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Who Is Taylor Tomlinson?
Taylor Tomlinson is a prominent comedian and the host of the late-night show After Midnight. Her comedy journey began at the age of 16 when she enrolled in her first comedy class and started performing at church events. By 22, Tomlinson had transitioned into a full-time stand-up comedian, evolving from a clean, wholesome style to more edgy material. Her career gained momentum in 2015 when she appeared on Last Comic Standing, followed by a performance on Conan with Conan O’Brien. Tomlinson made her Netflix debut in 2018 with a 15-minute set on The Comedy Lineup, and she has since released three comedy specials on the platform. With the debut of After Midnight in January 2024, she became the only woman currently hosting a late-night show.
Early Life of Taylor Elyse Tomlinson
Taylor Elyse Tomlinson was born on November 4, 1993, in Orange County, California, to Angela Tomlinson, a stay-at-home mother, and Eric Tomlinson, a teacher. She grew up with three younger siblings—Drea, Page, and Brinn. Sadly, her mother passed away from cancer when Taylor was just eight years old. Her father later remarried. Raised in a conservative Christian household in Temecula, California, Taylor discovered early on that she had a natural talent for comedy. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, she recalled a conversation with her grandmother, who noted that Taylor had an unintentional knack for making her family laugh from a young age.
At 16, Tomlinson enrolled in her first comedy class, taught by family-friendly comedian Nazareth, and began performing at churches. She also pursued drama during her time at Temecula Valley High School, from which she graduated in 2011. After high school, Taylor attended California Polytechnic State University for a semester before transferring to Palomar College. However, after three years, she decided to leave college to focus on her burgeoning comedy career. Her time in college provided her with more opportunities to perform stand-up, eventually leading to larger platforms and stages.
Comedy Career: A Journey from Clean to Candid
Taylor Tomlinson’s comedy roots were deeply influenced by her religious upbringing. In an interview with E! News, she reflected, “For the first six years—the first half of my career—I was squeaky clean.” However, by age 22, Tomlinson began shifting her material away from the church-friendly humor she once embraced. This change allowed her to explore more authentic content, though it came with challenges. “It was hard to get to that place and accept that not everybody was going to love that,” she shared, adding that she had to overcome “internalized guilt and shame” about no longer adhering to her previous Christian values.
Tomlinson’s career breakthrough came after she left college and secured a spot on Last Comic Standing, followed by an appearance on Conan at the age of 23. This exposure led to a development deal with ABC Studios for a sitcom, though the project never aired. In 2018, she made her Netflix debut with a 15-minute set on The Comedy Lineup, a stand-up comedy showcase.
Netflix Comedy Specials
To date, Tomlinson has released three stand-up specials on Netflix. Her first, Quarter-Life Crisis, premiered in 2020, establishing her voice as one of the freshest in comedy. In 2022, she followed up with Look At You, where for the first time, she openly discussed her experience with bipolar disorder. “I had all this shame because when I was a kid, my parents were like, ‘You don’t get on medication. That’s weak,’” Tomlinson told E! News. This vulnerability on stage allowed her to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health, both personally and for her audience.
As a comedian who draws from personal experiences, Tomlinson explained to People how her material naturally evolved. “At first, I thought, ‘Oh, I’m not going to share this,’” she said. “Then I’m on the road, and I’m like, ‘Maybe I’ll just try one joke about it.’ And then that works, and you’re like, ‘Okay, well, I do have more to say about it.’”
Her latest special, Have It All, premiered in February 2024. With a current deal in place for a fourth Netflix special, Tomlinson continues to expand her comedic horizons, though details about the next release remain under wraps.
After Midnight
In January 2024, at the age of 30, Taylor Tomlinson became the host of After Midnight on CBS, marking a significant career milestone. The show is a reboot of Comedy Central’s popular program @midnight and has positioned Tomlinson as one of the youngest hosts in late-night television, as well as the only woman currently hosting a late-night show. She follows in the footsteps of notable female hosts such as Joan Rivers, Chelsea Handler, Lilly Singh, Ziwe, Amber Ruffin, and Samantha Bee.
After Midnight replaced The Late Late Show with James Corden and airs after The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in the 12:37 a.m. time slot. Reflecting on her new role, Tomlinson shared with Glamour, “I could not have done [After Midnight] four years ago. Even three years ago. What’s so interesting is when it came up, I was like, ‘Oh, I think I’m at a place in my life where I actually could do that job, and I could do it well and I could enjoy it.'”
Ex-Fiancé Sam Morril
Tomlinson was previously engaged to comedian Sam Morril in 2020. Reflecting on their relationship in an interview with People, she shared that their connection developed naturally. “It just kind of happened. We became friends organically,” she explained. Morril had initially reached out with supportive messages about her television performances, which Tomlinson noted were always respectful and never gave the impression of ulterior motives.
Despite their engagement, the couple eventually parted ways. In her 2024 Netflix comedy special, Have It All, Tomlinson revealed that she had been single for the past year.