David Letterman speaks out on CBS' 'Late Show' replacement

David Letterman is weighing in on the future of his old CBS time slot.

In a video on his YouTube channel posted April 10, the comedian shared his reaction to CBS announcing it will replace Stephen Colbert's "Late Show," which Letterman previously hosted, with Byron Allen's "Comics Unleashed."

The network is leasing the time slot to Allen after previously saying that Colbert's show is being canceled for financial reasons.

Letterman explained in the video why CBS would choose "Comics Unleashed" as a replacement for "The Late Show."

"They don't want to spend any money," he said. "So they're going to make money. They charge Byron Allen some reasonable price. He sells all the advertising for his 'Comics Unleashed.'"

"Comics Unleashed" is a talk show hosted by Allen featuring a rotating series of comedians performing their material in a panel format. Though Letterman has expressed his displeasure with the cancellation of "The Late Show," he argued in his video that "Comics Unleashed" is a "pretty good idea" for a show.

Allen has acknowledged the low cost of "Comics Unleashed" is a major part of the appeal for CBS, which has already been airing the show after Colbert's "Late Show."

"It's not cheaper," he told The Los Angeles Times last August. "It's zero."

Allen has also said he cited the need to cut costs when he pitched CBS on running "Comics Unleashed" in the time slot previously occupied by James Corden's "The Late Late Show."

"My whole thing was, 'Hey, we have a big opportunity here,'" Allen said at New York's Advertising Week in 2025, according to Variety. "'Why would you spend $35 million on a television show at that hour? Let me provide you the show, and I will happily produce the show, and you can save that 35, 40 million, whatever it is, and put it elsewhere.' So CBS said, 'This makes it makes sense.'"

Letterman hosted "The Late Show" on CBS from 1993 to 2015, when Colbert took over as host. CBS canceled the show in July 2025 and revealed on April 6 that "Comics Unleashed" will take over the time slot.

The last episode of "The Late Show" is scheduled for May 21. "Funny You Should Ask," another show produced by Allen, will air after "Comics Unleashed."

Allen previously said in a statement that he appreciates "CBS' confidence in me by picking up our two-hour comedy block of 'Comics Unleashed' and 'Funny You Should Ask,' because the world can never have enough laughter."