CBS cancels After Midnight as late-night host Taylor Tomlinson returns to her first passion stand-up comedy

CBS announced the cancellation of its late-night comedy show “After Midnight” on Wednesday following host Taylor Tomlinson’s unexpected decision to return full-time to stand-up comedy.The cancellation marks yet another setback for late-night TV, a format increasingly challenged by financial pressures and changing viewer habits.“After Midnight,” which aired at 12:30 a.m., debuted in January 2024 as an experimental replacement for “The Late Late Show,” which ended when James Corden left CBS in 2023.The network had previously committed to a third season of “After Midnight,” initially scheduled for September through May, but reversed the decision when Tomlinson opted to leave.The show’s final episode will air in June.Tomlinson, 31, said she intended to focus fully on stand-up comedy, her “first passion.”Her departure was unexpected, prompting CBS executives to reconsider their late-night strategy altogether.Stephen Colbert, who served as an executive producer of “After Midnight” in addition to hosting “The Late Show,” addressed Tomlinson’s decision with respect, saying: “While we were excited and grateful for our third season to start in the fall, we respect Taylor’s decision to return to stand-up full time.”Tomlinson is known for her sharp wit and relatable humor, often drawing from personal experiences in her routines.

She gained national recognition through Netflix specials and late-night appearances, leading to her hosting role on the now-defunct CBS show.CBS’s move effectively ends three decades of original 12:30 a.m.programming, a tradition that began in 1995 with “The Late Late Show” following David Letterman’s arrival from NBC.Prior to establishing original content at that hour, the network commonly filled the slot with repeats of underperforming dramas.The cancellation highlights the broader challenges confronting late-night programming.As traditional TV continues to lose ground to streaming services, audience s...