonderful human being" [3].
Allen's connection to late-night television dates back nearly 50 years [4]. He received his first major professional break as a teenage comedian appearing on Carson's "The Tonight Show" [5]. This shared reverence for Carson served as a bonding point between Allen and Colbert during their recent interactions.
Allen will fill the vacancy with his program, "Comics Unleashed" [2]. The show previously aired on CBS in 2006 [6]. While some reports refer to the program as "Comedy Unleashed," the primary sources identify it as "Comics Unleashed" [2].
The cancellation of Colbert's show occurred in May 2026 [1]. Allen's appointment to the time slot follows the network's decision to shift the direction of its late-night programming. The move comes as the industry continues to adapt to changing viewer habits, and the evolving role of the traditional talk show.
“"He is a wonderful human being."”
The replacement of Stephen Colbert with Byron Allen suggests a strategic move by CBS to move away from the satirical, political commentary that defined the recent era of The Late Show. By installing Allen and reviving a format focused on stand-up comedy, the network is betting on a broader, less polarized appeal to recapture late-night audiences in a fragmented media market.
