The Late Show with …
They’re big shoes to fill, big time. David Letterman announced Thursday he’s retiring as host of CBS’s Late Show in 2015. So who could replace the longest-serving latenight talk show host in TV history and the man who made famous the late-night Top 10 List? There aren’t 10 who could replace Letterman. But here are the top five potential candidates:
1. Stephen Colbert: His name is being mentioned as the front-runner. And nation, you know The Late Show would be better off with a hard dose of reality from a real American. But would Colbert’s Emmy-winning faux-GOP shtick work for a big-three network audience? It would if it knew what was good for it. 2. Chelsea Handler: Offensive or hilarious, take your pick. The occasionally abrasive Handler has her loyal followers as well as her dedicated detractors. But Handler thrives on controversy and would provide a nice jolt to the nice boys currently dominating late-night network TV. Her contract as host of E!’s Chelsea Lately expires in the fall. 3. Conan O’Brien: It could happen, Team Coco. O’Brien, of course, took over NBC’s Late Night after Letterman fled to CBS in 1993. Letterman was miffed that Jay Leno (remember him?) got the coveted Tonight Show gig vacated by Johnny Carson. O’Brien has been dishing his self-deprecating stylings on TBS since 2010. His contract is up in November 2015. 4. Craig Ferguson: The host of The Late Late Show, Ferguson was pegged by many to fill Letterman’s slot before Dave announced his retirement. Added bonus: He already works for CBS — so at least the paperwork would be easier. 5. Piers Morgan: Well, maybe a long shot. But he needs a gig. Letterman, who turns 67 next week, announced his retirement plans to his audience during the recording of his show Thursday in New York. He began his Hollywood career as a standup comedian in the late 1970s, appearing several times on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He got a morning show in 1980 and began his late-night career in 1982 on NBC with Late Night with David Letterman. Eleven years later, Letterman moved to CBS to launch The Late Show with David Letterman when Leno got the big chair on The Tonight Show. Letterman’s CBS contract is scheduled to expire next year and he won’t be re-upping.