After Midnight (TV series)

The program is a revival of @midnight, which ran from October 21, 2013, to August 4, 2017, on Comedy Central and was hosted by Chris Hardwick. In February 2023, it was reported that Comedy Central's current sister broadcast network, CBS, was considering a revival of @midnight to serve as a replacement for The Late Late Show after the end of James Corden's tenure.{{Cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |last2=White |first2=Peter |date=February 7, 2023 |title='The Late Late Show With James Corden' To Be Replaced With '@midnight' Reboot Exec Produced By Stephen Colbert On CBS |url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/the-late-late-show-with-james-corden-replaced-at-cbs-with-midnight-1235252659/ |access-date=February 7, 2023 |website=Deadline |archive-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208003916/https://deadline.com/2023/02/the-late-late-show-with-james-corden-replaced-at-cbs-with-midnight-1235252659/ |url-status=live }} Pre-production of the series was halted due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2023-06-14 |title=CBS Boss George Cheeks Opens Up About @midnight Reboot: "12:30am Is Ripe For Reinvention" |url=https://deadline.com/2023/06/cbs-george-cheeks-midnight-reboot-1230am-is-ripe-for-reinvention-1235416719/ |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=June 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628160748/https://deadline.com/2023/06/cbs-george-cheeks-midnight-reboot-1230am-is-ripe-for-reinvention-1235416719/ |url-status=live }}

On November 1, 2023, CBS announced the revival under the title After Midnight for a premiere in early 2024, with Jack Martin retained as showrunner alongside Eric Pierce.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2023-11-01 |title='After Midnight': CBS Sets Showrunners & Team For 'The Late Late Show With James Corden' Replacement |url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/after-midnight-cbs-showrunners-1235589897/ |access-date=2023-11-02 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102111630/https://deadline.com/2023/11/after-midnight-cbs-showrunners-1235589897/ |url-status=live }} The creative team is also composed of comedian Jo Firestone as head writer, with Spartina Productions' Carrie Byalick and Evelyn McGee Colbert, James Dixon, Tom Purcell, Funny or Die's Joe Farrell, Mike Farah, Whitney Hodack, Henry R. Muñoz III, and @midnight co-creator Jason U. Nadler serving as executive producers.{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=November 1, 2023 |title=CBS' 'Late Late Show' Replacement 'After Midnight' Names Host, Creative Team |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/cbs-at-midnight-reboot-showrunners-head-writer-1235634557/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102005740/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/cbs-at-midnight-reboot-showrunners-head-writer-1235634557/ |url-status=live }}

On that night's episode of The Late Show, Colbert subsequently revealed stand-up comedian Taylor Tomlinson as the show's new host. She was chosen after auditioning alongside comedians Ricky Velez and X Mayo.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Taylor Tomlinson To Host CBS' 'After Midnight' |url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/taylor-tomlinson-after-midnight-1235590385/ |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=Deadline |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102012617/https://deadline.com/2023/11/taylor-tomlinson-after-midnight-1235590385/ |url-status=live }}

The show airs Mondays through Thursdays; a special football-themed episode aired on Super Bowl Sunday after CBS's coverage of Super Bowl LVIII,{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=January 21, 2024 |title='The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' & 'After Midnight' To Air On Super Bowl Sunday |url=https://deadline.com/2024/01/the-late-show-after-midnight-super-bowl-sunday-1235803842/ |access-date=June 11, 2024 |website=Deadline}} complete with a "halftime show" musical performance by Marc Rebillet.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.cbs.com/shows/video/8Gk0VMa_FHVC_QNBXvzQ7KnsoMX9tXNw/ |title=Watch After Midnight: Marc Rebillet Performs Epic Live Halftime Show - Full show on CBS |date=February 11, 2024 |access-date=June 11, 2024 |via=CBS}}

On June 11, 2024, CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach announced that the network had renewed After Midnight for a second season through 2025.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=June 11, 2024 |title='After Midnight' With Taylor Tomlinson Renewed For Season 2 At CBS |url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/after-midnight-taylor-tomlinson-renewed-season-2-cbs-1235969503/ |access-date=June 11, 2024 |website=Deadline}}{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=June 11, 2024 |title='After Midnight' Scores Season 2 Renewal at CBS |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/after-midnight-renewed-season-2-cbs-1235919905/ |access-date=June 11, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} Season 2 premiered on September 3, 2024,{{Cite web |last=Martinez |first=Kelly |date=2024-08-05 |title='After Midnight' Season 2 Premieres September 3 |url=https://latenighter.com/news/taylor-tomlinson-after-midnight-season-2-premiere-date/ |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=LateNighter |language=en-US}} and introduced a new title sequence and added announcer Laura Peek (who also appeared as a contestant in September 2024) as well as a set including a new couch, chair, coffee table, end table, and rug for The Talk Show Portion (which soon morphs into "The Couch Game"), that now takes up the entire second or third act. Also new in season 2 is a final closing segment after the winner is picked in the previous act.

On January 8, 2025, it was announced that After Midnight would suspend production due to the wildfires in the Southern California region and the city of Los Angeles, where the Paramount Studios, the filming spot for the show, were located.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=January 8, 2025 |title='The Price Is Right', 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' & 'After Midnight' Pause Tapings Amid L.A. Fires |url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/the-price-is-right-jimmy-kimmel-live-after-midnight-pause-tapings-la-fires-1236251406/ |access-date=January 9, 2025 |website=Deadline}} The show resumed broadcasting on January 22.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=January 22, 2025 |title='After Midnight' With Taylor Tomlinson Returns After L.A. Wildfires: "It's Good To Be Back On TV Now That Our City Is Just Barely On Fire" |url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/after-midnight-taylor-tomlinson-returns-la-wildfires-1236263627/ |access-date=January 22, 2025 |website=Deadline}}

On March 26, 2025, CBS announced that After Midnight would end after two seasons, after Tomlinson announced her intent to resign as host to return to her stand-up career. CBS had initially renewed the series for a third season before Tomlinson's resignation.{{cite web|last=Porter|first=Rick|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/after-midnight-ending-after-2-seasons-cbs-1236173309/|title='After Midnight' Ending After Two Seasons on CBS|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 26, 2025|access-date=March 29, 2025}} CBS has opted not to air another original program in the time slot, which will most likely be given back to affiliates after the series finale airs in June.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=March 26, 2025 |title=‘After Midnight’ Canceled After Two Seasons On CBS; Network Will Stop Programming 12:30am Slot |url=https://deadline.com/2025/03/after-midnight-canceled-cbs-taylor-tomlinson-1236351453/ |access-date=March 26, 2025 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}

{{See also|@midnight#Format}}

As with the original series, each episode features a panel of three celebrity guests as contestants, usually stand-up comedians or comedy podcast hosts and sometimes comedic actors; the 2024 Valentine's Day episode featured three "power couples".{{cite web | url=https://www.cbs.com/shows/video/MgwEM3hHEYx3m1rrdwEvauE0JnCw_pEu/ | title=Watch After Midnight Season 1 Episode 19: 2/14/24 (Will Miles, Giulia Rozzi, Brian McElhaney, Nick Kocher, Anna Seregina, Chris Thayer) - Full show on CBS | website=CBS | date=14 February 2024 }} The contestants participate in topical segments related to popular culture and social media to earn points from the host for responses and punch lines. In addition to new games, the series retains some of the core segments from @midnight, including the opening segment, formerly titled "Group Chat" ("Rapid Refresh" on @midnight), a segment discussing recent news headlines and viral videos; "Hashtag Wars", in which the contestants come up with answers for a fictional hashtag as a parody of a currently trending topic (now done as an elimination game); and "For the Win" (rebranded "The Ultimate Challenge" in season 2), a final challenge played between the top two scorers.

A new recurring segment, "The Talk Show Portion", was later added, as a satire and commentary upon viewers who thought that After Midnight would be a traditional late-night talk show. Beginning May 20, 2024, the show opened with Tomlinson delivering a monologue similar to those of other network late night shows.{{Cite web |last=Riccardo |first=Nick |date=2024-05-21 |title=After Midnight Tinkers With Format, Adds Monologue |url=https://latenighter.com/news/after-midnight-tinkers-with-format-adds-monologue/ |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=LateNighter |language=en-US}} Occasionally, a fourth guest appears, but does not compete, including Survivor host Jeff Probst, social media influencer Drew Afualo, actresses Tatyana Ali, June Squibb and Rebecca Romijn (notably joining an episode in which her husband Jerry O'Connell, participated); Olympic gymnast Fred Richard, and Tracker star Justin Hartley.

Unlike @midnight, where contestants played to "win the Internet", the winner typically receives a gag prize, which may be tangible or imaginary (early episodes featured old ketchup packets from Tomlinson's refrigerator, a damaged office chair, Tomlinson's father's approval, and an extra year of life). Some later prizes were more valuable, such as a pair of boxer shorts signed by Tom Brady, $65 in cash, and a pair of night vision goggles; other episodes have awarded desirable food items such as a cooked rotisserie chicken or a basket of doughnuts and beer.

In most episodes, the player in last place is subjected to a humorous punishment such as being forced to give an apology speech or being sent to "horny jail". As a prank on April Fools' Day 2024, the highest scoring contestant was actually eliminated.

One prize, an allegedly haunted doll, was originally a gift to Tomlinson from her brother; Tomlinson says the doll is supposed to be Frank Morgan's version of the title character from The Wizard of Oz but looks more like author Mark Twain. The doll has become a running gag, appearing multiple times due to winners returning it. While the original doll was given to Marcella Arguello as a consolation prize, a fan later sent in an identical doll, claiming it was the first one's twin brother. Arguello brought the doll with her on a subsequent appearance, where fellow contestant Sarah Tiana said it looked more like former president John Adams.

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.cbs.com/shows/after-midnight/}}
• {{IMDb title|id=30787693}}

{{CBSNetwork Shows (current and upcoming)}}

{{Late night television in the United States}}

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Category:CBS game shows

Category:CBS late-night programming

Category:American panel games

Category:2020s American late-night television series

Category:2020s American comedy game shows

Category:2024 American television series debuts

Category:Television series by CBS Studios

Category:Television series by Funny or Die

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Category:Improvisational television series

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Category:Television series about social media

Category:Television series by Spartina Productions