Why is the TV show "After Midnight" ending?
The reason After Midnight is ending isn’t due to low ratings or network disinterest — it’s all about Taylor Tomlinson choosing to walk away.
🎤 Why the show is ending
Taylor Tomlinson announced that she’s stepping away from hosting After Midnight to return to her first passion: full-time stand-up comedy and touring. Even though CBS had quietly renewed the show for a third season, she felt it wasn’t sustainable alongside her comedy career (justjared.com). In her words:
“Hosting After Midnight has genuinely been the experience of a lifetime… I knew I had to return to my first passion and return to stand‑up touring full‑time.” (justjared.com)
Once she decided to leave, CBS chose not to recast the host. Instead, they opted to end the series after two seasons and will replace it in the late-night lineup with reruns of Comics Unleashed starting this fall (thewrap.com).
Network & industry reaction
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CBS is abandoning the 12:30 a.m. time‑slot entirely, marking the first time in decades they won’t air original programming in that window (localnewstalk.net).
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Stephen Colbert, an executive producer, praised Tomlinson’s decision and respected her choice to focus on stand-up (tvseriesfinale.com).
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Seth Meyers lamented the loss of the show as a unique late-night comedy platform, noting it was canceled only because Tomlinson left, not due to performance (latenighter.com).
Crew reactions
According to reports, the production crew was surprised and disappointed when the show wrapped. Many assumed it would continue into a third season, but Tomlinson’s exit left them “blindsided,” even though most understood her decision (the-sun.com).
TL;DR
| Reason for ending | Details |
|---|---|
| Host departure | Tomlinson left to focus on stand-up touring |
| Third season pulled | CBS canceled plans for renewal after her exit |
| Time-slot abandoned | 12:30 a.m. slot now filled with Comics Unleashed reruns |
| Industry reaction | Colbert respectful, Meyers regretful, crew surprised but understanding |
So in short: the show is ending because the host left, not because it failed — CBS knew it had another season lined up, but chose to conclude rather than recast. If you’re a fan of Taylor’s stand-up, though, great news — she’ll likely be hitting the road or releasing fresh comedy specials outside of the late-night talk format.
Want info on her upcoming tour or where to catch her next? Just let me know!