CBS sold the timeslot occupied by late-night host Stephen Colbert to comedian and Allen Media Group CEO Byron Allen.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will air its final episode on May 21, after which the 11:35 p.m. timeslot will be filled with two half-hour episodes of Comics Unleashed. This deal runs through the 2026-2027 television season, according to Variety.
Comics Unleashed originally aired over 200 episodes from 2006 through 2016, and resumed production for new episodes for the 2025-2026 season. Allen previously paid CBS to air two episodes of this show during the 12:37 a.m. timeslot and will continue to lease this time to air his comedy game show, Funny You Should Ask.
“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 in a statement. “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.”
Allen sought Colbert’s timeslot shortly after the news broke that CBS was pulling the plug on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He said in October 2025, “If they’re looking for a show, my hand is already up.”
CBS replacing Colbert’s show with Allen’s could mark a turning point for the timeslot, as Colbert is known for his comedic shots at President Donald Trump. Allen told the Los Angeles Times last year that he seeks to have “family-friendly” comedy devoid of “political humor.”
“I tell the comedians we’re shooting I Love Lucy,” Allen said. “Something that’s evergreen. So I don’t want to hear any political humor. Just be funny, family-friendly, and advertiser-friendly.”
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The Washington Examiner contacted CBS for comment.
One venture that Colbert is pursuing with his show ending is co-writing a new Lord of the Rings movie with his son. This film will focus on six chapters at the beginning of the first book, The Fellowship of the Ring, that were never included in Peter Jackson’s film adaptation.
