Cruz Kayne stepped out from behind the writers’ room and into the music lane this week, dropping a comedy track called “It’s Raining Fish.”
Not alone, either. The song features Paul Shaffer, the iconic musician and bandleader who built a legendary run in late-night television. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s official Instagram account announced the release on May 19, calling Kayne a staff writer making “waves with his splash-hit.”
Fam, Paul Shaffer is a name that carries real weight. He spent over two decades as David Letterman’s bandleader and musical director on the original Late Show. That run stretched from 1993 all the way to 2015. That’s 22 years of late-night television. He became one of the most recognizable faces in the genre.
Him lending his talents to a comedy track called “It’s Raining Fish” feels completely on-brand. He’s never been the type to take himself too seriously.
And Cruz Kayne is no background player. He’s a staff writer on The Late Show under Stephen Colbert, helping shape the jokes and sketches airing each weeknight on CBS. Getting a spot on that writing staff is no small thing. Stepping from the page to the mic on top of that? Bold move.
The institutional backing here is worth noting. CBS’s official @colbertlateshow account ran the full announcement, not Kayne’s personal page. That kind of platform support turns a fun side project into a real release. The Late Show’s Instagram announcement drew close to 5,000 likes.
Comedy music has deep roots in late-night culture. From Letterman-era bits to SNL’s music parodies, the space between comedy writer and performer has always been pretty thin. It’s a tradition built on people who know both sides of the curtain.
Kayne is planting his flag right in that tradition. Writing the jokes is one thing. Recording them with a late-night legend and putting your name on the track is another level entirely.
Shaffer’s presence on the song is the real headline, though. He’s got a resume most musicians would envy. His willingness to team up on a track like this shows he’s still got the same energy that made him a late-night fixture for decades.
This could be a one-off splash or the start of something bigger. Either way, fam, the Late Show family is riding for Cruz Kayne. With Paul Shaffer on the feature and CBS pushing the drop, the debut landed with more noise than most writers’ first tracks do.
Keep watching Cruz Kayne. The writers’ room just got a little quieter.
