‘After Midnight’: CBS Sets Showrunners & Team For ‘The Late Late Show With James Corden’ Replacement

Peter White
·3 min read
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CBS is making its latest moves in late-night.

The network has set the showrunners, head writer and exec producing team for After Midnight, its reboot of Comedy Central series @midnight, that will replace The Late Late Show with James Corden.

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It comes as the series, which is set to air in the 12:30am slot in early 2024, is narrowing down the field for a host. We hear that Taylor Tomlinson, X Mayo and Ricky Velez are the three in contention and the trio did a test shoot last Wednesday. A decision is expected soon. CBS declined to comment on the host situation.

Jack Martin, who was the showrunner of all four seasons of Comedy Central’s @midnight, which originally ran between 2013 and 2017, will serve as co-showrunner alongside Eric Pierce, who has exec produced series including CBS’ The Challenge: USA and The Wheel.

The duo will exec produce alongside Stephen Colbert, Carrie Byalick, president of Colbert’s Spartina Industries, Tom Purcell, an exec producer on The Late Show, Colbert’s wife Evelyn McGee Colbert and his manager James Dixon of Dixon Talent as well as Joe Farrell, Mike Farah, Whitney Hodack and Henry R. Muñoz III from Funny Or Die and Jason U. Nadler of Serious Business, who co-created @midnight, is also an executive producer.

Chris Hardwick, who hosted the show, is not involved.

Comedian Jo Firestone, a former writer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Ziwe, will serve as head writer and co-exec producer.

Deadline revealed that a reboot of @midnight was to replace The Late Late Show following Corden’s departure back in February, giving Colbert another hour to be involved with. It is produced by his Spartina Industries, CBS Studios and Funny or Die.

Ricky Velez is a comedian who has starred in Pete Davidson projects including Peacock series Bupkis and The King of Staten Island and released his own HBO special in 2021; X Mayo is a former writer on The Daily Show and has starred in series including American Auto; Taylor Tomlinson is a rising stand-up who has released Netflix specials including Quarter-Life Crisis and Look At You.  

“We are thrilled to be reunited with our friends at Funny Or Die,” said Stephen Colbert. “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.”

“Funny Or Die is proud to partner once again with CBS Studios, Spartina Industries and our longtime friend and collaborator Stephen Colbert,” added 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.”

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