On Tuesday night CBS strategically chose a subtle debut for its latest late night endeavor After Midnight unveiling the show with minimal fanfare in the 12:37 a.m timeslot immediately following The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The hosting duties are shouldered by comedian Taylor Tomlinson and the show is filmed on the iconic Paramount lot in Hollywood.
This low key approach to the premiere was a deliberate decision carefully designed to provide the show with the space it needs to find its unique voice in the ensuing weeks. The timing aligns with the period leading up to the Super Bowl and the anticipated return of first run scripted series in February.
This calculated move aims to position After Midnight to capture the attention of a larger audience when more viewers are expected to return to broadcast networks.In the inaugural episode Taylor Tomlinson humorously introduced the premise of After Midnight describing it as a realm where three comedians enter only one emerges victorious and the remaining two inevitably regret their participation.
With a playful nod to the digital age she expressed the show’s mission of transforming internet content into an entertaining experience. Tomlinson concluded the introduction by presenting the comedians with a whimsical yet coveted prize the grand approval of her father a rarity but in her jesting words winnable.
The carefully crafted blend of humor and strategy sets the stage for After Midnight to navigate the competitive late night landscape and carve out its own niche.In the inaugural episode After Midnight featured a dynamic trio of comedians, namely Whitney Cummings, Aparna Nancherla, and Kurt Braunohler, as the first round of participants in the game like format.
While the show may give off the appearance of a traditional game show its unique twist lies in the random assignment of points by Taylor Tomlinson the host based on the impromptu and humorous responses from the panelists. This departure from a conventional scoring system adds an element of unpredictability and spontaneity to the comedic proceedings.
Structured like a game show but with a delightful unpredictability After Midnight delves into comedic banter about various facets of pop culture current headlines and what Tomlinson playfully dubs as the dumbest things on the internet. The show commenced with a segment titled Group Chat where Tomlinson curated trending stories for the panelists to riff on setting the stage for lively and entertaining exchanges.
This unique blend of a game show appearance and the freespirited assignment of points adds an extra layer of humor and unpredictability to After Midnight creating an engaging and entertaining viewing experience for audiences exploring the comedic landscape of pop culture and internet absurdities.In the inaugural episode After Midnight featured a dynamic trio of comedians namely Whitney Cummings, Aparna Nancherla and Kurt Braunohler as the first round of participants in the game like format.
While the show may give off the appearance of a traditional game show its unique twist lies in the random assignment of points by Taylor Tomlinson the host based on the impromptu and humorous responses from the panelists. This departure from a conventional scoring system adds an element of unpredictability and spontaneity to the comedic proceedings.Structured like a game show but with a delightful unpredictability.
After Midnight delves into comedic banter about various facets of pop culture current headlines and what Tomlinson playfully dubs as the dumbest things on the internet. The show commenced with a segment titled “Group Chat where Tomlinson curated trending stories for the panelists to riff on setting the stage for lively and entertaining exchanges.
This unique blend of a game show appearance and the free spirited assignment of points adds an extra layer of humor and unpredictability to After Midnight creating an engaging and entertaining viewing experience for audiences exploring the comedic landscape of pop culture and internet absurdities.
The premiere episode of After Midnight was recorded earlier on Tuesday a fact humorously confirmed by Taylor Tomlinson who cheekily referred to Monday night’s Emmy Awards. Joking about the accessibility of the Emmys, she stated, They’ll invite anyone. Did you guys watch the Emmys? The ensuing silence prompted Tomlinson to quip We don’t care here at CBS if you watched it! I was just making sure.
So nobody watched the Emmys? TV’s dead? Great.Kurt Braunohler added a witty remark suggesting This will do well on the internet! To the ironic nature of the show’s format Tomlinson pondered the hypothetical Emmy categories for After Midnight describing
It as a talk show without conversation a game show with fake points and a vanity project that somehow makes her look worse. Braunohler humorously buzzed in suggesting the show could win the award for Best Female late night host! Sorry only female late night host.The humor continued with the Hashtag segment, where comedians were tasked with creating lesser known TV shows leading to imaginative titles such as Bottom Chef and NCIS Modesto.
The lighthearted banter and playful jabs at the show’s unconventional nature added an extra layer of amusement to the premiere.The episode featured a variety of entertaining segments including Tik Chopped where Tomlinson and the panelists humorously riffed on cringe-worthy TikTok cooking videos. In the game What I Can’t Live About comedians described the necessity of random products.
Suburban Dictionary explored real slang like bussin challenging the comedians to use the term in a sentence.The segment To Smash or Not to Smash presented amusing dilemmas forcing comedians to choose between characters like Mario and Luigi or Patrick Star and Sandy Cheeks. Gritty or the Quaker Oats mascot added a quirky touch to the selection process.
The elimination game Is This Still Cool? had comedians deliberating on the continued coolness of animal prints with Kurt Braunohler suggesting Yes but the lesser-known animals. Aparna Nancherla cleverly chimed in Yes because with climate change it will be good to remember what they look like. Whitney Cummings injected humor stating As an aspiring cougar I need animal print to be in style. And if you don’t agree you’re not a feminist.
The diverse and humorously inventive segments showcased the playful and witty atmosphere of After Midnight.Whitney Cummings faced elimination on the show and was tasked with apologizing for her loss. In the For the Win segment Kurt Braunohler and Aparna Nancherla created new holidays with Nancherla’s Ashley Wednesday winning the audience vote.As the show progressed the energy increased, becoming punchier and edgier marked by the occasional bleeps as the comedians pushed the boundaries.
Whitney Cummings in particular, tested the limits with her jokes prompting Taylor Tomlinson to humorously ask if she wanted to be in that episode.Upcoming guests on After Midnight include Paul F Tompkins, Sophie Buddle and Carl Tart on Wednesday followed by Max Greenfield, Ike Barinholtz, and Robby Hoffman on Thursday.
The late-night slot was previously held by The Late Late Show with James Corden.After Midnight is inspired by @midnight a panel series that followed The Daily Show” and The Colbert Report from October 2013 to August 2017 hosted by Chris Hardwick. Taylor Tomlinson who secured a deal with Netflix for her next two stand-up specials is also working on a film based on her upbringing for Village Roadshow Pictures set to premiere in 2024.
Her 2020 stand-up special Quarter Life Crisis contributed to her rising stardom.Jack Martin the showrunner for all four seasons of @midnight joins forces with Eric Pierce as co-showrunners and executive producers for “After Midnight. Comedian and writer Jo Firestone takes on the roles of co-executive producer and head writer with Alexx Wells also serving as co-executive producer.
The production of After Midnight is a collaborative effort with CBS Studios teaming up with Stephen Colbert’s Spartina Industries and Funny Or Die. The extensive list of executive producers includes Carrie Byalick, Stephen Colbert, Evelyn McGee Colbert, James Dixon, Tom Purcell, Whitney Hodack, Mike Farah, Joe Farrell, Henry R. Munoz, and Jason U. Nadler along with showrunners Jack Martin and Eric Pierce. This diverse team contributes to the creative and production aspects of the show bringing their expertise to the late night series.
