David Letterman speaks out on CBS replacement for Stephen Colbert

David Letterman is criticizing a reported CBS late-night shakeup that would replace Stephen Colbert’s long-running 11:35 p.m. franchise with a cheaper, ad-driven comedy block led by Byron Allen.

On his podcast, the 79-year-old former “Late Show” host said the move reads like a cost-cutting decision that still keeps revenue flowing. If the schedule change proceeds as described, it would affect late-night viewers nationwide and signal a new business approach for a major broadcast network.

The report says Colbert’s final episode as host of “The Late Show” will air May 21, with “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen” taking the 11:35 p.m. slot the following day. CBS would reportedly air two back-to-back half-hour episodes, while Allen Media Group’s “Funny You Should Ask” shifts into the 12:35 a.m. slot. The Daily Beast said it contacted CBS and Allen Media Group for comment.

Allen deal shifts ad risk off CBS

A central detail is that Allen is describing a time-buy style arrangement, not a typical network licensing deal. In an Entertainment Tonight interview cited in the report, Allen said he agreed to pay CBS “tens of millions” for the slot and then sell the ad time himself. That structure can give CBS more predictable revenue while putting the advertising risk on the buyer.

Allen told Entertainment Tonight the bet is significant because he has to make the advertising sales work after paying the network upfront. He said he keeps the commercial time and sells it directly to advertisers, meaning the upside depends on demand and pricing. He also joked that if it fails, he will be “in front of your house in a tent,” underscoring the personal stakes he claims to be taking.

Letterman says plan cuts CBS costs

David Letterman said on his podcast that the change looks driven by CBS’s desire to spend less while still making money in a valuable time slot. He framed it as a straightforward financial trade where the network avoids the larger expenses of a nightly, live-style talk show. In his words, CBS “doesn’t want to spend any money,” and the replacement structure helps it do that.

He also described “Comics Unleashed” as a workable concept built around comedians in a seated, panel-style setup. Letterman said the format is “a pretty good idea,” even if it is not traditional standup and not a host-led interview show. His bottom line was that CBS can keep late-night programming on the air without carrying the same production burden.

Fun fact: Byron Allen’s company acquired The Weather Channel in 2018 through Entertainment Studios, expanding from syndication into a major cable brand.

New late-night lineup changes

According to the report, Colbert’s last show airs May 21, and “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen” moves into the 11:35 p.m. slot on May 22. CBS would reportedly run two half-hour episodes back-to-back, turning the hour into a packaged comedy block rather than a single nightly show. d

The report also says “Funny You Should Ask,” which is owned by Allen Media Group, will fill “Comics Unleashed’s” original 12:35 a.m. time slot. That would reshape the flow of CBS late night for people who watch past midnight, including in markets where affiliates carry the full lineup.

It also increases Allen Media Group’s footprint across two consecutive late-night half-hours on a major broadcast network.

Why the switch matters for late-night

Late-night talk shows are expensive because they require daily writing, frequent guest booking, and ongoing studio production. A pre-produced, repeatable format can be delivered at a lower cost and scheduled flexibly, which is attractive when networks are managing budgets.

The reported plan also highlights how networks can monetize time slots without fully funding a show in-house. If Allen sells the commercials directly, the programming becomes more like a business partnership than a traditional network production.

That model is common in some syndicated and local-TV contexts, but it is unusual in a flagship 11:35 p.m. broadcast slot.

Timing draws focus on Paramount shift

The report notes that CBS announced Colbert’s exit shortly after the host criticized Paramount, CBS’s parent company, over legal issues tied to “60 Minutes” and President Donald Trump. CBS denied that the decision was politically motivated, according to the report, but the timing fueled speculation online. Without further on-the-record detail, the verifiable point is that the network has publicly rejected a political explanation.

The corporate backdrop is also shifting at the parent-company level. Paramount announced a deal in July 2024 to merge with Skydance Media in a transaction that is subject to regulatory review and other closing conditions. In periods like that, broadcast programming choices often face added scrutiny because they can affect costs, revenue stability, and brand perception.

Little-known fact: He became a co-host of NBC’s “Real People” in 1979 at age 18, making him one of the youngest hosts on a national TV series at the time.

TL;DR

• David Letterman said CBS’s reported late-night change looks like a cost and profit decision, not a creative one.
• The report says Colbert’s last “Late Show” episode will air May 21, with Byron Allen’s programming starting the next night.
• “Comics Unleashed” would reportedly run as two back-to-back half-hour episodes at 11:35 p.m.
• Allen said he is paying “tens of millions” for the slot and selling the ads himself, shifting risk away from CBS.
• The switch would test whether a lower-cost, ad-controlled model can work in a marquee broadcast late-night slot.

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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