Taylor Tomlinson on Quitting CBS Late Night Show, Writing Book

Key Points:

• Taylor Tomlinson accepted the host role for CBS’ After Midnight while battling severe and prolonged health issues, initially misdiagnosed and later linked to mold in her blood, which left her with constant fatigue and a fragile immune system.
• Despite her illness, Tomlinson pushed through filming her Netflix special and hosting the show but eventually decided to quit After Midnight due to her deteriorating health, leading CBS to cancel the show rather than find a replacement.
• Tomlinson revealed that loneliness motivated her to take the job, as it provided a community and a reason to stay in Los Angeles, but the experience and health struggles profoundly changed her both personally and professionally.
• Writing her book, Actually, Nevermind, was a therapeutic process for Tomlinson, allowing her to be more earnest and vulnerable than in stand-up, and she used it as a way to confront her fears, health challenges, and career decisions openly.
• She expressed mixed feelings about quitting the show, acknowledging both gratitude for the opportunity and regret over the health impact, emphasizing the difficulty of balancing workaholic tendencies with self-care.