Byron Allen Addresses Taking Over Stephen Colbert’s Time Slot

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Byron Allen isn’t trying to be someone he’s not.

After Stephen Colbert hosted his final episode of The Late Show on May 21st, ending over ten years with the program, the host of Comics Unleashed shared his thoughts on stepping into the same 11:30 p.m. timeslot on CBS.

In a recent interview with NPR’s Newsmakers on May 22nd, Allen clarified that he isn’t aiming to follow in Stephen Colbert’s footsteps. He emphasized that his show, Comics Unleashed, which has been running for two decades, already has a dedicated audience of its own and he’s not trying to attract Colbert’s viewers.

Featuring comedians like Kevin Hart, Chelsea Handler, and Nate Bargatze, the show brings together a new group of funny guests each time to perform stand-up routines. The creator believes this series, previously shown late at night, will be a welcome addition to primetime television’s late-night lineup.

Honestly, he was SO right. He really drove it home – good luck finding any other show that’s given a platform to so many different kinds of comedians, you know? Every body type, every background, every color… it’s just incredible. I mean, it’s irreplaceable, truly. No other show even comes close to having that kind of diversity!

Now that Allen is hosting the show after the unexpected end of The Late Show, he knows it will take viewers a while to get used to the new arrangement.

He acknowledged that not everyone will be a fan, but he realized even a small group – one or two percent – would be wholeheartedly supportive, and he understood this from a young age.

The 65-year-old host, whose show aired on CBS from 2006 to 2016 and then returned in 2023-2024 and again in 2025, stated he wasn’t involved in the decision to end The Late Show. He also expressed strong support for Stephen Colbert.

According to Allen, Stephen Colbert is a national treasure and a remarkably kind person. He’s incredibly gifted and has a devoted fanbase. Now, it’s up to Colbert to decide what he wants to do next with his career.

Honestly, he has a lot of options available to him. I’d be happy to support whatever he decides, and he’s perfectly capable of making his own way. Still, I’d help him out immediately if he asked.

Stephen Colbert, who became host of The Late Show in 2015 after David Letterman retired, surprised viewers by appearing as a guest host on a local Michigan public access show called Only in Monroe the very next day.

Even as Stephen Colbert continues to pursue new opportunities, he’ll always cherish his time hosting his late-night show.

He explained during the show’s finale on May 21st that making the show has been a real pleasure. They jokingly call it ‘The Joy Machine’ because producing so many episodes requires a lot of work, but he added that approaching it with happiness makes the challenges – the ‘gears’ – much easier to handle.

He continued, saying he couldn’t fully express how much the people who work here support each other and how close they’ve become.

Read on to learn the fate of more of your favorite TV shows…

Get ready to bid farewell to Emily Cooper. Netflix has confirmed that season six, filmed in Greece and starring Lily Collins, will be the final season of the series.

Great news for fans! The spinoff of The Handmaid’s Tale, featuring Chase Infiniti, has been picked up for a second season.

The Apple TV freshman comedy series starring Elle Fanning will return for season two.

Production on the legal drama will pause due to Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s involvement, and the show’s fifth season will be its final one.

Netflix’s docuseries following the NFL’s top-tier athletes will return for season three.

Love Is Blind is shipping out to Boston. 

Netflix has renewed the series for an eleventh season, which will take place in Boston, Massachusetts. The show first launched on the streaming platform in 2020.

Kate Hudson‘s sports comedy scored a slam dunk with season three renewal.

Dan Levy‘s Netflix comedy will take fans on another wild ride during season two.

The coming-of-age series was renewed for season four at Netflix.

Season 11 of the popular Bravo series will show more of the drama following the love triangle involving Amanda Batula, West Wilson, and Ciara Miller.

According to Variety, Fox president Rob Wade has stated that the network doesn’t intend to create another season of So You Think You Can Dance, almost two years after season 18 finished airing.

The network confirmed they hadn’t stopped the music entirely, and Wade explained, “We’ve discussed it, but haven’t made any official decisions yet.”

Get excited, baby gorgeous. Utah’s iconic Housewives are returning for season seven on Bravo.

Bravo is setting sail on season five of the travel reality show.

The future of the dance competition show is uncertain after its eighteenth season. In May, Fox Television President Rob Wade stated that there are currently no plans for a new season.

In the second season premiering on Bravo, the cast of Real Housewives will trade lives with actual mothers.

The popular reality show ‘Southern Charm’ is returning for a thirteenth season on Bravo, meaning viewers can expect to continue following the lives of Charleston’s well-known socialites.

Oxygen’s true crime show, featuring June Squibb, will focus on more grandmothers who committed crimes in its second season.

Bravo’s long-running reality series was renewed for lucky number season 13.

Buckle up for more drama when season two debuts.

Goodbye, chef. FX announced the culinary drama’s upcoming fifth season will be its last.

Oxygen’s true crime series will be back for season two.

Kelly Siegler will be back on the case when season three debuts on Oxygen.

Bravo is cooking up more culinary competition because Top Chef will be back for season 24.

ABC’s revival of the medical comedy will return for season two.

The animated spinoff will investigate new supernatural mysteries in Hawkins during season two.

The Sci-Fi horror series starring Harold Perrineau will return for a fifth and final season on MGM+.

I was really disappointed to hear that NBC and Peacock canceled the Law & Order spinoff with Christopher Meloni after five great seasons. It was such a fantastic show, and I’m sad to see it go!

The sheriffs are back on duty when season two debuts.

CBS’ top CIA agents will be back on the case when they return for another season.

Carrie Preston‘s quirky alter-ego will return with the CBS show’s fourth season.

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2026-05-25 20:47