True to speculative reports and that wish you made upon a star, Stephen Colbert has been announced as David Letterman’s replacement on The Late Show a week after the latter announced his retirement after twenty-one years, with Colbert signing a five year contract with CBS effective as of Letterman’s final broadcasts in 2015.
Colbert has also confirmed he will not host the show in the style of his blowhard, right-wing alter ego Stephen Colbert, saying “I won’t be doing the new show in character, so we’ll all get to find out how much of him was me. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Simply being a guest on David Letterman’s show has been a highlight of my career,” added Colbert in a statement released by CBS. “I never dreamed that I would follow in his footsteps, though everyone in late night follows Dave’s lead. 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.”
Photo: Theo Wargo via Getty
