So
Letterman announced his retirement a week ago (which really was just a matter of time), and after many articles and listicles as to who would take over, they announced the successor to
The Late Show, and yes, it's yet another middle-aged white guy. If you thought it wouldn't be the case, you were sadly mistaken. Even
I knew that wouldn't be the case.
(To anyone who put Seth Meyers on their list - what the fuck. Dude's still cutting his teeth on NBC, he wouldn't jump ship so soon!)
Of course to some people, it would've been obvious for Craig to move up an hour, but no Prince of Wales clause (term I saw someplace) for him. But with his contract ending pretty soon, fans like myself should wonder/worry if he would renew or leave.
But good on
Stephen Colbert. Really. From basic cable to a major network? Major coup for him and CBS. As someone who saw
The Colbert Report the same fall it went on the air all those years ago (almost 10 years - woah!) as a transfer student in America. So yes, I have sentimental value for
The Colbert Report.
Although
Vulture came up with some pretty good questions about the transition
here, I also have my own (which everyone else must be wondering):
- Will he be Stephen Colbert or "Stephen Colbert", the character he's been playing on TV for almost a decade now?
- Will he have to rejig The Late Show to his liking, or will he get some of his bits or segments from The Report?
- While this means that he wouldn't have to move too far, would he be staying put in his current studio, or would he be based in the Ed Sullivan Theater?
- Band or no band? He's been, for the most part, a one-man show over on Comedy Central. Or maybe, like Craig, go bandless? Or will he "inherit" Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra (that is, if they stayed put)?
- What will happen to the people who are currently working on The Late Show? Will Colbert be bringing his crew over?
- Who's taking over Colbert's slot on Comedy Central? Because I don't think you can move The Daily Show up half hour..
