After Midnight, stylized as @fter midnight or abbreviated @m and alternatively known as After Midnight with Taylor Tomlinson, is an American late-night comedy panel game show hosted by Taylor Tomlinson and executive produced by Stephen Colbert via his company Spartina Productions, Henry R. Muñoz III via his comedy studio Funny or Die, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert executive producer Tom Purcell. The program premiered on CBS at 12:37 am ET on January 17, 2024, in the time slot previously held by The Late Late Show with next day streaming on Paramount+.[1][2] It is a reboot of @midnight, which ran from 2013 to 2017 on sister cable network Comedy Central.[3][4][5] Upon its debut, it received generally positive reviews.[6][7][8]
| After Midnight | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Based on | |
| Developed by |
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| Written by | Jo Firestone |
| Directed by | Sharon Everitt |
| Presented by | Taylor Tomlinson |
| Announcer | Laura Peek (season 2) |
| Composer | Cory Wong |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 106 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Production locations | Paramount Studios Stage 30 Los Angeles, California |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | January 17, 2024 – present |
| Related | |
| @midnight | |
Production
edit@midnight with Chris Hardwick, often shortened to @midnight, is an American late night panel game show hosted by Chris Hardwick that ran from October 21, 2013, to August 4, 2017, on Comedy Central. 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.[9] Pre-production of the series was halted due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes.[10]
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.[11] 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.[12]
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.[13]
The show airs Mondays through Thursdays; a special football-themed episode aired on Super Bowl Sunday after CBS's coverage of Super Bowl LVIII,[14] complete with a "halftime show" musical performance by Marc Rebillet.[15]
On June 11, 2024, CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach announced that the network had renewed After Midnight for a second season through 2025.[16][17] Season 2 premiered on September 3, 2024,[18] 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.
Format
editAs 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".[19] 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.[20] 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; Olympic gymnast Fred Richard, and Tracker star Justin Hartley.
Prizes and punishments
editUnlike @midnight, where contestants played to "win the Internet", the winner 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.
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 the loser.
The haunted dolls
editOne 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.
References
edit- ^ White, Peter (January 4, 2024). "'After Midnight' With Taylor Tomlinson Lands CBS Premiere Date". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
- ^ del Rosario, Alexandra (November 1, 2023). "Taylor Tomlinson to host 'After Midnight' on CBS, filling 'Late Late Show' slot". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ Madarang, Charisma (November 2, 2023). "Taylor Tomlinson to Host CBS' 'After Midnight,' Produced by Stephen Colbert". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ Steinberg, Brian (November 1, 2023). "'After Midnight,' CBS' New Late-Night Entry Produced by Stephen Colbert, to Debut in 2024". Variety. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ Squires, Bethy (November 1, 2023). "Taylor Tomlinson to Host After Midnight, After Midnight". Vulture. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ Pandya, Hershal (January 17, 2024). "After Midnight Desperately Wants to Make the Internet Fun". Vulture. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Lawler, Kelly (January 17, 2024). "Late-night host Taylor Tomlinson tries something new with 'After Midnight.' It's just OK". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Horton, Adrian (January 17, 2024). "Taylor Tomlinson: can the standup comedian shake up late-night TV?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie; White, Peter (February 7, 2023). "'The Late Late Show With James Corden' To Be Replaced With '@midnight' Reboot Exec Produced By Stephen Colbert On CBS". Deadline. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- ^ White, Peter (June 14, 2023). "CBS Boss George Cheeks Opens Up About @midnight Reboot: "12:30am Is Ripe For Reinvention"". Deadline. Archived from the original on June 28, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
- ^ White, Peter (November 1, 2023). "'After Midnight': CBS Sets Showrunners & Team For 'The Late Late Show With James Corden' Replacement". Deadline. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ Porter, Rick (November 1, 2023). "CBS' 'Late Late Show' Replacement 'After Midnight' Names Host, Creative Team". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ White, Peter (November 1, 2023). "Taylor Tomlinson To Host CBS' 'After Midnight'". Deadline. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ White, Peter (January 21, 2024). "'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' & 'After Midnight' To Air On Super Bowl Sunday". Deadline. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ Watch After Midnight: Marc Rebillet Performs Epic Live Halftime Show - Full show on CBS. February 11, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024 – via CBS.
- ^ White, Peter (June 11, 2024). "'After Midnight' With Taylor Tomlinson Renewed For Season 2 At CBS". Deadline. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ Porter, Rick (June 11, 2024). "'After Midnight' Scores Season 2 Renewal at CBS". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ Martinez, Kelly (August 5, 2024). "'After Midnight' Season 2 Premieres September 3". LateNighter. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ "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". CBS. February 14, 2024.
- ^ Riccardo, Nick (May 21, 2024). "After Midnight Tinkers With Format, Adds Monologue". LateNighter. Retrieved June 22, 2024.