CBS’s choice to cancel The Late Present with Stephen Colbert stays a serious subject of controversy, however other than the preliminary assertion issued by the community, executives have stayed largely silent in regards to the debacle — till now.
After Skydance’s takeover of Paramount grew to become official on August 7, Paramount World TV Media Chairman George Cheeks made a press release addressing the tip of The Late Present.
“The problem in late night time is that the promoting market is in vital secular decline,” Cheeks said at a press convention. “We’re large followers of Colbert, we love the present, sadly, the economics made it a problem for us to maintain going.” The remark reaffirms the corporate’s stance from the unique announcement that the choice was monetary and never primarily based on Stephen Colbert’s criticism of Paramount’s latest settlement with Donald Trump.
He went on to additional state that it was Taylor Tomlinson‘s choice to not return to host After Midnight that cemented the community’s decision to bail on late-night tv, as they “couldn’t keep in that daypart.”
Like The Late Present, CBS opted to finish the After Midnight franchise fairly than proceed the present with a brand new host, regardless of renewing the present for a 3rd season.
After Midnight was the late-night comedy/pseudo sport present that took the spot of The Late Late Present with James Corden. In her remaining episode of the present, which ran for 2 years on the community, the comic made it clear that she didn’t want for the present to finish and had hoped to get replaced.
“It was my dream to complete off this season and hand it off to a brand new host. I actually wished CBS to switch me as a result of I simply assume there are such a lot of wonderful comedians who would have carried out an ideal job with this present,” she informed her late-night viewers.
“Lots of people have informed me, ‘Oh, you might be so good at this job. Who else might have carried out it?’ I’m not kidding. Lots of people might have carried out it as a result of this workforce is so supportive and is so good at making ready folks to be on tv,” joked Tomlinson. “I’ve by no means carried out TV earlier than. I used to be a comic. I’m a rat, highway canine comic. I’m a rubbish particular person. And also you noticed how many individuals got here out to brush me like a horse?!? I didn’t do that. The hair and make-up and wardrobe workforce alone deserve an award.”
Tomlinson additional defined within the monologue that the tv format wasn’t sustainable for her way of life, as she paid tribute to all her company and her crew. “I’m a touring standup, and I really feel very grateful to have that profession that I do, and this chance got here alongside at a time in my life the place I might reap the benefits of it, and, whereas, sadly, I couldn’t hold doing the present, it simply wasn’t sustainable for me. I can’t imagine that I acquired to do it so long as I did,” she stated.
After Midnight was a precursor to the @midnight, a late-night panel sport present that aired on Comedy Central from 2013 to 2017. Hosted by Chris Hardwick, the present featured comedians competing to ship the funniest takes on trending web subjects, memes, and popular culture. CBS rebooted the idea as After Midnight in 2024, with Tomlinson as host, following The Late Late Present with James Corden. The spot is now occupied by Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen.
The Late Present With Stephen Colbert, Weeknights, 11:35/10:35c, CBS