Byron Allen‘s hit comedy show Comics Unleashed is making waves by grabbing CBS’s prime 11:35 PM slot after Stephen Colbert’s Late Show finale on May 21, kicking off May 22 with back-to-back half-hour episodes on weeknights. The media powerhouse and comedian’s time-buy deal ensures steady revenue for CBS through the 2026-27 season, filling the void left by Colbert’s decade-long run amid late-night TV’s tough market. Allen’s other show Funny You Should Ask follows at 12:35 AM, creating a two-hour comedy block.
Last July CBS said they were ending The Late Show because it wasnt making money anymore. They called it a business thing in this tough market for late night. Colbert has been hosting since 2015 after David Letterman. Hes known for going after Trump a lot. His final show airs May 21 and then Comics Unleashed jumps in. The slot is leased to Byron Allens group until the 2026 27 season.
Byron Allen started Comics Unleashed twenty years ago. Its four comedians sitting around telling jokes and stories. It used to air later at 12:37 AM on CBS but now its moving up. His other show Funny You Should Ask goes at 12:35 AM after it. Allen said hes thankful for the two hour comedy block. He thinks theres never enough laughter out there.
This helps CBS because Allen pays for the time. Its like a time buy deal that brings in cash. Late night is hurting from streaming taking viewers away. During the 2023 writers strike his show kept things going. Now new episodes are coming. It seems like CBS doesnt have to make their own stuff anymore.
People wonder why Colberts show is ending so fast after thirty three years. CBS says its just money but maybe politics too especially with the Paramount merger. Ratings for late night have been dropping steady. Experts say its common now. Allens show might pull in younger people.
Allens career is pretty impressive. He started at BET and built the Allen Media Group. They own channels like The Weather Channel and Local Now. He sold MGM for billions too. Comics Unleashed has been around since 2006. Its fun and unpredictable according to IMDb. It will air on fourteen CBS stations like in New York and Chicago.
This could shake up late night TV. Allens double block might keep people watching longer. Its different from shows like The Tonight Show or Jimmy Kimmel Live. More like a roundtable of jokes. Comedians get a real shot and CBS gets money steady. The hashtag ComicsUnleashed might blow up online.
Twenty years back Allen said we need to let comedians make us laugh. Now its happening. He fought for this slot since 2025 even after other shows like After Midnight ended. Its his win from sticking with it.
Allens not just a host hes got this huge empire. Comics Unleashed and Funny You Should Ask are his main ones. The CBS deal lasts through 2026 27. That should help his brand a ton.
For us watching its good news. No more heavy politics just straight comedy. His shows did well even in quarantine. Tune in at 11:35 PM for laughs now.
Late night is in trouble overall. Streaming like Netflix pulls people away so ratings fall. Syndicated stuff from guys like Allen is taking over more. The merger helped make this happen. I think the time buy way will keep growing. Comedy stays alive no matter what.
