David Letterman Reacts to Byron Allen Taking Over Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ Slot
What To Know
- CBS recently announced that Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed will be taking over Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show time slot on May 22.
- David Letterman, who previously hosted The Late Show, hinted that the move was a money grab for the network.
- Allen’s time-buy agreement with CBS is signed for the 2026 to 2027 season so far.
David Letterman hosted The Late Show for more than 20 years from 1993 to 2015, and he has some thoughts about CBS’s plans for the network’s 11:35/10:35c time slot once Stephen Colbert‘s run ends on May 21.
CBS recently announced that Byron Allen‘s Comics Unleashed would be moving up one hour to air in The Late Show‘s time slot. “They don’t want to spend any money, so they’re going to make money,” Letterman explained on his podcast.
CBS will be selling the 11:35/10:35c time slot to Allen, who will also occupy the former Comics Unleashed time slot at 12:37a/11:37c with his comedy game show Funny You Should Ask.
“They charge Byron Allen some reasonable price,” Letterman continued. “He sells all the advertising for his Comics Unleashed and it’ll be, I think, 90 minutes or two hours of comics talking about funny stuff.“ The former late-night host noted that Allen’s show “is a pretty good idea,” pointing out, “It’s all panel. Nobody’s doing standup, except they’re doing seated standup.”
Colbert took over the reigns from Letterman on The Late Show in 2015, but last year, CBS announced that it would be retiring the late-night talk show in May 2026, which would mark the end of Colbert’s reign behind the desk. Earlier this month, the network confirmed that Allen’s show would be filling in that hour-long time slot beginning on May 22. Allen’s deal with CBS is for the 2026 to 2027 season.
“I created and launched Comics Unleashed 20 years ago so my fellow comedians could have a platform to do what we all love – make people laugh,” Allen said. “I truly appreciate CBS’ confidence in me by picking up our two-hour comedy block of Comics Unleashed and Funny You Should Ask because the world can never have enough laughter.”
Letterman previously called CBS’ decision to cancel The Late Show “cowardice,” adding, “They did not do the correct thing. They did not handle Stephen Colbert — the face of that network — in the way he deserves to have been handled.”
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Weeknights, 11:35/10:35c, CBS
Conversation17 Comments
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K
Completely agree with David Letterman's take on this solely with the phrase "They don't want to spend any money." It's disheartening to see how CBS is treating Stephen Colbert after his tenure with them but that's the bottom line in the network's opinion: years of service and loyalty mean nothing anymore. It's either you're profitable or you're out.
It's also disheartening that any major network let alone CBS is almost unwilling to take a chance on scripted content for prime time (that isn't either part of an existing franchise or created by someone who has a prior relationship with said network). They would rather spend it on shows I like to call slot eaters. This is essentially reality programming (or something similar to it) that can be made with a smaller budget and that "eats up" the prime time schedule at two hours like Survivor. DWTS is honestly the only one of these that I love.
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L
I occasionally watch Allen's show after Colbert's. But I will not ever be watching Allen's show in place of Colbert's. (Nor does his game show interest me at all anyway.) CBS has lost me as its news/post-news viewer with their move; and while I regret that Allen may pay the price for CBS's greedy cowardice, it was his choice and I won't be changing my mind on his behalf.
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L
I have no reason to watch CBS if they take Stephen Colbert off the air! They lost me as a viewer when they cancelled his show for no reason! “Low ratings” my a**! CBS is just another group of cowardice CEO’s licking the boots of Trump! Shame on you CBS!!
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M
Letterman is right.
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L
Byron Allen isn't funny and his panels aren't funny either. I don't see this drawing a big crowd at all. What a waste of two hours!
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J
It is very tough to sit thru either one of the Byron shows
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N
I've tried watching his show but it's just not funny. Haven't laughed once plus the comics aren't allowed to make jokes about any events that could let people know the date, that way they can just keep repeating and nobody will know it's an old show.
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L
I wish Byron luck, then again Byron has more money and influence than god, so all he has to do is what he has done for three decades. He knows he doesn't need to publicly thwart powerful people directly, he need only push and pull behind the scenes to throw his weight around because he is a BILLIONAIRE. Billionaires only become more or less of a Billionaire, they never really lose anything.
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G
It is all bull?????. CBS knows as sure as they live & breathe this is wrong for them to cancel Colbert. They know it makes no sense what they are doing to his show. They also cancelled The comedy sitcom The neighborhood after 8 seasons with high ratings, but in the end, it was all about the money. CBS has lost me as a viewer.& is gonna find out, they will be the losers.
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G
The least funny comedy show I've ever watched. I tried it twice - never again. Mostly men who thinkg they are funny and are not.
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D
They lost me as a viewer when they hired Letterman. It just gets worse from there.
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P
I don’t know but what’s been reported so if he lost millions then yes can’t keep a dead horse alive . except for his fans on here
I’m over political talk host
I luv Johnny Carson. Days were was not political but entertainment
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P
Maybe so but the other 2 late night went on over and over u hate Trump , plz anything would be refreshing then those
Know it alls ….. just saying
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N
Not for me. I enjoy the other late night hosts too. If they weren't on I'd watch paint drying before I watched unleashed.
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P
lol right another entitled Old
Comedian that defended men who rather just repeatedly go off
With his political agenda .
Refreshing try done one new with entertainment instead of constantly going on about politics
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P
Your lost
I rather enjoy light comedy then same old crap of being political .
The night show was suppose to be entertainment with humor beating a dead horse over and over was depressing
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S
Lost is spelled Loss or MAGA I will not watch ANY Steven Colbert replacement shame on Allen for betraying a fellow Comedian #CancelByronAllen #BoycottBryanAllen
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