Letterman Handing Over "Late Show" To Colbert In May 2015

By Elana Goodwin on December 13, 2014

On December 10, CBS announced David Letterman’s final night of hosting the “Late Show” would be May 20, 2015. Earlier this year, when Letterman announced his impending retirement, he also revealed Stephen Colbert would be taking over as host.

Photo Credit: deadline.com

The “Late Show” on CBS first started airing in August of 1993 and since its debut, Letterman has been the only host. Before hosting the “Late Show,” Letterman was the host of “Late Night” on NBC from 1982 to 1993. When NBC opted to give Jay Leno hosting duties on “The Tonight Show,” CBS scooped up Letterman and gave him his own show on their network.

In 2013, Letterman became the longest-serving late-night talk show host in television history, with 31 years on air. The 67-year-old comedian who is known for his dry humor and sarcasm has become a legend on late-night TV and during his time on the “Late Show” he has won nine Emmy Awards and has been nominated for 73 Emmys.

Meanwhile, Stephen Colbert has hosted his popular satirical news show, “The Colbert Report,” on Comedy Central since October 2005. Before “Colbert,” he was part of the cast of Comedy Central’s other parody-news show “The Daily Show,” during which he won three Emmys as a writer. On Colbert’s own show, which is a spin-off of “The Daily Show,” he hosts as a fictional anchorman with his same name who’s somewhat of an idiot.

“The Colbert Report” will end on December 18, 2014, though the date of Colbert’s first night of hosting the “Late Show” has yet to be announced.

While fans and the network were of course saddened and somewhat surprised by the news that Letterman would be retiring, the overall response to the declaration that Colbert would fill his shoes has been overwhelmingly positive.

Colbert has strong interviewing skills, quick wit, and an impressive array of knowledge, as viewers have seen on his show. He also has a dedicated following who he will no doubt take with him to his new late-night setting and that fan base will only grow as Colbert abandons his fake persona and hosts the “Late Show” as himself.

President Obama on “The Colbert Report” on December 8
Photo Credit: abcnews.go.com

Additionally, Colbert’s ability to comment and discuss pretty much anything — from music to politics to pop culture to the economy — and relay to viewers what’s important in a way they can understand will be an asset when he takes over from Letterman.

Plus, while he’s interviewed some pretty impressive people on “Colbert”–for instance, President Obama, who dropped by and stole the show on December 8–the “Late Show” will provide him with more renowned guests he can interact with for longer.

CBS also made the right move picking Colbert to take over the “Late Show” as he’s up against “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on ABC and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on NBC, both of whom have their shows air at 11:30 p.m. as well. Colbert, 50, is a better candidate to compete against Kimmel, 47, and Fallon, 40, as they’re all young enough to attract the younger generations while old enough to appeal to the older ones.

Colbert will definitely flourish on the “Late Show,” with more freedom than his “Colbert” personality would allow and bring a new energy to the show that’s different from Letterman’s.

He is sure to seamlessly transition to his new gig, as he’s both a natural and seasoned pro at conducting interviews, doing skits, and bringing the funny, as proven on “The Colbert Report.”

While I’ll definitely miss Letterman’s more cranky, unpredictable style of hosting the “Late Show,” I think it’s time the late-night show got some fresh blood, especially since Letterman is now competing with two younger hosts for ratings and viewers. That’s not to say that newer is better, but I believe even Letterman is aware that his viewers have grown up with him and the younger viewers are more attracted to Fallon or Kimmel.

With Colbert behind the desk, the “Late Show” will have an opportunity (much like “The Tonight Show” did with Fallon taking over for Leno) to widen their viewership, attract a new audience, and let someone else make their mark on the late-night program. And I, for one, can’t wait to see Colbert revive the “Late Show.”

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