David Letterman to retire, leaves CBS Late Show in 2015

[Anoat]

Video is in the link if interested. https://tv.yahoo.com/blogs/tv-news/d...9468.html?vp=1

And another late-night icon gets ready to say goodbye.

Less than two months after his longtime rival Jay Leno stepped down from NBC's "Tonight Show," David Letterman has announced he'll retire and step down from CBS's "Late Show" in 2015.

Letterman addressed the "Late Show" audience at Thursday's taping, saying, "The man who owns this network, Leslie Moonves, he and I have had a relationship for years and years and years, and we have had this conversation in the past, and we agreed that we would work together on this circumstance and the timing of this circumstance. And I phoned him just before the program, and I said ‘Leslie, it’s been great, you’ve been great, and the network has been great, but I’m retiring.'"


“I just want to reiterate my thanks for the support from the network," Letterman added, "all of the people who have worked here, all of the people in the theater, all the people on the staff, everybody at home, thank you very much. What this means now is that Paul and I can be married.”

“We don’t have the timetable for this precisely down — I think it will be at least a year or so, but sometime in the not-too-distant future, 2015 for the love of God, in fact, Paul and I will be wrapping things up and taking a hike,” he concluded, receiving a standing ovation from the Ed Sullivan Theater audience.

CBS president and CEO Les Moonves released a statement as well: "When Dave decided on a one-year extension for his most recent contract, we knew this day was getting closer, but that doesn’t make the moment any less poignant for us. For 21 years, David Letterman has graced our Network’s air in late night with wit, gravitas and brilliance unique in the history of our medium. During that time, Dave has given television audiences thousands of hours of comedic entertainment, the sharpest interviews in late night, and brilliant moments of candor and perspective around national events."

"He’s also managed to keep many celebrities, politicians and executives on their toes – including me. There is only one David Letterman. His greatness will always be remembered here, and he will certainly sit among the pantheon of this business. On a personal note, it’s been a privilege to get to know Dave and to enjoy a terrific relationship. It’s going to be tough to say goodbye. Fortunately, we won’t have to do that for another year or so. Until then, we look forward to celebrating Dave’s remarkable show and incredible talents.”

Letterman has hosted CBS's "Late Show" since 1993, after a well-publicized battle that saw him lose out on hosting "The Tonight Show" when NBC opted for Leno. Before that, he hosted NBC's "Late Night," following Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" from 1982 to 1993.

Now the big question: Who will replace Dave? ABC's Jimmy Kimmel just told TV Guide last month that if Letterman ever retired and asked him to step in, "I'd definitely consider it." Chelsea Handler is on the way out at E!, and will be free to jump ship to a new network by year's end. And don't forget Conan O'Brien, whose contract with TBS ends in November 2015 and has always had a strong rapport with Letterman.

More to come as this story develops...

"Late Show With David Letterman" airs weeknights at 11:35 on CBS.

Who will take over the Late Show? I don't think Conan would want to leave TBS. He gets away with a lot of shit on cable TV that the networks wouldn't let fly. PLEASE GOD NO CHELSEA HANDLER. Jimmy Kimmel would be okay, I think. Maybe Craig Ferguson would get the promotion?

[arus2001]

I wouldn't want to see Craig bumped up just because they'd censor him a hell of a lot more.

[Null]

This is all a ploy to fuck over Louis C.K.

[Elcura]

This is all a ploy to fuck over Louis C.K.

Exactly what I was thinking.

[Headspace]

Rumor is that CBS wants Colbert

[Plow]

fuck...

I'd hate to wish him anything but the best he can get, and second fiddle to Stewart is definitely anything but that... but damn it would suck for him to be stuck on network.

[Souj]

I wonder if he took the job if he'd also drop his "Stephen Colbert" character. He'd kind of have to.

[Headspace]

I wonder if he took the job if he'd also drop his "Stephen Colbert" character. He'd kind of have to.

Yeah it would be weird to see him out of character

[6souls]

Rumor is that CBS wants Colbert

Stewart, Chelsea Handler, or Kimmel too.

Barely two months into his term as the host of The Tonight Show and it is undeniable: Jimmy Fallon is a force to be reckoned with after reinventing the late night standard bearer, earning solid reviews and consistently decisive wins in the ratings while making viral comedy bits a daily fixture on social media.

As CBS deals with the looming retirement of David Letterman, they aren’t just trying to replace a legend that has been a constant part of their nightly lineup for 22 years with The Late Show, they’re also trying to find someone that will challenge Fallon and that someone may be Colbert Report host Stephen Colbert.

According to a new report from Mashable, it seems that there is mutual interest between Colbert and CBS and that contact was initiated before last night’s announcement.

Colbert has not had any formal contract discussions with CBS, and no agreement is in place, but sources tell Mashable that he first engaged with network executives while Letterman was still mulling the timing of his retirement. Though CBS has had conversations with other candidates, including Colbert’s Comedy Central counterpart Jon Stewart, individuals with knowledge of the situation say Colbert is currently the front-and-center candidate.

On its face, the idea of Colbert moving on up to The Late Show slot (there’s no word yet on if the show name will pass from Letterman to the next host, or if it will stay in New York or move to Los Angeles) makes a lot of sense. Critically adored with a devoted and advertiser friendly fanbase, Colbert is a gifted comic performer and searing satirist as well as an occasionally daring interviewer who feels like a stylistically natural successor to Letterman and an experienced and capable opponent for Fallon.

The trouble is, all this week, Colbert has been at the center of a firestorm thanks to a tweet that was sent from the Comedy Central run Colbert Report twitter account; a gaffe that prompted many to support the #CancelColbert micro-movement to get Colbert fired. But while they say all publicity is good publicity, this latest controversy stands as a reminder that Colbert’s exaggerated on-screen persona (and Daily Show host Jon Stewart’s less exaggerated but more severe persona) can also polarize.

NBC has the opposite of that. Jimmy Fallon is an effervescent and in-offensive showman, but CBS has to decide if they can attack that as a sort of weakness with counter programming like Colbert or accept it as a trend and adapt.

Speaking of CBS, Craig Ferguson is a candidate that doesn’t seem to be getting a lot of internet support despite his nine year run behind David Letterman as the host of The Late Late Show, which is produced by Worldwide Pants, Letterman’s production company. A proudly alternative show with a robot sidekick (Geoff Peterson), uber-casual interviews, and a whimsical, cheeky, and un-tethered sensibility, Ferguson could represent the most outside-of-the-box choice and an expensive “no” thanks to a clause in his contract that will pay him $8 million dollars if he doesn’t get Letterman’s chair.

Whether Ferguson would take that money and run remains to be seen, but there are reports that CBS did, at one point, reach out to John Oliver about replacing Ferguson, should he leave. This all happened before Oliver booked his weekly series on HBO, though, so we can probably count him out, but a new rumor about Chelsea Handler linking up with CBS following Letterman’s announcement has popped up and there are indications that she might be a candidate for either the 11:35 or 12:35 show. So the question has to be asked: is CBS going to use Letterman’s departure to completely redesign its late night lineup, and where does Ferguson go?

Clearly, CBS has a plan and they have been working at putting their ducks in a row for quite some time, making it all the more impressive that both Letterman’s intentions and other possible names haven’t leaked out until now, though now that the flood gates have come open, we should probably expect a deluge and a long process.

Where will that process wind up? Really, it’s anyone’s guess. Maybe it will be Colbert, or maybe CBS will tag a big name like Chris Rock, Kevin Hart, or Neil Patrick Harris (who the Mashable article also mentioned as a dark horse candidate). Maybe they’ll explore Jimmy Kimmel’s seeming openness to replacing Letterman, or convince Conan O’Brien to leave TBS when his contract expires next year. Maybe it’ll be someone else from cable like Chris Hardwick or Joel McHale (who has always seemed like he might flourish in such a job), or someone totally unexpected.

http://screenrant.com/stephen-colber...vid-letterman/
http://www.deadline.com/2014/04/les-...eric-garcetti/
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertain...icle-1.1746070
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...er-late-693587
http://www.thewrap.com/cbs-david-let...n=contactology
http://www.tvguide.com/News/Biz-Jimm...l-1079081.aspx

[Plow]

handler has to be getting looked at purely as ferguson's replacement, not letterman, there's no way she can touch tonight


Colbert could be interesting as himself I suppose, he's a smarter, less dickish Letterman outside his tv persona, but the reality is that description combined with network probably leads to little more than a toned down daily show.

[Anoat]

Real question, is the "Stephen Colbert" character owned by Colbert himself or Comedy Central? If owned by Comedy Central, would he even be able to use that persona on a potential CBS Late Show? I know CBS and Comedy Central are both under the Viacom umbrella, for what it's worth.

[quannum]

guessing, CC owns the name of the show. I dont' think they own the character, but could be hard-asses about content.
when Craig Kilborn left the daily show, he took his "5 questions" bit with him to The Late Late Show.

[Plow]

I heard a rumor I have no idea the strength of the source on... that they're apparently actually interested in Jimmy Kimmel >.>



also that if they can't sign him they're interested in Jimmy Smits, James 'Jimmy' Spader, Jimmy Buffet, Jimmy Carter, Jimmy John, Jimmy from South park, or a 1982 GMC Jimmy

[Anoat]

Jimmy from South park

Every night of the week. Sold.

[Plow]

if I had talent I would totally draw jimmy driving a jimmy with jimmy buffet and his band in it as a promo for the new show

[Akiyama]

Stephen Colbert named successor.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/stephen-...-on-late-show/

[Omniyoji]

Oooo big win!

[Kaslo]

I feel bad for Jimmy Fallon.

Spoiler: show

Not really

[Tyrath]

Holy shit thats awesome. Although I guess this means we only have a year of Colbert Report left D:

[Fhloston]

I feel bad for Jimmy Fallon.

Yes, really. Fallon fucking sucks.