Byron Allen Takes Over Colbert’s Late-Night Throne With a Bold Promise – No Politics, No Apologies, and No Notes From CBS
When has comedy not been political?
Byron Allen is officially taking over Stephen Colbert’s late-night throne on CBS with a bold, no-apologies approach. His show, Comics Unleashed, debuts in the 11:35 PM time slot on May 22, and, according to Entertainment Weekly, Allen is making it clear he’s not here to replace Colbert or his audience. Instead, he’s bringing something entirely different to the table: a comedy show that promises zero politics, zero network interference, and zero regrets.
Allen, the founder of Allen Media Group, sat down ahead of the premiere and didn’t hold back. “At the end of the day, I’m not trying to replace Colbert,” he said. “I am not trying to hold on to his audience because Comics Unleashed has been around 20 years and has its own audience.” That audience, he admits, won’t be for everyone.
“Not everyone’s going to love me,” Allen added. “Not everyone’s going to love the fact that I’m not being racist or antisemitic or sexist.” It’s a direct shot at the kind of divisive humor that’s become all too common in late-night TV, and Allen isn’t interested in playing that game.
The timing of Comics Unleashed’s move to CBS is hard to ignore
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was canceled after 33 years, despite being a ratings powerhouse. CBS insists the decision was purely financial, but speculation has swirled that Colbert and his guests’ frequent jabs at President Donald Trump and his administration played a role. Allen, however, says he’s facing no such pressure. When asked if CBS or Paramount had given him any “boundaries not to cross or topics to avoid,” he was blunt: “absolutely not.”
“I have absolutely not had any conversations with anybody at CBS or Paramount about what to say or not to say,” Allen said. He even revealed that CBS executives barely engaged with the show during production. “Do you know that I’ve been taping this show here since July or August and somebody from CBS just came by to say hello and thank us? Visited the set one time, came by to say, ‘We just want to see a taping because we haven’t been here.'”
And when it comes to feedback, Allen says the network has been hands-off. “When we’ve sent the episodes over, they barely give notes. CBS has not given me any notes, any feedback about ‘don’t be political’… I started the show 20 years ago, and we’ve been crushing it for 20 years.”
This lack of interference is a stark contrast to the tightrope many late-night hosts have been walking lately
Allen’s approach is simple: comedy should bring people together, not divide them. “No politics,” he said in a recent interview on CBS Mornings. “You come, you laugh… We’ve had on a thousand comedians – every shape and size, you name it. I want to bring people together using comedy.”
It’s a refreshing take in an era where late-night TV often feels like a never-ending cycle of partisan punchlines. Allen isn’t just avoiding politics but actively rejecting the idea that comedy needs to be political to be relevant.
His confidence in the show’s direction isn’t just talk. Allen has been chasing this moment for over five decades. “I feel great. I feel amazing. You know, I tell everybody, I have been pursuing this for 51 years,” he told NPR’s Ailsa Chang during a conversation in Culver City, California. He didn’t shy away from praising Colbert, calling him “an American treasure.”
Allen’s billionaire status isn’t just a flex
It’s proof of Allen’s business savvy. He’s not just a comedian or a host; he’s a media mogul who understands the value of owning and producing content, especially as a Black American in an industry that’s historically been dominated by others. “It’s important for Black Americans to own and produce media,” he emphasized, and Comics Unleashed is a prime example of that philosophy in action.
The debut episode aired at 11:35 PM on May 22, and if Allen’s track record is any indication, going forward, it’s going to be a wild ride. He’s not trying to fill Colbert’s shoes, and he’s not trying to please everyone. If you’re tired of late-night TV feeling like a partisan battleground, Comics Unleashed might just be the breath of fresh air you’ve been waiting for.
(Featured image: NBC Television)
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