Taylor Tomlinson quit CBS’ late-night show After Midnight after her health declined, citing chronic illness and a fragile immune system, as detailed in her new book and interviews with Yahoo and the Hollywood Reporter.
Taylor Tomlinson’s decision to leave CBS’ late-night show After Midnight came after months of declining health, a struggle she recounts in her new book Actually, Nevermind and in interviews with Yahoo and the Hollywood Reporter. The comedian described a relentless cycle of illness, including a “demon cold,mono diagnoses, and mold detected in her blood, which left her with
constant, aching baseline fatigue.”
A Health Crisis on Set
Tomlinson’s health began to deteriorate shortly after accepting the role, she wrote in her book. I wore a mask everywhere I could and still caught a sinus infection or chest cold or strep throat every two weeks,
she recounted, adding that her immune system remained remarkably fragile
even after a regimen of roughly 30 twice-daily supplements during season two. Doctors initially misdiagnosed her symptoms, with one prescribing steroids and another diagnosing her with mono.
The comedian also revealed that she was unaware of the severity of her condition at first. I just kept thinking, 'If I just keep pushing, I'm going to get better. It's going to be fine,'
she told the Hollywood Reporter. However, the demands of the late-night format—filming three days a week and then being in bed for four—worsened her situation. There wasn’t enough time to crash and recover,
she said.
The Emotional Toll of Quitting
Tomlinson’s decision to leave the show was not sudden. She described months of internal conflict, including the emotional weight of moving up a Netflix special, canceling the rest of her tour, and disappointing fans and her team. That one was super hard because I disappointed a lot of my fans, who had followed me on the road for a long time, and my personal team, who have known me for 10 years,
she said.
CBS ultimately canceled the show rather than replace her, though Tomlinson presented a list of comedians who could replace her. She described the show as a “dream joband noted that she was
so devastated that I left and the job disappeared.” She acknowledged that she took the job because she was lonely and wanted a reason to be in L.A. to have some kind of community.
Writing the Book and Moving Forward
The release of Actually, Nevermind coincided with Tomlinson’s return to touring after a 10-month hiatus. She described the book as a way to tackle her “worst nightmare” head on, blending personal essays with reflections on her career. In interviews, she emphasized the importance of honesty about her struggles, noting that if you don’t have a life-threatening illness, you keep pushing. That’s showbiz, baby. I’m doing jazz hands.
Tomlinson also addressed the broader culture of resilience in entertainment. I’d been doing that on the road for years, where I just go, 'Just push through this, and then it’ll be fine. You can crash for a few days,'
she said. But when you’re doing a late night show, there wasn’t enough time to crash and recover.
As she moves forward, Tomlinson remains candid about the physical and emotional toll of her choices. I’m going back on tour now, but I took 10 months off, which is insane,
she said.
Yahoo and Hollywood Reporter both reported on Tomlinson’s health struggles and career decisions.