With the recent conclusion of “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on Thursday night, the landscape of late-night television faces uncertainty. Although CBS’s decision to cancel the show raises eyebrows, it presents an opportunity for networks to reevaluate the future of late-night programming.
The advent of online videos, social media, and direct fan engagement has rendered traditional late-night TV increasingly obsolete.
Celebrities now share exclusive content on platforms like Instagram long before it makes its way to late-night talk shows. This shift towards personal branding reduces the likelihood of spontaneous, viral moments on these programs. Moreover, viewership for shows airing post-local news has significantly dwindled over the past decade.
As a response to Stephen Colbert’s show’s cancellation, here are five proposed changes for the evolution of late-night television.
Criticism was aimed at CBS’s strategy to fill Colbert’s 11:35 p.m. slot with Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen, a departure from traditional late-night formats. However, economic considerations often outweigh tradition, and Allen’s show, which has thrived in syndication and is cost-effective, boasts the right attributes for success.
1. Try New Things In Late Night
Applause is due to CBS for breaking conventions once more, even after the swift cancellation of Taylor Tomlinson’s engaging yet inconsistent After Midnight, which succeeded James Corden’s Late Late Show in 2024. The concept was promising, though flawed in execution—encouraging continued innovation and perseverance.
Kudos to CBS for again breaking the mold following the relatively quick cancellation of Taylor Tomlinson’s fun but rarely compelling After Midnight, which replaced James Corden’s Late Late Show in 2024. Right idea, wrong execution—so try, try again.
3. Find Late Night Hosts Who Were Born After 1990
Late-night is dominated by old guys. That’s not exactly news, but despite it being pointed out time and time again, it doesn’t change. Networks need to start looking at younger talent if they want to keep any of the younger audiences around—most of them already use their phones, not their TVs, at night, but installing a YouTube star or young up-and-coming comic could bring them back.
4. Put More Time Into Late Night Interviews
As an alum of Saturday Night Live, Jimmy Fallon has long embraced goofy games and silly song sendups, and he gets some mileage out of those gimmicks. But late-night TV used to be better known for interviews that actually meant something. Colbert and Kimmel excel in that area due to their ability to empathize and discuss issues of substance. Heartfelt moments can cut through the clutter on Reels and YouTube and actually draw new viewers to an old format.
5. Make Late Night Must-See TV
Remember when still-green Tonight Show host Jay Leno tried to interview the stars of Cheers after the show’s series finale—only they were very, very drunk? It was unscripted and it was incredibly memorable, still talked about 30+ years later. By piggybacking on live events or big moments, late night could still do the same.
