It wasn’t even a week ago that David Letterman announced his retirement. Okay, it was one week ago as of this evening. Since Dave announced his retirement, everybody has been throwing every name against the wall to see what would stick as a potential replacement for Letterman. I honestly thought that this would be a long drawn-out thing, with various candidates taking multiple meetings at CBS, and eventually David would have a hand in choosing his successor. But CBS has made a decision quickly: it’s Stephen Colbert!!
It’s official: Stephen Colbert will replace David Letterman as CBS’ Late Show host. The broadcast network has tapped the 49-year-old Comedy Central host to take over the late-night franchise. CBS has made a five-year deal with Colbert, which was announced Thursday by CBS Corp. CEO Les Moonves and CBS Entertainment chairman Nina Tassler.
“Stephen Colbert is one of the most inventive and respected forces on television,” Moonves said. “David Letterman’s legacy and accomplishments are an incredible source of pride for all of us here, and today’s announcement speaks to our commitment of upholding what he established for CBS in late night.”
Letterman, the longest-serving late-night TV host, announced his retirement on April 3.
Colbert’s premiere date will be announced after Letterman determines a timetable for his final broadcast in 2015.“Stephen is a multi-talented and respected host, writer, producer, satirist and comedian who blazes a trail of thought-provoking conversation, humor and innovation with everything he touches,” Tassler added. ”He is a presence on every stage, with interests and notable accomplishments across a wide spectrum of entertainment, politics, publishing and music. We welcome Stephen to CBS with great pride and excitement, and look forward to introducing him to our network television viewers in late night.”
“Simply being a guest on David Letterman’s show has been a highlight of my career,” Colbert said. “I never dreamed that I would follow in his footsteps, though everyone in late night follows Dave’s lead. I’m thrilled and grateful that CBS chose me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go grind a gap in my front teeth.”
Sources say Colbert informed his Colbert Report staff a couple hours ago and told his team they’re all going to work on his CBS show.
Comedy Central released this statement: “Comedy Central is proud that the incredibly talented Stephen Colbert has been part of our family for nearly two decades. We look forward to the next eight months of the ground-breaking Colbert Report and wish Stephen the very best.”
Are you surprised? I am, a little. I knew Colbert was going to be a big contender, for sure, but Colbert has a lot of control over his brand over at Comedy Central, and I do think of him as very loyal to Jon Stewart and Comedy Central. That being said, Comedy Central is owned by Viacom, which also owns CBS, so this really is an in-house arrangement. My guess is that Colbert is Letterman’s choice. Because Letterman couldn’t stand the idea of a hack like Chelsea Handler throwing her name out there like she was a viable candidate.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I love it.
Me too!
Me too!!! Love love love it. Will totally miss The Colbert Report & will miss his O’Reilly-like persona, but I love that he will be the one taking over for Dave.
On a side note: Poor Jon Stewart? Everyone leaves him 🙁
Comedy Central really should have locked in John Oliver when they had the chance Lately, TDS correspondents have turned out weaker and weaker material. I still like Samantha Bee and Aasif Mandvi, but it’s been a while since I didn’t lose interest in the second segment if it was correspondent-driven.
Jon Stewart is a thousand times more funny and endearing than Colbert. I won’t be watching now. Colbert bores the hell out of me and he’s not funny. I get his jokes, I just don’t like in your face repub asses, even parodies, and fed up with political crapulence everywhere.
I think that’s the whole point of getting on The Daily Show – it’s a springboard to better things (and if you don’t make it there you’ll never make it anywhere).
I am so excited that Colbert is Dave’s replacement, although I still think Craig Ferguson was slighted. Glad that the Handler rumors turned out to be just that – she’s horrible on her own show, she’d have been an insulting choice to succeed the iconic Letterman.
It’s okay, don’t weep for Jon Stewart. He didn’t want it and was rooting for Colbert: http://www.vulture.com/2014/04/jon-stewart-wants-stephen-colbert-for-letterman.html
I slightly prefer him to Colbert as well, but I think he knows he has a good thing with The Daily Show and has the flexibility to take on other projects, like his directorial debut with Rosewater.
Craig Ferguson had the ‘first refusal’ clause in his contract and obviously used it. It was also reported that he got $6M for saying NO. Kewl!
Ugh – I was really hoping it would be Louis CK.
Me too! Love Louie. He’s funny, humble and I think a truly nice guy. Would have loved to see him take over.
Louis would have been great.
If you follow Louie’s career, you know he’s not interested in the expected normal trajectory of “comedian moving to talk show host.” He even did several memorable episodes on this subject (Letterman’s retirement) on his FX series last season.
ANYONE other that SC would have been great.
Yeah, hadn’t thought of him before now but he would’ve been perfect. I was secretly kind of hoping Poehler and Fey would’ve cohost the show but that would never happen.
But, maybe they bypassed Neil Patrick Harris.
I KNOW! Could potentially be the best thing EVER for television (sorry, GOT!!). I love Stephen Colbert SO MUCH. “Excuse me, now I have to go grind a gap in my teeth” Bwahahaha
Squeeeee! I love it, I love him and Letterman!
perfection
Yaaaaaaaasssssss & Yaaaaaaaaay.
Though I will miss his alter ego. I can’t imagine him not doing it. This will be interesting. He’s just brilliant. Good choice.
ITA, I love the guy and I will really miss “good ol’ Republican” Stephen Colbert but yaaaay for this decision!
This is bittersweet for me. I am such a fan, and am very happy for him…but I am REALLY going to miss the Colbert Report. It makes me sad to think that we won’t get his perspective on politics so much anymore. He made so many really great points with such finesse.
@tiffany
my sentiments exactly! I LOVE the Colbert report, I’m a huge fan of sarcasm but he also makes such incredibly valid points. I’m going to miss watching his show, but im so happy for him, I think he’ll be great!
@wheezy
So true. I didn’t know how easy it was to set up PAC or how sleazy it really is. Going to miss his Repor(t), but will definitely check out his new show.
I’m happy with this. I like Colbert and think he’ll probably keep the show in line with the tone of Dave’s show, while adding his own touch. I will say this is probably the absolute safest choice they could’ve made. Colbert has a following and, as I said, a similar wit to Letterman, so there won’t be a big loss of followers.
Let’s all thank God that it wasn’t Chelsea Handler.
I agree Gigi, Colbert is a great choice and he has taken his alter ego as far as it can go. I hope he brings Amy Sedaris along, they are hilarious together.
Did she announce herself as a possibility? I can’t imagine her being on any short list to host such a desired television slot.
He is the safest choice. I forsee many cross over bits of him, Kimmel, Fallon soing stupid things with social media conests. And as it is now Colbert will have to maintain not only the countdown, but the older set of viewers until his numbers are solid with youth.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! NO!
He is perfect on Colbert Report. Nooooooooo.
He’ll be out of character and he won’t be doing political jokes.
This is so wrong.
Craig would have been perfect.
LOL, Tatjana. We were both typing tons of OOOOOOOOOOOO’s at the same time!
Well, great minds think ( or type ) alike 😀
Nooooooooo, Stephen!!!!! Big mistake!
I think I agree; he wouldn’t not have been my first choice. He is a lovely man and I hope he does wonders with it but I am having trouble seeing it. And would he be able to go back to the Colbert Report if he leaves it?
Man I hope this works out for him.
I agree… A comedian really does have to bend in that position. He won’t have his same freedom… No more racial or demographic jokes..
It seems like a pretty big risk for both CBS and SC, and frankly I’m surprised they are both on board. Losing The Colbert Report could hurt SC if the show doesn’t go well. And CBS is taking the risk of putting someone new in this position, who really doesn’t have an established audience without his “in-character” Colbert persona.
Plus, I’m really going to mourn the loss of The Colbert Report.
I’m undecided. I love the Colbert Report but that is a character, I don’t know much about HIM. It was time for Dave to retire, he was interviewing Martha Stewart a couple weeks ago and I felt like I was watching my grandparents. I changed the channel.
I really like him so it’s good with me BUT a part of me was really hoping for some diversity.
Someday Tina, someday…
I would have loved to see her do it.
You thought Tina should give up producing TV and acting in movies and go to late night TV 5 days a week? Why?!
I acutally think the Late Shows are a pretty solid gig – like the banker’s hours of showbiz. You work a few hours a day and tape in the late afternoon – I’d think it would be more ideal than sitcom hours (long!) or having to travel to different movie sets.
I just read on DListed, not sure if it’s true, that Handler would take over for Ferguson? Why the hell would they do that?
Ugh. Groan. No.
@Gigi: Doing a late night show can be a grind. You have to start with a blank page every night. With 180 or more shows a year, you don’t get the long breaks that TV and movie work affords. Because it’s so time intensive that it blocks you from doing anything else professionally. I don’t think Tina is ready to trade the artistic freedom for the stability.
I’m pleased. I would have preferred Conan or Craig, but he’s definitely third on my list! I’m not surprised it’s him, it seemed like he was the top contender – I am shocked that this decision was announced so quickly!!
I’m sad. He is so many different types of awesome of the Colbert Report, and he’s going to have to water it down (if not give up the persona). I love Colbert so so so much.
Me too! He has so many authors, scientists, and interesting musicians on. I LOVE him on The Colbert Report – he’s perfect on his own show. I has a sads today. 🙁
And now he’ll have the cast of Divergent 2 and Fast and Furious 7. What an upgrade.
And maybe even Kim Kardashian.
Aw, I’m going to miss The Colbert Report but mazel tov to him for getting the late night gig. Gods bless Letterman but he’s gotten super bitter-sounding over the years, more so than his old sarcasm schtick.
Not a fan. I mean, I find “CR” funny in limited doses but for the me, the shtick got very tired very quickly. Granted, I don’t think he’ll be taking the character with him (though he is taking all the writers); however, I don’t really know what he has to offer *aside* from political satire.
I wish they had looked outside the box. Aisha Tyler was my hope.
I was rooting for Aisha too – maybe Comedy Central should grab her to replace Colbert.
Was Aisha Tyler ever a can candidate or was that wishful thinking ?
@Candy, as far as I know, Tyler was on many people’s wish lists but I don’t know if CBS would ever confirm who was genuinely in the running.
I was holding out hope for Aisha too! Guess it’s middle-aged white guys for the foreseeable future, though.
There’s still hope for her. Ferguson is only signed through this year, so he may move on at the same time as Dave, which would leave the 12:30 spot open.
While I’m hopeful that she gets something out of this, I don’t particularly like her. She seems cold, fake and unfunny to me. Sheryl Underwood is funnier, IMO.
It’s not Handler so yaaaaaaaass!
I’m going to miss Colbert on CC.
I’m thrilled. I’ll miss The Colbert Report but Stephen is a very smart and talented guy. He’s a terrific interviewer and can think on his feet. And the comedy . . . Congrats Stephen and CBS!
I agree!
Many people don’t give him enough credit for his skill as an interviewer. He has such quick retort with his guests.
I’m actually excited to see what he and his team of writers can do outside of the confines of his current character. As much as I LOVE the show (watch it every night), ive always thought that at some point in the near future, the character was going to need to evolve.
I think they can still have that subversive, razor smart wit while broadening the scope a bit.
Congrats Stephen!
Great choice, or the greatest choice? 😉
I’m very happy for him, I think he’ll do very well. He is extremely smart and quick witted, excellent with guests. I will be very, very sad to see the Colbert Report end though, and I can’t imagine him not in character anymore!
I see what you did there. 🙂
Without the mock conservative persona I hope he has some other attributes to sustain him.
Letterman’s ratings are third behind Fallon and Kimmel respectively so the bar will probably be set rather low ,at least initially, for Colbert.
He actually did a lot of other things pre Colbert Report. He was on and co-writer of Strangers With Candy, did a lot of live improv theatre, etc.
Since Letterman is retiring, I decided to watch the show for a few minutes last night. Did anyone else see it? Lohan was on and meh on that. But I couldn’t help feeling sorry for Dave. He seemed incredibly off, messing up words, timing was weird and so on. Maybe he’s been like this for a while and I’m just noticing now since I haven’t seen him. Did anyone else get this ‘off’ feeling? Is he well?
The bumbling and stumbling has been part of his act since forever. He’s very smart and quick witted, but he’s never been smooth or slick. That’s part of his appeal, imo.
I have seem him before, not in a long time, but it seemed strange. Did you watch it last night? Maybe I am projecting this onto him since he is older and retiring.
Thank God Chelsea Handler couldn’t sleep her way to this show unlike her current show for which she slept with the married producer.
That role is already filled at CBS by Julie Chen
My fear is that what he does best will be diluted. It’s a BIG fear.
Bigger than bears?
Nothing is worse than bears.
@hmmm, this is my biggest fear as well as the lack of intelligent, hard-working, world-changing guests
Like I said before Chelsea Handler was never a choice that was all her PR hard at work.
Honestly, I would like to see more diversity on the late night tv landscape. I think Stephen Colbert is funny but I don’t know that I will want to watch him when he’s not ‘in character’.
Oh dear god. Supposedly Handler is going to take over “The Late, Late Show.” VOMIT.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if that were true. Probably a good idea to
make a clean sweep.
Isn’t Craig on The Late Late Show? Where would he go?
@Eleanor, supposedly Ferguson had the right of first refusal to “The Late Show” or was going to receive a seven or eight-figure payout if he was passed over. I’d hate to see him leave, but maybe he figures, that’s a nice golden parachute to go off and start a new venture.
Wait, if he refused The Late Show, he would have to leave The Late Late Show?
@Eleanor, no, he wouldn’t have to leave, but I believe his contract is up next year as it is – so not locking down another position would have left him vulnerable if CBS for some reason thought their entire late night lineup needed a refresh.
All I see is more speculation – maybe her PR team had to adjust when the reaction to her as a Dave replacement was so negative?
I haven’t seen anything about Craig wanting to go, and I hope he doesn’t.
It’s being reported by Roger Friedman, who has solid industry bona fides. If it were Gawker or Radar, I’d be skeptical. As it is, though, I am hoping he’s wrong.
It could be. Friedman is known for floating trial balloons on behalf of PR teams.
Like I said earlier it’s all PR Handler publicist is trying to attch her name to every TV hosting gig out there.
NOOOOO! i love colbert as colbert. now he’s going to cater to 70-year olds who’d have heart attacks if they saw a non-white man, or a woman, on their tv at night.
BLARG.
Uh, you know that the generation that is now pushing 70 (and I am talking about people of all races) was the backbone of the civil rights movement, right? We’re ALL going to be old someday, hopefully. It sure beats the alternative.
i had no idea. please tell me more. (sarcasm.)
All true. 🙂
My point is that your original comment was obnoxious and rude and ageist. Please tell me more about how all 70 year olds are bigots!
Uh, today’s 70 year olds went to Woodstock. What are you talking about?
I love him!
Me too!! Great choice.
Happy happy joy joy!!! I love him. He is so darn smart and is a great interviewer. It is always apparent on his show that he has actually read the books his guests wrote, and he can hold his own with anyone. And I am so happy that Chelsea Handler can’t pretend anymore that she is a viable candidate.
Yaaaaaayyyyyyy!!!!!!!
Love him. Congratulations Stephen! I agree that it was a safe choice, for those that have already pointed that out. I just hope they allow him creative liberty and he doesn’t crash and burn.
YES YES YES YES YES times a thousand!
however, i do worry (only a little) at the dilution of his signature wit and sharpness. i’m not saying he’d be a sell-out but I think there would be a requirement to not turn off Republican candidates and he can’t use the platform that The Colbert Report afforded him.
I wish there was someway he could keep both or that his selection as a host for Late Show means we’re ushering in a new age of more topical discussions and political discourse. I can only HOPE!
Also, I really enjoyed his actual “character” on Stephen Colbert–I have to watch tonight and (Every night) to get the most of his character while he’s around. I wonder what the “send off/goodbye” will be.
+1
I’ll miss the Colbert Report, but hopefully Stephen will be able to bring his own brand of humour to the Late Show. As long as Craig Ferguson remains the host of the Late Late Show, then all’s good.
YAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!!
*insert GIF of Kermit The Frog losing his mind here*
YAY! Love Colbert!! (“Get Lucky” skit anyone? ) lol!
*Gonna miss my Dave though. He was my light at night when I was a teen with no friends.*
LOVE YOU DAVE!
I love Stephen Colbert and I’m happy for him personally, but I am NOT happy that the Colbert Report is going away. Damn.
I agree Insomniac! I will miss the..umm..freedom he had there! I feel sadness at that, but JOY that they selected an appropriate successor to the Late Night throne!!! ( oh! I am ALSO an insomniac….right now pushing 50 hours. Me need sleep!!! *smiles*)
Same. Having seen him do his thing hosting various roasts, benefit and the like, I know he’s just as sharp and funny outside of The Colbert Report, but TCR was special in a way that I’m not sure a network chat show can be.
Meh, I was really hoping for Louis CK or NPH.
This is a bad choice.
Is he going to bring that stupid schtick he has to the Late Show or will he be himself? His routine gets old so fast and most of the time is stupid funny instead of funny funny.
I often feel like the lone wolf who isn’t on the “Crazy About Colbert” train – glad to see another person agrees with me. I’m sure Stephen Colbert, the person, is lovely; the character, however, is one-lame-note to me.
And his audience is THE WORST. I often try to force myself through an episode but the overreaction by the audience during the open just turns me off.
He’s already said he’s not going to do the show as his character. It will be him for real. I’m interested.
He has potential to actually a very good interviewer outside his persona. You can see a bit of it in his interviews with Paul McCartney and Vince Gilligan. He was so enamoured of both he couldn’t quite stay in character. He could be great.
No, no, no nooooo! If SC’s current show/personae are ANYTHING close to being as unfunny then this will prove to be an awful choice. Dave’s dry wit and casual lunacy are going to be a tough act to follow.
Oh good. Another white male host. Just what late night was missing. Oh wait, that’s not how that goes. I will NOT be watching.
He’s an exceptional comedian and satirist who happens to be white and male.
So your not watching because he a white male ? It’s not because you don’t like him, don’t watch late night shows or don’t think his funny its because he a white male?
No more Colbert Report? How sad. However, I love that he is taking his whole staff with him.
At least it’s not Chelsea Handler.
Ugh. I don’t know how I feel about this. I absolutely love Stephen Colbert, but I have a bad feeling that network tv is going to turn him vanilla. I can completely understand him wanting to move on from the character he’s been playing for years and I think he’s a really great interviewer. But now he’s going to have to interview people like the Kardashians and probably not be able to snark on them the whole time, and where’s the fun in that? Sigh….
Agree. As a Stewart/Colbert regular viewer, I’m really bummed out about this. The other late nite shows are a huge bore. I don’t get why he wanted to leave CC. He has his crazy devoted fan base, the Colbert Nation and now he’ll have to work twice as much doing the hour long snoozefest. I wonder if the Colbert Nation will follow him? They seemed like college age people.
I’m apprehensively thrilled.
It will be different thats for sure! We know him as “Stephen Colbert” the character, not the real person. I will miss the Colbert Report so much!
That being said, I am so thrilled for him! Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if this has been in the works for some time, and they already knew who Daves replacement would be before he announced he was leaving.
All I can say about this is: thank god it’s not Chelsea Handler.
I really really REALLY hope Samantha Bee will now take Colbert’s spot and have her own show!! The Bee Show!!
I think he is a great chocie, out of the other people that were optioning he was my pick!
Tonight Show guests will not be allowed to appear elsewhere.
According to unnamed sources, reported by the usually reliable TMZ website, the word has gone out that anyone who wants to sit down with Jimmy Fallon will not be invited to do so if they sit down anywhere else. “Guest” reactions have been muted, so far. No one wants to rock the boat.
When NBC says anywhere, they mean anywhere, including the morning shows on the other networks. One program, ABC’s “Good Morning America,” reports scheduled guests canceling their appearances because they did not want to risk losing their shot with Fallon.
Perhaps Colbert should consider moving the Late Show to LA.
Why should that matter? Wouldn’t it kill the Fallon show if everyone was punished and not allowed back after going elsewhere? It sounds like only the most desperate would be worried.
Isn’t that what Jay Leno’s manager pulled years ago? Shame on Jimmy Fallon and NBC if true.
I like Stephen Colbert, but… yet another white man.
Also, Colbert had something special. Now he’s just going to be another meaningless talk show host? Blech.
Yeah, my sentiments, too. Part of me wishes that Colbert can revolutionize (i.e. make even remotely interesting) late-night, but I’m not optimistic. His job will be like all their jobs: sycophantic promotion of celebrities’ latest projects with a side of shitty band music.
And yes: the white male default. Of course it is! Why, anything else would be unnatural! /sigh
I wanted Craig Ferguson, he’s often overlooked. But, Stephen will do just fine, imho. I hope Chelsea fades away….forever. Handler and her PR are just spinning their webs now.
Good Luck to Stephen Colbert and of course, happy retirement to David Letterman.
Maybe now I’ll actually be able to stomach late-night talk shows–where humour and sincerity traditionally go to die. Please make it better, SC!*
*I realize that’s not likely, as Colbert will probably be forced to toe the mold, but we can dream. That whole model needs a major shakeup.
I was hoping Craig Ferguson would get to move his show to the time slot. Oh well.
I really was too. I love Colbert but I LOVE Craig Ferguson. I feel bad for him, really. I’m sure when he heard Letterman was retiring that he thought he would haven good chance at taking over.
So, since he won’t be in character, will we have to stop calling him Stephen Colbert and start calling him Stephen Colbert?
It’s so kind and lovely that he’s taking everyone at The Colbert Report to late night. Not just everyone would be that considerate.
As long as it’s not Chelsea Handler…I’m good.
I’m ok with Colbert but I was hoping a British dude not named Piers Morgan would replace Letterman. The guy who stood in for Jon Stewart was my choice. John Oliver can replace Colbert then.
Come on everybody, we all knew Letterman wouldn’t go without leaving a turd behind.
Anything that makes Rush Limbaugh mad is good for humanity. He’s choking on his oxycontin over this and it’s a beautiful thing.
It’s an interesting choice.
Given how quickly this happened I think this deal was locked before Letterman announced his retirement. Chelsey was just a red herring.
We will miss the Colbert Report!
I love the Limbaugh and Fox reaction, were they expecting Dennis “Bush is saving your ass whether you like it or not” Miller to get the job? Heck “This 1/2 Hour News Hour” lasted only a few episodes. I like Colbert, he’s a satirist he points out absurdities and humor were he sees it. It was a rather surprising to see him get nominated but the field was wide open. I will miss his show but he is a great choice to replace Letterman.