Stephen Colbert picked to succeed Letterman, CBS says
Published 10:15 am Thursday, April 10, 2014
NEW YORK — Stephen Colbert, the comedian and host of Comedy Central’s “Colbert Report,” will succeed David Letterman as host of “Late Show,” CBS’s flagship late-night franchise, when Letterman retires next year, the network announced today.
Colbert will sign on for a five-year term as the new “Late Show” host, according to the announcement from Leslie Moonves, president and chief operating officer of CBS, and Nina Tassler, chairwoman of CBS’s entertainment division.
“Simply being a guest on David Letterman’s show has been a highlight of my career,” Colbert said in a statement. “I never dreamed that I would follow in his footsteps, though everyone in late night follows Dave’s lead.”
He added: “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.”
(A Peninsula Poll earlier this week on who should be Letterman’s successor ranked Colbert sixth, after Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Jon Stewart, Conan O’Brien and Craig Ferguson.)
