During the Tuesday, November 1 broadcast of CBS’ “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” host Stephen Colbert noted that earlier that day, the network had announced the producing team and head writer for the new late night series, “After Midnight,” but notably withheld information on who will be hosting. Of course, this was all a prelude to Colbert himself announcing the show’s host when comedian Taylor Tomlinson “interrupted” Colbert’s comments on the matter to offer herself up as an option for the job.
Tomlinson, a rising stand-up who has already released two Netflix comedy specials, including “Look at You” and “Quarter-Life Crisis,” will formally take over as “After Midnight” host when the show premieres in early 2024 on CBS, following episodes of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” The new show will also be available for streaming on Paramount+ (live and On Demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after it airs)*.
Produced by CBS Studios with Stephen Colbert’s Spartina Industries and Funny Or Die, Colbert himself will executive produce alongside Carrie Byalick, president of Spartina Industries; “The Late Show” executive producer Tom Purcell; Evelyn McGee Colbert; and James Dixon of Dixon Talent. The Spartina team is joined by executive producers Joe Farrell, Mike Farah, Whitney Hodack and Henry R. Muñoz III from Funny Or Die. Jason U. Nadler of Serious Business, who co-created “@midnight” by which ‘After Midnight’ is inspired, is also an executive producer.
“We are thrilled to be reunited with our friends at Funny Or Die,” said Colbert in a statement. “My hope is that, every night, ‘After Midnight’ will be just as ridiculous as the internet is every day. Plus, the original ‘@midnight’ aired after ‘The Colbert Report,’ so welcoming this new show to 12:30 feels like coming home.”
Serving as co-showrunners and executive producers are Jack Martin, showrunner on all four seasons of “@midnight” and current showrunner for CBS’ “Raid the Cage,” and Eric Pierce (CBS’ “The Challenge: USA,” “The Wheel,” “Hollywood Game Night”). Comedian and writer Jo Firestone (“ZIWE”, “The Tonight Show,” “Joe Pera Talks with You”) will be co-executive producer and head writer. Alexx Wells (“Celebrity Squares,” “That’s My Jam,” “The Cube”) will also serve as co-executive producer.
“Funny Or Die is proud to partner once again with CBS Studios, Spartina Industries and our longtime friend and collaborator Stephen Colbert,” said Funny Or Die Owner Henry R. Muñoz III. “Now that we are all old enough to stay up until after midnight, I’m excited for this show to harness the power of comedy and laughter to bring us all together.”
“After Midnight” replaces “The Late Late Show with James Corden” which ran on CBS for eight seasons before concluding its run in April. Currently the network is airing episodes of “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen,” which is expected to continue until the official launch of “After Midnight.”
Watch as Colbert discussed the “After Midnight” news released by CBS before he himself goes on to announce Tomlinson as the show’s host below.