CBS has confirmed that it will replace The Late Show with Comics Unleashed, with the final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert scheduled for May 21, 2026. Comics Unleashed will take over the 11:35 p.m. timeslot starting May 22, 2026.
This change comes after Stephen Colbert’s tenure on the show, which began after David Letterman hosted The Late Show for more than two decades, from 1993 to 2015. Letterman expressed his disappointment with CBS’s decision, stating that the network is making this change primarily to save money.
Byron Allen, the producer of Comics Unleashed, has indicated that the show will feature a panel format, with comedians discussing various topics for approximately 90 minutes. Allen also produces another show, Funny You Should Ask, which will air at 12:35 a.m., creating a two-hour programming block.
Letterman described Comics Unleashed as a panel show where comics talk about funny stuff, emphasizing that it is not traditional stand-up but rather a seated format. He noted that he created the show 20 years ago to provide a platform for comedians.
In a critical statement, Letterman remarked, “They don’t want to spend any money, so they’re going to make money,” reflecting his concerns about the motivations behind the network’s decision. He further criticized CBS for how they handled the cancellation of The Late Show, calling it “pure cowardice.”
Comics Unleashed has previously aired at 12:35 a.m. and will now move to the more coveted late-night slot. The show features a lineup of well-known comedians, including Sebastian Maniscalco, Tiffany Haddish, Gabriel Iglesias, Cedric the Entertainer, and Nate Bargatze.
As CBS transitions to this new programming strategy, it marks the end of an era for The Late Show franchise, which has been a staple of late-night television for 33 years. The network’s decision to replace the long-running show reflects broader trends in the industry, where financial considerations increasingly influence programming choices.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the long-term implications of this change for CBS and its audience, as the network seeks to adapt to evolving viewer preferences in the competitive late-night landscape.
