Stephen Colbert has sent a congratulatory note to Byron Allen, who will be taking over his late-night time slot after “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” ends later this month. The final episode of the show is scheduled to air on May 21.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Colbert reacted to the news that Allen’s “Comics Unleashed” comedy show will replace “The Late Show” in the 11:35 p.m. slot on CBS. “God bless him. I know Byron. We got to know each other last year, actually. He’s fascinating. You know his history with Carson?” Colbert said, referencing a time when Allen, now 65, became the youngest comedian to perform on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” at age 18.
“Anyway, when I found out, I wrote him the next morning and I said, ‘Hey, congrats. I heard you got the time. Good for you. Wouldn’t it be lovely if you could drop Mr. Carson a note?'” Colbert joked. Carson, who died in 2005, hosted “The Tonight Show” from 1962 to 1992.
When asked by The Hollywood Reporter about how he feels about “The Late Show” not being replaced by another late-night talk show, Colbert replied, “It’s none of my business,” according to USA Today.
What Happened to The Late Show
“The Late Show” was canceled by CBS in July 2025 in what the company described as a “financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.” The cancellation came after Colbert criticized a settlement between U.S. President Donald Trump and Paramount Global, CBS’s parent company, over a “60 Minutes” story.
“Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen” features a rotating cast of comedians performing in a panel format. CBS announced it will fill the 11:35 p.m. timeslot in April. The show was previously airing on the network after Colbert.
Colbert said he was initially blindsided by the cancellation news because the show was “not making any money.” He told The Hollywood Reporter that he’s curious to see what the future of late-night television holds and how it will affect other hosts such as Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jimmy Fallon.
“I don’t know what it’s going to be, and I don’t know what I can do to help other than what I did the last 11 years,” said Colbert, per E! News. “But one night I’ll turn on the TV and probably no one will be there.”
As for what he wants the legacy of “The Late Show” to be, Colbert said he wants it to be “remembered as a comedy show.” “We harvest laughter for a living, and ultimately that’s the thing I want more than anything else. I just want to make the audience laugh,” he said.
The final episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” will air on May 21.
