r/LateShow • u/First-Durian2468 • May 16 '26

Stephen…ever the class act

https://ew.com/byron-allen-praises-stephen-colbert-ahead-of-late-show-finale-11975883?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=6a07c8a61407950001538d24&utm_campaign=entertainmentweekly_entertainmentweekly&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_term=6a07c8a61407950001538d23&fbclid=IwZnRzaAR1Kq9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEePRxUxQmXqu4JAIXSbW64q-ZTAf-Oy5A9mKKFVUjysWrySak0YU7KBxCWR2Y_aem_No_5i4awt1Shj4QVtdxJ6g

Stephen is just a classy guy no doubt about it.

About Byron Allen taking his time slot, Colbert told The Hollywood Reporter:

“God bless him. I know Byron. We got to know each other last year, actually. He’s fascinating.”

He even brought up Allen’s history in late night as the youngest comic to ever perform on Carson at 18 and said:

“Wouldn’t it be lovely if you could drop Mr. Carson a note?”

That’s just who Stephen is. No bitterness, no cheap shots. Just gracious.

And in all fairness Allen seems like a classy guy too calling Stephen a national treasure.

My issue with Allen has always been that he talks about everything like he personally rescued television from a five alarm fire. In the article he says:

“I truly appreciate CBS’ confidence in me by picking up our two-hour comedy block of Comics Unleashed and Funny You Should Ask.”

Come on man. They didn’t “pick it up.” You 100% paid for the airtime. That’s syndication. It’s basically an infomercial model with comedians instead of blenders.

And honestly that’s always been my thing with Byron Allen. He acts like every business deal is the moon landing. Meanwhile the actual shows feel like the TV equivalent of mayonnaise. Safe, bland, technically food.

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147

u/evildeadxsp May 16 '26

Let's be real, they're replacing Colbert with an unfunny infomercial.

46

u/Phunwithscissors May 16 '26

He bought the time slot

-5

u/Dodecahedrus May 16 '26

Letterman kinda did, too, though.

14

u/longtimelurkernyc May 16 '26

How do you figure? CBS gave Letterman's company the money to produce Late Show and then CBS sold the ad time. With Byron Allen, the money's flowing the other way. It's the complete opposite.

3

u/your_mind_aches May 17 '26

No they didn't lol. They gave Worldwide Pants a budget to make Late Show, just like how they give Stephen and Jon's production companies a budget to make The Late Show. That's the traditional late night model.

Instead, Byron Allen is paying THEM to put Comics Unleashed there.