The original.@midnight (2013-2017) was a brilliant experiment that combined up-to-the-second pop culture ephemera, stand-up comedy & improv. Host Chris Hardwick made it seem effortless. With this reboot, aptly named @fter midnight (begins at 12:30pm in many markets), new host Taylor Tomlinson tries her best to recapture the magic. In the premier episode, she seemed a bit too eager to respond with a loud chuckle to anything the three contestants said, but she did keep things moving and tossed in enough self-deprecating humor to smooth over some rough patches. Given time, I believe she can make the show her own. She also needs a better buzzer. The production has a snappy set, with a smartphone-like screen displaying videos, images and themed graphics. The production team also wisely chose to get the comic contestants out from behind their podiums for one segment. Breaking up the standard game show format is key to a project that proports to not be your average game show. As with its host, the show will need time to shake out some bugs. Here's hoping CBS is willing to invest that time.
