“Comics Unleashed” star Byron Allen, who was chosen to take over Stephen Colbert’s CBS time slot “The Late Show,” said the two met for breakfast after the decision was made.
Stephen Colbert weighs in on replacing CBS’ ‘Late Show’ slot
Stephen Colbert congratulated Byron Allen after CBS announced the comic would take over the 11:35 p.m. slot on “The Late Show.”
Regardless of whose show airs late at night on CBS, there’s nothing but goodwill between Stephen Colbert and Byron Allen.
Colbert’s CBS talk show, “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” will end on Thursday, May 21, and will be replaced by “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen” on Friday, May 22 in the 11:35 p.m. time slot.
Colbert, 62, is not leaving the show voluntarily, but he doesn’t have strong feelings toward Allen or “Unleashed.” The comedy panel show focuses more on stand-up comedians and couch jokes than celebrity guests or musical performances. Allen, a veteran comedian and owner of Allen Media Group, feels the same way.
“He’s been very nice. He texted me,” Allen, 65, told USA TODAY, noting that the two actually had breakfast this fall on Sept. 14, the day of the Emmy Awards. “We started breakfast at 10 a.m., which turned into lunch, and we shared a love of comedy and talk shows and Johnny Carson. And he sent me a nice text. He said, ‘Congratulations.'”
Allen campaigned heavily to have Comics Unleashed take over the 11:35 slot (it currently airs at 12:35 on CBS and has been in syndication for nearly 20 years), but like many viewers and fans, he will miss hearing Colbert’s voice every night.
“He’s a great human being. A really good guy. A beautiful soul,” Allen said. “And I think he’s an American treasure. I hope he continues to come to our home. He deserves to be there and I think he’s great. I think he’s the world.”
Stephen Colbert takes turns breaking his silence
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published on May 6, Colbert reacted to the news that “Comics Unleashed” will take over his slot on CBS immediately after “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” ends later this month.
“God bless him. I know Byron. We met last year, actually. He’s a fascinating guy. Do you know his past with Carson?” Colbert told the magazine, referring to the fact that Allen became the youngest comedian to appear on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson when he was 18 years old.
“Anyway, when I found out, I wrote him a letter the next morning and said, ‘Hey, congratulations. I heard you had some time. That’s great. Wouldn’t it be nice if Mr. Carson wrote you a letter?'” Colbert joked.
Carson was the host of The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992 and died in 2005.
Byron Allen replaces ‘Late Show’ as TV landscape changes
CBS canceled “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in July, describing the move as “a financial decision against a difficult background in late night.” In April, the network confirmed that Colbert’s time slot would be filled with “Byron Allen and Unleashed Comics.” The show, which began in 2006, is a series in which comedians take turns presenting their stories in a panel format.
CBS leases the timeslot to Allen. This is an attractive business model for networks because Allen covers all production costs. In April, Paramount TV Media Chairman George Cheeks told reporters that while CBS was still developing other late-night programming ideas, Allen’s one-year deal would allow the network to “quickly get into the black with that slot.”
In addition to taking over Colbert’s timeslot, the media mogul recently acquired a “majority stake” in BuzzFeed and will become its next chairman and CEO.
Allen Family Digital, an affiliate of Mr. Allen’s family office, plans to acquire 40 million shares of the digital media company’s stock for $120 million by the end of this month, according to a news release from BuzzFeed, Inc.
Contributor: Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY
