‘After Midnight’ Canceled at CBS as Taylor Tomlinson Focuses on Stand-Up

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Late-night shows simply aren’t the durable roosts they used to be.

Taylor Tomlinson, currently hosting CBS’ “After Midnight,” has decided to leave the late-night arena. This move comes as more comedians find greater career prospects in stand-up comedy, podcasts, and self-created media. It appears that Tomlinson is attracted to the world of stand-up comedy and other ventures, according to someone privy to her thoughts. She felt that a regular network show’s demands might limit her ability to explore alternative projects.

Since taking on the role for ‘After Midnight,’ I’ve been performing less stand-up. For years, I was touring three weekends a month, which made the decision to accept this job and scale back quite challenging. It left me questioning whether it was something I truly wanted to do, given that stand-up is of utmost importance to me, providing the greatest satisfaction.

During a recent panel with Selome Hailu at SXSW in February, I made it clear that this role would never surpass my passion for stand-up. I emphasized that stand-up will always be my priority, and as long as there’s an opportunity to balance both roles, I would eagerly embrace the chance to do so.

CBS has decided not to air original content during the time slot after Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show,” which airs at 12:37 a.m. Instead, they will likely leave it empty or replay previous episodes. This decision comes as executives from networks under Paramount Global are hesitant to take risks and increase costs due to the company’s ongoing acquisition by Skydance Media. It’s estimated that around 200 employees could be affected by this move, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Tomlinson, much like another comedy figure in recent times, has struggled with the demanding late-night talk show format. Recently, NBC and comedian Lilly Singh decided to end their collaboration on “A Little Late with Lilly Singh,” which aired at 1:30 am. Prior to this, Lilly had garnered significant popularity through YouTube and social media platforms. After the show’s termination, NBC chose to give up that time slot, previously occupied by Bob Costas and Carson Daly, to local affiliates and TV stations.

Many other individuals have moved away from their perch on late-night TV, just like Trevor Noah, who stunned his own team at Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” when he declared in front of a live audience in 2022 that he was planning to depart the show within weeks. Since then, he has hosted awards ceremonies, podcasts, and tours, among other ventures. Roy Wood, who was once considered a possible replacement for Noah, decided to quit “Daily” in 2023, mentioning the network’s failure to appoint a permanent successor after Noah’s departure — as well as the opportunity to explore fresh endeavors. Now, Wood hosts a topical comedy show on CNN called “Have I Got News For You,” and will host the Peabody Awards.

After Midnight” was considered as an affordable alternative on CBS for “The Late Late Show with James Corden.” The show generated significant buzz and interest, but its host’s creative segments like “Carpool Karaoke” featuring singers and Broadway-style musical performances in street crosswalks were costly to produce.

As a devoted cinemaphile, I can’t help but notice the shifting tides in late-night television. It’s no secret that the industry has been grappling with a downturn, and it’s not hard to see why. The younger demographic, once eagerly attracted by these shows, are now gravitating towards the convenience of streaming services, which offer more flexibility in viewing times. Despite this, hosts like Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert continue to make waves, generating buzz and digital chatter that networks crave. Yet, the audience sizes aren’t what they used to be, and unfortunately, we’ve seen fewer new faces joining their ranks in recent years.

Despite staying on-air, many shows are facing budget reductions. For instance, NBC reduced “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” from five to four weekly episodes, and also eliminated the band from Seth Meyers’ “Late Night.

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2025-03-26 22:16