CBS announced that beginning May 22 its 11:35 p.m. Eastern slot formerly occupied by “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” will air back‑to‑back episodes of Comics Unleashed, the half‑hour comedy talk show created by Byron Allen. The block will be followed at 12:35 a.m. by two repeats of “Funny You Should Ask,” a game‑show style program also produced by Allen’s firm to retain a consistent audience flow.

Network executives cite shrinking ad revenues and the high production costs of a live, audience‑based show as the primary driver. “The Late Show,” a staple since 1993 and rebranded under Colbert in 2015, struggled to attract viewers in a streaming‑dominated market. Replacing it with syndicated reruns allows CBS to slash expenses while keeping a comedy‑focused late‑night lineup.

Stephen Colbert will bow out on May 21, after which he plans to collaborate with director Peter Jackson on a new “Lord of the Rings” movie. The shift underscores a broader industry trend of networks swapping expensive original productions for lower‑cost syndicated fare. CBS now fills two hours of prime late‑night time with Allen Media Group content, tightening its profit margins.