Byron Allen on replacing Colbert, political comedy and Black ownership

May 22, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Byron Allen is replacing Stephen Colbert’s late-night slot on CBS with Comics Unleashed, a show he created 20 years ago. But he insists he is not trying to capture Colbert’s audience or replicate the kind of political comedy that defined that time period. “I’m not looking at like I’m taking his slot,” Allen says. “I’m a 65-year-old overnight sensation.” In a wide-ranging interview with NPR’s Elsa Chang, Allen explains his business logic, his refusal to make the show political, and his broader ambition to build the world’s largest media company as a Black owner who controls how Black people are depicted on screen.

A 20-year-old show that refuses to change

Allen created Comics Unleashed in 2006 as a response to what he saw as a lack of opportunity for comedians on late-night talk shows. “I said to my fellow comedians, don’t be bitter, be better,” he recalls. The show’s format is simple: only comedians appear, they do not plug anything, and they are instructed to avoid politics, racism, sexism, and homophobia. “Just clean comedy,” Allen says. When Chang presses him on whether he will do anything different now that he has the 11:35 p.m. slot, his answer is blunt: “Absolutely not.”

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What you'll learn

1 (01:34) **Byron Allen on Replacing Colbert & The Business of Comedy** - NPR's Elsa Chang interviews Byron Allen about his new late-night slot on CBS and his broader media strategy.
2 (04:47) **The Origin Story of "Comics Unleashed"** - Allen explains why he created the show 20 years ago as a platform for comedians who felt shut out of late night.
3 (08:43) **Confronting the Critics & The "Boring, Toothless Comedy" Charge** - Allen responds directly to poor reviews and the accusation that his non-political comedy is safe and bland.
4 (10:57) **The Political Comedy Debate: Is This a Safe Slot for CBS?** - The central conflict: Chang presses Allen on whether CBS chose him because his show avoids political risk.
5 (13:08) **The Numbers That Won the Slot** - Allen presents the hard data that secured the deal, framing it as a business decision, not a creative one.
6 (15:24) **The Re-Run Advantage: Why Non-Political Comedy Wins** - Allen explains the business logic behind avoiding topical humor.
7 (17:48) **The Ultimate Leverage: "Enjoy the $150 Million I Save You"** - Allen reveals his negotiating power and what he would do if CBS ever tried to censor him.

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Show Notes

Byron Allen, the media mogul and former stand-up comedian, is gearing up for his latest venture: bringing his show Comics Unleashed to the CBS time slot long held by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

In this episode of NPR’s Newsmakers, Allen sat down with NPR’s Ailsa Chang ahead of his debut episode. He discussed his plans for Comics Unleashed in its new prime late night slot, why he thinks there’s still more than enough political comedy after the cancellation of Colbert, and why it’s important for Black Americans to own and produce media.

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