Taylor Tomlinson is the latest late-night host to walk away from network TV, turning down a third season of After Midnight on CBS. She joins Trevor Noah, Conan O’Brien, and other big names who have left traditional media to build their own digital empires. With YouTube, TikTok, and podcasts pulling in millions, the question isn’t just whether networks can adapt—but whether they can compete at all.
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00:00The creator economy is exploding, and traditional networks are scrambling to keep up.
00:06The latest proof?
00:07A major shake-up in the late-night world that signals a much bigger shift in entertainment.
00:12Taylor Tomlinson, for example, the stand-up comedian hosted CBS's After Midnight for
00:17two seasons.
00:18But now, despite the backing of Stephen Colbert and the offer of a third season, she's walking
00:23away.
00:24And Tomlinson isn't alone.
00:26Other celebrities have been ditching traditional media to pursue online content.
00:30Former Daily Show host Trevor Noah left late-night back in December of 2022, and has since started
00:36releasing his own podcast, What Now With Trevor Noah.
00:39Fellow late-night host Conan O'Brien also started a podcast, Conan O'Brien Needs a
00:44Friend, after ending a decades-long career on major network television.
00:49Meanwhile, YouTube, TikTok, and even platforms like X have become the go-to spaces for Gen Z
00:54and millennials looking for entertainment.
00:57Just look at figures like Mr. Beast, Logan Paul, or Emma Chamberlain, who've turned
01:01their personal brands into media empires, without the backing of a major network.
01:06The reality is, younger audiences don't want to wait for a polished, scripted show when
01:12they can get direct, unfiltered, and real-time engagement from their favorite creators.
01:16At the same time, influencers are realizing they don't need legacy media to make it big.
01:21With ad revenue, brand deals, and independent production companies, many top creators are
01:26making more money and have more creative freedom than they ever would under a network contract.
01:32As the battle for audience attention heats up, the question isn't just whether networks
01:36can adapt, but whether they can compete at all.