Byron Allen Seeks Stephen Colbert’s CBS Slot with ‘Comics โUnleashed’
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Los โฃAngeles, CA – October 9,โข 2025, 09:15 PST – Media mogul โByron โฃAllen is positioning his comedy showcase, Comics Unleashed
, to fill the coveted 11:35 p.m.Eastern time slotโข on CBS, currently occupied by The Late Show with Stephen โColbert
as Colbertโค prepares toโ step down.Allen’s offer presents a significant cost savingsโฃ for the network, perhaps avoiding a $35-$40 millionโข investment in a โnew show.
The move comes asโข CBS navigates a turbulent period in late-night programming. Following the departure of Jamesโ Corden in 2023 and Taylor Tomlinson’s brief stint with After Midnight
which ended in โฃearly 2025, the network isโฃ seeking a stable and financially sound โฃsolution. Allen’s proposal leverages the existingโ library of Comics Unleashed
episodes and the potential for continued production โof new content,offering a readily available and provenโ alternative.
A History of Cost-Effectiveness
Allen initially pitched Comics Unleashed
as aโ temporary solution in the 12:35 a.m. slot after Corden’s departure,โฃ serving as a stopgap
until After midnight
premiered โin January โ2024. A 19-week test run in โthe โฃfall of 2023 demonstrated theโ show’s appeal,prompting Allen toโค renew his offer when Tomlinson left CBS. He asserts that Comics Unleashed
is mathematically superior โto launchingโ a brand-new program.
Theโ series, which originally ran in syndication from 2006 to 2016, boasts a โขsignificant archive of over 233 episodes.Production of new episodes resumed for the 2025-2026 television season. To date, approximately 260 episodesโ have been produced, โคfeaturing performances from over 620 comedians.
my whole thing was, ‘hey,โ weโค have a big possibility โคhere,’
Allen stated. ‘Why would you spend $35 million on a television show at that hour? Let me provide you the show,and Iโ will โhappily produce the show,and โyou can save that 35,40 million,whatever it is,and put it elsewhere.’
Comics โขunleashed
currently airs in a unique format: a new episode followed by โa rerun fromโข it’s extensive library. Allen emphasizes the show’s evergreen
โขnature,โค deliberately avoiding topical or โขpolitical humor โto ensure broad appeal and โlongevity. He also maintainsโฃ strict content standards,โข excluding racist, sexist, anti-Semitic, โฃor homophobic material.
Did You Know? Byron โAllen launched Allen Media Group 30 years ago, initially focusingโฃ on syndicatedโ programming before expanding into โคtelevisionโ stations, lifestyle channels, โand digital โplatforms like The โคGrio and HBCU Go.
CBS’s Options
CBS is also considering other options, includingโค expanding local โคnews โฃprogrammingโค by an additional โhalf-hour and filling the midnight hour with reruns.However, Allen’s offer provides a ready-madeโ solution with a proven โคtrack recordโ and strong advertising support.
| Timeline | Event |
|---|---|
| 2006-2016 | Comics UnleashedSyndication |
| 2023 | James Corden Departs The Late Late Show |
| Fall โ2023 | Comics UnleashedTest Run โ(12:35 AM) |
| Jan 2024 | After MidnightPremieres |
| early 2025 | Taylor Tomlinson Departs After Midnight |
| 2025-2026 | New Comics UnleashedEpisodes |
Pro Tip: The success of comics Unleashed
hinges onโ its broad โขappeal and avoidance of controversial topics,making it an attractive option โfor advertisers seeking a safe and inclusive habitat.
Allen Media group is currently in the process of divesting its โคtelevision station chain, potentially freeing upโ resources to further invest inโค programming like Comics Unleashed
.
What impact will โStephen Colbert’s departure haveโ on the late-night landscape? Do you think a comedy showcase likeโค Comics Unleashed
is the right fit for CBS at 11:35 p.m.?
I said, ‘look, mathematically, โyou’ll โคnever beat the โshow.’– Byron Allen
Evergreen Context: โThe Evolution โof late Night
The โขlate-night television landscape has undergone significant โขchanges in recent decades. Traditionally dominated by established hosts โฃlike Johnnyโฃ Carson and Jay Leno, โคthe genre has โฃseen increased competition from cable and streaming services. The rise of digital platforms has also fragmentedโ audiences, forcing networks to adapt and innovate to maintain viewership. The search forโค a triumphant late-night formula continues, with networks experimenting โwith differentโฃ formats and talent. The cost of producing high-profileโฃ late-night shows has also become a major factor, making cost-effective alternatives like Comics โคUnleashed
increasingly appealing.
Frequently Asked Questions about ‘Comics Unleashed’
- What is
Comics Unleashed
? It’sโฃ a comedy showcaseโฃ featuring stand-up performances from a diverse โrange of comedians. - How many episodes of โข
Comics Unleashed
have been produced? Approximately 260 episodes have beenโฃ produced, featuring over 620 comedians. - Why is Byron allen pitching
Comics Unleashed
to CBS? โ To fill the late-night time slot vacatedโข by Stephen Colbertโ in a โขcost-effective manner. - What is the format of the current
Comics Unleashed
broadcast? It airs asโฃ two โhalf-hour episodes nightly,โ with one new episode and one rerun. - What kind of humor does
Comics Unleashed
feature? โ The show deliberately avoids topical or political humor, focusing โฃon universally relatable material.
We hopeโ you enjoyed this update on the potential future of CBS late night! Please shareโ this article โขwith โyour friends and colleagues, and let us know your thoughtsโฃ in the comments below. Don’t forgetโค to subscribeโ to our newsletter for โขmore breaking news and insightfulโฃ analysis.