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CBS announced on Wednesday that it's canceling its late-night series "After Midnight" after two seasons. The series, hosted by comedian Taylor Tomlinson, will end its run in June of 2025. The rising star stand-up comedian Taylor Tomlinson decided to depart the series in order to focus on her stand-up career. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating, "Hosting 'After Midnight' has genuinely been the experience of a lifetime, and I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunity to be part of this incredible journey."
"After Midnight" premiered in January 2024 as a rebranding of Comedy Central's " "@midnight,"" and was executive produced by Stephen Colbert. The show featured a panel of celebrity guests engaging in comedic debates on pop culture and trending topics on social media. With efforts to revamp its format, including the inclusion of a monologue and discussing political topics, the show was unable to find mainstream success and attract high-profile guests.
CBS had quietly renewed "After Midnight" for a third season but chose not to officially announce it. With Tomlinson's departure, the network has decided to cancel programming at 12:30 am entirely, a dramatic shift in its late-night lineups. That decision is representative of broader movements in the world of late-night television, where the number of programs on broadcast, cable, and streaming over the last couple of years have fallen.
Stephen Colbert, a key driving force behind bringing "After Midnight" to CBS, confirmed the end of the show, stating, "I want to thank CBS for their steadfast support and invaluable partnership on 'After Midnight,' and the entire staff for their incredible dedication."
Tomlinson's return to stand-up is welcomed with her "Save Me" tour of over 60 performances in the United States and Europe over the period of the next ten months. People in attendance can look forward to her own unique blend of acid-tongued humor and plainspoken humor as she appears in cities such as San Antonio, New Orleans, and Charlotte.
Canceling "After Midnight" leaves a void in late-night television, particularly in women's representation. Losing Tomlinson means there is no woman late-night host, once more repeating the recent criticisms on diversity and inclusion for the industry.
While CBS pulls back from the 12:30 am slot, late-night programming exists in a precarious position. It underscores the face of TV changing and how harder it gets to keep audiences interested late into the night for conventional broadcast networks.
CBS announced on Wednesday that it’s canceling its late-night series “After Midnight” after two seasons. The series, hosted by comedian Taylor Tomlinson, will end its run in June of 2025. The rising star stand-up comedian Taylor Tomlinson decided to depart the series in order to focus on her stand-up career. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating, “Hosting ‘After Midnight’ has genuinely been the experience of a lifetime, and I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunity to be part of this incredible journey.”
“After Midnight” premiered in January 2024 as a rebranding of Comedy Central’s “ “@midnight,”” and was executive produced by Stephen Colbert. The show featured a panel of celebrity guests engaging in comedic debates on pop culture and trending topics on social media. With efforts to revamp its format, including the inclusion of a monologue and discussing political topics, the show was unable to find mainstream success and attract high-profile guests.
CBS had quietly renewed “After Midnight” for a third season but chose not to officially announce it. With Tomlinson’s departure, the network has decided to cancel programming at 12:30 am entirely, a dramatic shift in its late-night lineups. That decision is representative of broader movements in the world of late-night television, where the number of programs on broadcast, cable, and streaming over the last couple of years have fallen.
Stephen Colbert, a key driving force behind bringing “After Midnight” to CBS, confirmed the end of the show, stating, “I want to thank CBS for their steadfast support and invaluable partnership on ‘After Midnight,’ and the entire staff for their incredible dedication.”
Tomlinson’s return to stand-up is welcomed with her “Save Me” tour of over 60 performances in the United States and Europe over the period of the next ten months. People in attendance can look forward to her own unique blend of acid-tongued humor and plainspoken humor as she appears in cities such as San Antonio, New Orleans, and Charlotte.
Canceling “After Midnight” leaves a void in late-night television, particularly in women’s representation. Losing Tomlinson means there is no woman late-night host, once more repeating the recent criticisms on diversity and inclusion for the industry.
While CBS pulls back from the 12:30 am slot, late-night programming exists in a precarious position. It underscores the face of TV changing and how harder it gets to keep audiences interested late into the night for conventional broadcast networks.
