Here's the official announcement from CBS on Stephen Colbert taking over as Late Show host. pic.twitter.com/gggTzmx5X1
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) April 10, 2014
Colbert's network, Comedy Central, tweeted in support:
One week ago, Letterman announced his departure from the late night seat after 33 years.
While taping his Thursday, April 3 show, the 66-year-old said he called
CBS president Leslie Moonves 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.'"
By the time he does, he will have hosted CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman" for 22 years. He previously hosted NBC's "Late Night" for 11 years.
Late last week, rumors swirled that Colbert, 49, was CBS' top choice for replacing Letterman.
At the time, Mashable reported that Colbert had not had any formal
conversations about taking the position, but he was the network's first
pick. It was also noted that his "The Colbert Report" contract with
Comedy Central runs through 2014, which makes timing ideal.
Other names that were tossed around ranged from Tina Fey to Jon Stewart to Neil Patrick Harris. UPDATE -- Colbert has commented on the new gig in usual form, saying in a statement: "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," he added, according to The Wrap. "I never dreamed that I would
follow in his footsteps, though everyone in late night follows Dave's
lead."
According to The Wrap, Colbert inked a five-year deal with CBS.
Letterman
has since released a statement of his own, saying: "Stephen has always
been a real friend to me. I'm very excited for him, and I'm flattered
that CBS chose him. I also happen to know they wanted another guy with
glasses."
See CBS' full announcement below:
CBS ANNOUNCES STEPHEN COLBERT AS THE NEXT HOST OF “THE LATE SHOW”
The CBS Television Network today announced that Stephen Colbert, the
host, writer and executive producer of the Emmy and Peabody
Award-winning “The Colbert Report,” will succeed David Letterman as the
host of THE LATE SHOW, effective when Mr. Letterman retires from the
broadcast. The five-year agreement between CBS and Colbert was announced
by Leslie Moonves, President and CEO, CBS Corporation, and Nina
Tassler, Chairman of CBS Entertainment.
Letterman, the
legendary, critically acclaimed host of the CBS late night series for 21
years, announced his retirement on his April 3 broadcast. Colbert’s
premiere date as host of THE LATE SHOW will be announced after Mr.
Lettermen determines a timetable for his final broadcasts in 2015.
Specific creative elements, as well as the producers and the
location for the Colbert-hosted LATE SHOW, will be determined and
announced at a later date.
“Stephen Colbert is one of the
most inventive and respected forces on television,” said Moonves. “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.”
“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,” said
Tassler. ”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,” said Colbert.
“I never dreamed that I would follow in his footsteps, though everyone
in late night follows Dave’s lead.”
Adding, “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.”
Since its launch on Comedy
Central in 2005, “The Colbert Report” has received widespread critical
acclaim while earning two Peabody Awards and 27 Emmy nominations,
including an Emmy win for Outstanding Variety Series (2013) and three
Emmy wins for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
(2013, 2010, 2008). Prior to that, Colbert spent eight years as a
correspondent on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” as an on-air
personality and writer of news satire for the Emmy and Peabody
Award-winning series.
In addition, Colbert is an accomplished
author, with two books, I AM AMERICA (and So Can You!) andAMERICA
AGAIN: Re-Becoming the Greatness We Never Weren’t, appearing on the New
York Times best-seller list. AMERICA AGAIN also won a Grammy Award for
Spoken Word (2014).
In music, Colbert’s original holiday
musical special on Comedy Central, “A Colbert Christmas,” won a Grammy
Award for Best Comedy Album (2009) and Emmy nominations for Art
Direction, Picture Editing and Original Music and Lyrics. In April 2011,
Colbert starred as Harry in the New York Philharmonic presentation of
Stephen Sondheim’s “Company.”
After graduating from
Northwestern University, Colbert was a member of Chicago’s acclaimed
Second City improv troupe with Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello. The trio
later created and starred in the CableAce-nominated sketch comedy
series, “Exit 57,” and created the cult-hit narrative series “Strangers
with Candy,” both for Comedy Central.
Colbert has appeared on
series such as HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and NBC’s “Law & Order:
Criminal Intent.” He was also a cast member and writer on ABC’s “The
Dana Carvey Show,” wrote for “Saturday Night Live” and voiced roles in
DreamWorks’ animated films “Mr. Peabody and Sherman” and “Monsters vs.
Aliens.”
THE LATE SHOW is broadcast weeknights on the CBS Television Network from 11:35 PM - 12:37 AM, ET/PT.
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