Byron Allen told CNN’s Michael Smerconish that his show Comics Unleashed will steer clear of politics as it takes over Stephen Colbert’s Friday late-night slot on CBS, promising a focus on stand-up and laughs rather than partisan commentary; Allen’s move comes as Colbert prepares to end The Late Show on May 21, 2026 and Allen’s program is set to start on May 22. The announcement and Allen’s comments touch on the late-night shift at CBS, Allen’s intent to platform fellow comedians, and the network’s new nightly schedule pairing Comics Unleashed with Funny You Should Ask.
Allen was blunt about the tone he intends to set, insisting the program won’t chase topical controversy and will avoid harmful targets while keeping comedy front and center. “What I’m doing with ‘Comics Unleashed,’ we don’t talk about politics. We don’t talk about anything that’s topical,” Allen told CNN’s Michael Smerconish. “We don’t do anything that’s racist or sexist or antisemitic or homophobic. Just be funny and don’t offend.” That clarity is meant to send a message to comics and viewers about boundaries and the show’s purpose.
Smerconish pushed on whether audiences will still search for political signals in the new late-night offering, given how talk shows have leaned into partisanship in recent years. “A lot of eyes are going to be on your program to see, well, what are the political leanings? What can they read into it?” the host asked. Allen answered by leaning into neutrality, making it clear the program will try to sidestep the usual late-night political beats.
The shift is striking compared with Stephen Colbert’s era on CBS, where political monologues and critiques, especially of President Donald Trump, became part of the show’s identity. Colbert, who took over the franchise from David Letterman in 2015, announced in July 2025 that CBS would end The Late Show after the current season. His final broadcast is scheduled for May 21, 2026, closing an 11-year chapter and opening a spot that prompts questions about what late-night can and should be.
Allen framed his approach as an attempt to bring people together through comedy rather than divide them with political commentary, invoking the example of Norman Lear and the apolitical business model of Michael Jordan. He doubled down on that stance with a plainspoken line about his priorities and the limits of his platform. “I don’t care who you vote for. I don’t care,” Allen said. “I’m here to make people laugh. You’re going to vote who you’re going to vote for, no matter what I say. It doesn’t matter. It’s not my business, do what you do. I’m here to make you laugh.”
Allen also expressed admiration for Colbert even as he prepares to take over the time period, calling the outgoing host a major talent and a cultural fixture. “I really like Stephen Colbert. I think he is a magnificent human being… He’s a super talent, I believe he is an American treasure.” The compliment makes clear Allen does not see this as a hostile takeover but as a different direction for the same block of television time.
CBS revealed on April 6 that Comics Unleashed will air Monday through Friday in back-to-back half-hour episodes starting May 22, and that Allen’s game show Funny You Should Ask will follow. Allen said the program was born out of a desire to give stand-up comics a stage and to celebrate the craft in a straightforward way. “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. “The world can never have enough laughter.”
The plan will test whether audiences still want late-night that aims squarely for laughs rather than partisan engagement, and whether a rotation of stand-ups can hold viewers in a time slot once dominated by a single host’s personality. Early episodes will matter, since the first nights after Colbert’s departure will be watched closely by advertisers and critics alike. For comedians, the change offers a renewed chance to reach mainstream TV viewers without the pressure to weigh in on every headline.
