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CBS Axes Colbert, Launches Allen’s Comics Unleashed, Saves $150M

5/22/2026

31 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

CBS will end The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed will take the 11:35 p.m. slot on Friday, May 22, 2026.
Allen’s buy-time deal will pay CBS and save the network $100 million-$170 million each year.
Allen says the new shows will contain no politics or hateful content.

History

Historical Context

In 1991 Johnny Carson announced his retirement, and NBC installed Jay Leno as Tonight Show host in 1992. When Leno was chosen, David Letterman left for CBS, signing a three-year, $14 million per-year deal and launching the Late Show, igniting a two-decade rivalry that set a precedent for networks swapping iconic hosts to cut costs.

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Story summary

CBS will end The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed will take the 11:35 p.m. slot on Friday, May 22, 2026.
Allen’s buy-time deal will pay CBS and save the network $100 million-$170 million each year.
Allen says the new shows will contain no politics or hateful content.

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