Overview
- CBS confirmed Comics Unleashed will take over at 11:35 p.m. on May 22, a day after Stephen Colbert’s final Late Show on May 21, with Funny You Should Ask at 12:35 a.m.
- Under the 2026–27 deal, Byron Allen pays CBS for the hour and sells most of the ads, which removes CBS’s production costs and can turn late night into a profit center.
- David Letterman said the switch is about saving money, describing Comics Unleashed as a panel show where comics deliver stand-up while seated.
- Byron Allen said he created Comics Unleashed to give comedians a platform and thanked CBS for picking up a two-hour block that pairs the show with Funny You Should Ask.
- Many comedians criticize Comics Unleashed as rigid and low-paying, pointing to pre-approved setups, one-time appearance fees, and years of reruns that replace writer and production jobs once tied to topical late-night shows.