CBS replaces Stephen Colbert with Byron Allen to save millions
In a move that got the television industry buzzing, one of TV’s most iconic time slots is getting handed to a much cheaper show. According to CBS, Byron Allen will take over the 11:35 p.m. slot after Stephen Colbert exits The Late Show with Stephen Colbert later this month.
Let’s dive into all we know about the replacement.
The real reason CBS made the switch
CBS says the decision comes down to economics. Traditional late-night shows are expensive. Viewers are paying for writers, production crews, musical guests, celebrity bookings, sets, daily tapings, and entire teams built around nightly content.
Meanwhile, audiences are increasingly shifting to TikTok clips, YouTube Shorts, podcast interviews, and short-form social media content.
Full episodes at 11:35 p.m. are fast becoming obsolete. And that’s where Allen’s model becomes very attractive.
Byron Allen’s pitch is basically: “I’ll do it for free”
Well, not literally free. But close enough. According to reports, Allen covers production costs for Comics Unleashed himself, meaning CBS gets programming for the slot without carrying the same massive financial burden typical of late-night shows.
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Allen summed it up in one quote that’s now floating everywhere online: “It’s not cheaper. It’s zero.”
That line probably sold the deal.
Who is Byron Allen, and what even is Comics Unleashed?
While on the more quiet side, Allen has become a solid figure in media. A Billionaire entrepreneur and founder of the media company Entertainment Studios, he started as a stand-up comedian and became the youngest comic ever to appear on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson at just 18 years old.
But most of his success happened behind the scenes.
Over the years, he built a media empire that includes syndicated TV shows, cable networks, weather media assets, production companies, and entertainment distribution businesses.
If you are under 30, there is a decent chance you have never watched the show. Originally launched in 2006, it has lived in syndication for years.
The format is much simpler than classic late-night TV. There’s stand-up comics and panel-style conversations with less production overhead and no giant celebrity spectacle.
It’s cheaper, leaner, and built more like scalable syndicated television than prestige network programming.
Stephen Colbert’s response was chill
Colbert has kept his response respectful and direct.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he said he texted Allen after hearing the news to say, “Hey, congrats. I heard you got the time. Good for you.”
When asked how he felt about the replacement, Colbert responded, “It’s none of my business.”
Throughout the transition, Colbert has largely focused on future creative projects.
Even as The Late Show ends, the host is already working on new projects. One of the biggest surprises involves a new The Lord of the Rings film project that he is helping write alongside his son and Philippa Boyens.
This might change late-night TV completely
As traditional late-night programs have become very expensive to produce and less profitable, there is a lot riding on Allen’s lower-cost production model.
The lease arrangement is for one year while Paramount executives continue to seek a more permanent late-night strategy. But if Allen’s version works, a lot more networks may start wondering whether the old late-night formula is worth keeping alive at all.
Source: NBSLA
