CBS announced its plans for late-night programming after “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” ends next month, with two syndicated comedy shows from the producer Byron Allen filling the late hours starting on May 22.
In a statement posted on Tuesday, CBS said it would fill Mr. Colbert’s one-hour slot starting at 11:35 p.m. Eastern with back-to-back episodes of “Comics Unleashed,” a comedy talk show hosted by Mr. Allen. Those episodes will be followed by two episodes of “Funny You Should Ask,” a game show hosted by Jon Kelley and produced by Mr. Allen’s company, starting at 12:35 a.m.
Mr. Allen, a producer and comic who first courted fame on Los Angeles’ stand-up stages as a teenager, has been at the helm of “Comics Unleashed” since 2006. The program, a half-hour comedy talk show, is hosted by Mr. Allen, who shepherds a rotating cast of comedians in a series of round table bits.
“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,” Mr. Allen said in a statement. “I truly appreciate CBS’ confidence in me.”
The move replaces a highly-produced legacy late-night show — taped daily in a Manhattan studio, with a live audience, aired hours later — with a markedly less sophisticated product. “Comics Unleashed” has only sporadically recorded new material, taping an initial run of episodes in 2006, followed by dozens of tapings in 2014 and 2016.
But it ceased producing new material for years, instead relying on regular syndication of old tapes. “Comics Unleashed” began producing new episodes again for the 2025-26 season, when it was added to CBS’ nightly lineup in the 12:35 a.m. slot.
While his roots are in stand-up comedy, Mr. Allen has become a Hollywood production powerhouse. His company, Allen Media Group, was founded in the early 1990s, and has since acquired dozens of channels, broadcasts and shows. Mr. Allen has been producing and backing syndicated comedy programming across his career in Los Angeles.
“Comics Unleashed” will be followed on weeknights by “Funny You Should Ask,” also produced by Allen Media Group. Hosted by Mr. Kelley, the show features a panel of comedians tasked with answering game-show-style questions with quips and one-liners.
CBS announced in July that it would be canceling “The Late Show,” a broadcast institution that began in 1993 with David Letterman as host. Since Mr. Colbert took over in 2015, the show has featured more pointed political humor and wry takes on current events. It was canceled as President Donald J. Trump trained his sights on broadcast networks and media companies who criticized him.
The cancellation came as something of a pop culture shock, with Mr. Colbert announcing the news to a live audience, and clearly expressing his displeasure with the decision. The end of the show’s run will coincide with the end of Mr. Colbert’s contract.
Network executives say that the decision to cancel “The Late Show” had nothing to do with politics and instead was a result of the grim finances of late-night television, which have hemorrhaged in today’s streaming economy. Replacing Mr. Colbert with Mr. Allen’s programming will almost certainly save the network money, while also bringing less-pointed, inoffensive humor to the late-night lineup.
Last month, Mr. Colbert announced that following his departure from the airwaves, he will be working with the director Peter Jackson to develop a new “Lord of the Rings” film. Mr. Colbert is a well-known superfan of the J.R.R. Tolkien series.
“I did not think I would have the time” to write the movie, Mr. Colbert joked in the announcement video. “It turns out I’m going to be free starting this summer.”
“The Late Show” will air for the last time on May 21, CBS said. Mr. Allen’s programming will take over the late night slots on May 22.
Ali Watkins covers international news for The Times and is based in Belfast.
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