14 DAY TRIAL // Earlier this week, David Letterman announced that, come 2015, he would be stepping down as host of the Late Show, after 22 years of service, by that time. He didn’t name a replacement but, since then, as you can imagine, the media has been very busy weighing possibilities.
Stephen Colbert was from the start named the most likely replacement for Letterman and, The Wrap informs, this turned out to be the case, because he’s just signed a 5-year deal with CBS to take over from Letterman when he retires in 2015.
This leaves Colbert’s spot on Comedy Central open and up for grabs but, at the same time, the trade publication underlines, it also “questions the status” of Craig Ferguson, who comes in after Letterman. On the plus side, bringing Colbert to the Late Night will ensure the show will reach a much younger audience, which Colbert can guarantee with his trademark brand of humor, which usually verges on irreverent.
Colbert offers a sample of it in his statement, attached to the press release from CBS announcing the new addition.
“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. Simply being a guest on David Letterman's show has been a highlight of my career. I never dreamed that I would follow in his footsteps, though everyone in late night follows Dave's lead,” he says.
“Stephen Colbert is one of the most inventive and respected forces on television,” President and CEO of CBS Corporation Leslie Moonves chimes in. “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.”
Certain details, like the producers of the new iteration of the show and the location, are still to be determined and made public. There is plenty of time to do that, because David will still be on air until 2015, at a yet to be specified date.
The moment Colbert was announced as his replacement, celebrities and fellow talk show hosts rushed on social media to congratulate Stephen and, in the same breath, CBS for bringing on board one of the smartest and funniest figures on the scene.
Other names thrown in the mix during the wildest phase of speculations, of potential “candidates” for Letterman’s position included Jay Leno, Chelsea Handler, and even Neil Patrick Harris.