Taylor Tomlinson has detailed the grueling physical burnout and an emotional phone call with Stephen Colbert that left her shaking with shame, following her decision to step down from CBS late-night game show After Midnight after two seasons and 100 episodes.
Severe Burnout and Mold Exposure Behind the Exit
When Taylor Tomlinson accepted the job hosting the CBS late-night series in 2024, her health took an immediate downward turn. Initially attributing the physical toll to a severe cold, she pushed forward through filming her third Netflix special, Have it All, and preparing for the premiere of her new television gig. Doctors later loaded her with steroids and diagnosed her with mono before a blood test eventually revealed mold exposure.
The relentless schedule of filming the show on weekdays while touring as a stand-up comedian on weekends created a punishing lifestyle. A self-diagnosed workaholic who spent a decade constantly moving, Tomlinson found herself falling ill for months.
“I wore a mask everywhere I could and still caught a sinus infection or chest cold or strep throat every two weeks, on top of what was now my constant, aching baseline fatigue.”
Taylor Tomlinson, via autobiographical essay collection Actually, Nevermind
While she managed her symptoms during the second season with the assistance of roughly 30 twice-daily supplements, her immune system remained exceptionally fragile. Realizing that the physical and mental pressure was unsustainable, she concluded that she couldn’t complete another season without compromising her health.
Proposing Changes and The Stephen Colbert Phone Call
Before deciding to leave the program, Tomlinson attempted to negotiate operational adjustments to accommodate her health. During the first and second seasons, she gently pitched the idea of bringing in a fill-in host to fill in when she was sick. According to her account, she was told that CBS would simply air a rerun instead, resulting in the crew losing a day’s work.
When she finally informed her producers that she was stepping down, she brought along a list of comedians who could serve as her replacements, hoping the network would keep the franchise running. Instead, CBS opted to cancel the show entirely rather than recast the host chair. Because she had not consulted executive producer Stephen Colbert prior to making her final decision, she inadvertently blindsided him.
“I spent that call with Stephen (Mr. Colbert? Not sure how to address him now) crying and apologizing before I got off the phone, shaking with shame.”
Taylor Tomlinson, via Actually, Nevermind excerpt published in The Hollywood Reporter
Weighing the Personal Cost Against the Dream Job
Walking away from late night brought a heavy psychological toll, compounded by the guilt of potentially impacting the livelihoods of nearly 200 production crew members. Tomlinson reflected on her initial motivation for taking the gig, admitting in her book that she accepted the role primarily out of loneliness and a desire to anchor herself to Los Angeles after years of living out of a suitcase on tour.
Though she secured the community and geographic anchor she sought, the cost was steep. Her new book, Actually, Nevermind, explores these realizations alongside reflections on grief, her mother’s diary, and the heavy expectations she placed upon herself.