The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / After After Midnight

**Posted by Hansa** June 13, 2025 7:21 am

After Midnight, CBS' late night comedy panel show with Taylor Tomlinson ended its run last night. The show was cancelled after Tomlinson decided not to renew her contract so she could focus on being a touring standup - a decision that would have been unthinkable 10 or 15 years ago when being a network late night host was still considered the apex of a comedians career.

CBS announced that there was no longer a viable businesse case for 12:30 and they would not be replacing Tomlinson with a new host or After Midnight with a new show.

Well, not quite. CBS and Byron Allen announced two weeks ago that Allen would be taking over the slot on a time buy (brokered) arrangement in order to air Comics Unleashed - a comedy panel show hosted by him which had been in and out of syndication since 2006 and which CBS aired as a stop gap between James Corden's departure and Tomlinson's arrival.

Airing a late night comedy talk show as brokered programming reminds me of the Frank D'Angelo Show - except Allen is actually good.

CBS, essentially the time slot's landlord, is guaranteed its rent cheques regardless of ratings and production expenses.

https://latenighter.com/news/inside-the-unusual-deal-that-brought-byron-allen-to-cbs-post-colbert-slot/

**Posted by paterson1** June 13, 2025 10:03 am

I watched Comics Unleashed a few times when it was on CBS Detroit years ago. Didn't find the show that funny and some of the comedians were only vaguely familiar and had seen better days. The show itself had a cheap look to it. So maybe this newer version will be better.

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** June 13, 2025 11:28 am

**Posted by Buzzy Krumhunger** June 13, 2025 1:17 pm

Norm Macdonald once said performers couldn’t be any more leashed than when they appeared on Comics Unleashed.

Last edited by Buzzy Krumhunger (June 13, 2025 1:18 pm)

**Posted by Dave The OTA guy** June 13, 2025 6:43 pm

If anyone has seen Jimmy Carr host "8 out of 10 cats does countdown" you know how funny that panel show is. Not exactly a talk show, not a game show but the comedians roast one another, work in teams for points. (There really isnt any prize awarded) but it's just so damn funny. There's nothing like this show on N. American TV and I wonder if a U.S version would ever be as successful.