Comedian Taylor Tomlinson is set to break new ground as she steps into the role of hosting her own late-night show on CBS, making her the sole female late-night host in the United States.
Her show, “After Midnight,” is slated to premiere next year and will air after “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” filling the void left by James Corden’s departure.
At just 29 years old, Tomlinson is set to become the youngest late-night host by a considerable margin. She will join the ranks of established late-night hosts such as NBC’s Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and Jimmy Kimmel at ABC. Her role will be filling the slot previously occupied by James Corden on “The Late Late Show,” who departed earlier this year.
Taylor Tomlinson’s journey to this groundbreaking role has been marked by her success in the comedy world. She gained significant popularity through her Netflix stand-up specials, “Quarter Life Crisis” and “Look at You.” Additionally, her presence on social media platforms, especially TikTok, has played a crucial role in her rise to prominence.
However, her comedic journey began earlier as a finalist on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” back in 2015. Her talent was further recognised when Variety listed her among the top 10 comics to watch, following her performances at the Just for Laughs festival in 2019.
Colbert enthusiastically announced the forthcoming show, expressing the need for someone who is fun, likeable, youthful, in touch with online trends, and available for nightly hosting.
Taylor Tomlinson’s introduction to her new role was an on-screen revelation by Colbert during a Zoom call earlier this week, with Tomlinson humorously remarking that she had never had a real job.
The appointment of Taylor Tomlinson as a late-night host is notable, as it has been a challenge to find female network comedy television hosts in the United States in recent years. Lilly Singh’s brief tenure as Carson Daly’s replacement on NBC from 2019 to 2021 is a rare example in this regard. Unfortunately, her show was subsequently taken off the air.