Byron Allen‘s “Comics Unleashed,” a syndicated comedy round-table that had been a mainstay of CBS stations, is coming back to the network to — once again — fill some holes.
Two back-to-back half hours of the program will air following “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on CBS at 12:37 a.m. starting in the fall. The network said it plans to run the show throughout the 2025-2026 TV season, in the time slot previously occupied by “After Midnight,” which is ending following host Taylor Tomlinson’s decision to focus on stand-up comedy.
“’Comics Unleashed’ is a true passion for me, simply because this world can never have enough laughter,” said Byron Allen, founder of Allen Media Group, which produces the program, in a prepared statement. “I created this show so that the best comedians can all come together and help bring non-stop laughter.”
Use of Allen’s program gives the strongest indication yet that CBS no longer plans to air an original concept in the 12:30 a.m. hour, which it has done for decades with programs led by Tom Snyder, Craig Kilborn, Craig Ferguson and James Corden. With viewership for late-night TV in flux due to younger viewers embrace of clips passed along on social media, CBS moved to the “After Midnight” concept that carried reduced production costs. But even that seems to be off the table. CBS appeared ready to continue the program with Tomlinson in place for a third cycle, but has made public effort to find a successor.
CBS has turned to Allen for late-night help in the past. In 2023, crimped by the Hollywood writers’ strike and waiting to unveil a replacement for James Corden, CBS aired episodes of “Comics Unleashed” to fill the 12:30 a.m. hour following repeats of Colbert’s show.
“Comics Unleashed” is executive produced by Byron Allen, Carolyn Folks and Jennifer Lucas, and has aired since its premiere in September 2006. It ran for many years on 14 different CBS-owned stations, including WCBS in New York, WBBM in Chicago and KCBS in Los Angeles.
