Byron Allen has officially stepped in as Stephen Colbert’s successor in the 11:35 p.m. ET slot on CBS, and he made sure to address the honor on Friday.
At the start of Friday’s broadcast for “Comics Unleashed,” which was named as the replacement for “The Late Show” back in April, Allen shouted out the late night “pioneers” that paved the way for him.
Specifically, he named “the great Stephen Colbert,” as well as Bill Maher, Chelsea Handler, John Oliver, Conan O’Brien, Seth Meyers, Jon Stewart, Samantha Bee, Trevor Noah and his “personal favorite and a childhood hero,” Johnny Carson.
“I’d also like to thank our incredible partners at CBS, Google, YouTube, and one of our sponsors, Procter and Gamble,” he added. “Last, but not least, I’d like to thank you, the audience, for allowing us to do what we love. Make you laugh, because this world can never have enough laughter. Thank you.”
His comments come a day after Colbert concluded his run as host for “The Late Show,” bidding farewell to the late night program in a series finale filled with celebrity cameos, multiple musical performances and wormhole-inspired warning for late night television.
In January, CBS locked in the final air date for “The Late Show,” which was set for Thursday, May 21. The decision followed CBS’ announcement last summer, in which they shared that “The Late Show” would be coming to an end shortly after Colbert mocked Paramount’s $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump, blasting the move as a “big fat bribe.”
However, CBS executives noted at the time that the cancellation decision was purely a financial one.
Still, the response to CBS’ decision has been nothing short of irate, with Colbert’s famous friends and supporters speaking out against the cancelation over the last year.
In fact, Letterman, who created “The Late Show” in 1993, appeared on the show last week and declared he had “every right to be pissed off,” adding, “Because this theater, you folks, wouldn’t be in this theater if it weren’t for me. And Stephen wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me. We rebuilt this theater.”
Colbert received his flowers, though, with a slew of celebrities, including Paul McCartney, Ryan Reynolds, Billy Crystal, Martha Stewart, Jim Gaffigan, James Taylor, Robert De Niro, John Dickerson and Bruce Springsteen, among others, sending him off in style this week.
“Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen” airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on CBS.
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