The DU Lounge

Midwestern Democrat

(852 posts)

49. That ship may have sailed. For years, everyone talked about Stewart as being the most likely next

Sat Apr 5, 2014, 12:46 AM

Apr 2014

network late night host, but somehow it never happened - he was up for the 11:30 ABC show but they went with Jimmy Kimmell because the ABC executives worried that Stewart's humor might be too smart for the broad audience and that Kimmell had more of an "everyman" appeal.

I certainly thought he was going to get the 12:30 CBS show when CBS forced out Tom Snyder, but Letterman's company shockingly went with Craig Kilborn instead - and to add to the irony, Stewart, in turn, replaced Kilborn on "The Daily Show" - a clear case of Comedy Central getting the diamond and CBS getting the shaft.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

74 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Your preference for Letterman's successor on "Late Night" [View all] Ken Burch Apr 2014 OP

Jay Leno's not a choice?... n/t PoliticAverse Apr 2014 #1

Why would they go with somebody all Letterman, Kimmel, and "COCO" fans despise? Ken Burch Apr 2014 #2

I thought Leno was consistently leading in the ratings? Jenoch Apr 2014 #44

Leno's ratings had been sliding for years. Ken Burch Apr 2014 #46

What were the recent ratings Leno vs Letterman? Jenoch Apr 2014 #47

Not sure...but not good enough for the NBC brass. Ken Burch Apr 2014 #58

Jay Leno had the highest late night talkshow ratings. Jenoch Apr 2014 #61

Not by much, though, and here's the calculation CBS would make, I think Ken Burch Apr 2014 #64

Why are you speculating to me about Jenoch Apr 2014 #66

Because this exchange we're having started with somebody asking why Leno wasn't a choice in my poll. Ken Burch Apr 2014 #67

I simply responed to your post where you Jenoch Apr 2014 #68

Ugh! Arugula Latte Apr 2014 #25

...WHAT heart?... Ken Burch Apr 2014 #34

Good *point* -- heh heh. Arugula Latte Apr 2014 #56

I voted COCO but would be happy with Craig. With Geoff, of course. Coventina Apr 2014 #3

Other Joe Shlabotnik Apr 2014 #4

Could Geoff do the Pict gibberish? n/t. Ken Burch Apr 2014 #5

Space Ghost with Brak as his co-host azurnoir Apr 2014 #6

+1000 Tom Ripley Apr 2014 #20

Zorak, can you help me? shenmue Apr 2014 #39

Yes!!!! redwitch Apr 2014 #70

It's time for a woman. How about Ellen or Wanda Sykes! mucifer Apr 2014 #7

That's what I was thinking, a woman davidpdx Apr 2014 #10

Queen Latifah would be great eShirl Apr 2014 #11

Couple of other possibilities along that line: Ken Burch Apr 2014 #33

I didn't even think of Wanda... GoCubsGo Apr 2014 #35

CraigyFerg eShirl Apr 2014 #8

That one is tough davidpdx Apr 2014 #9

interesting, thanks for posting it. n/t Tuesday Afternoon Apr 2014 #21

I like for them to bring back the late movie. B Calm Apr 2014 #12

Hear, hear! Let's begin by rerunning all of Richard Chamberlain's TV miniseries... First Speaker Apr 2014 #13

The Thorn Birds! B Calm Apr 2014 #32

I'm going to toss a wild card into the Fray - Jon Stewart LynneSin Apr 2014 #14

These days, TDS and the Report are almost like Letterman anyway. KamaAina Apr 2014 #31

That ship may have sailed. For years, everyone talked about Stewart as being the most likely next Midwestern Democrat Apr 2014 #49

I think Neil Patrick Harris or Ellen DeGeneres would be good. charlie and algernon Apr 2014 #15

Tina Fey or Raffi Ella Apr 2014 #16

+1 Agschmid Apr 2014 #17

Why not BOTH? Ken Burch Apr 2014 #29

haha, Poor Taylor. Raffi Ella Apr 2014 #52

I read that it was already in Craig Ferguson's contract that he takes over Lex Apr 2014 #18

Do you have a link? pokerfan Apr 2014 #27

No link. Posted on Facebook Lex Apr 2014 #28

I found a link Lex Apr 2014 #41

Thanks pokerfan Apr 2014 #43

I believe it's a very toothless clause - unless it contains a massive penalty payment (like the $30 Midwestern Democrat Apr 2014 #48

Actually Dave Letterman has probably retained the absolute ability to choose his replacement Lex Apr 2014 #55

He may not want to, however OmahaBlueDog Apr 2014 #54

Other geardaddy Apr 2014 #19

He was hilarious on SNL last weekend. Raffi Ella Apr 2014 #22

Do you watch "Louie"? geardaddy Apr 2014 #23

No, you know Raffi Ella Apr 2014 #24

You can get the first three seasons on Netflix. geardaddy Apr 2014 #26

I meant to look him up last weekend and forgot all about it. Raffi Ella Apr 2014 #53

Other: KamaAina KamaAina Apr 2014 #30

Dave Chappelle. GoCubsGo Apr 2014 #36

I just read that Colbert is on the top of the list for Letterman's replacement graywarrior Apr 2014 #37

Craig Ferguson gets first dibs Lex Apr 2014 #42

Stephen Colbert Is CBS's #1 Choice and He Wants to Do It: pokerfan Apr 2014 #38

+1 applegrove Apr 2014 #45

IF Colbert gets it will he do it in character like on his Comedy Central show? NightWatcher Apr 2014 #63

According to the article I linked pokerfan Apr 2014 #74

I never watch Leno. I seldom watch Conan. Demoiselle Apr 2014 #40

I don't watch Leno either. No one does anymore. UrbScotty Apr 2014 #59

Neil Patrick Harris grasswire Apr 2014 #50

Well I hadn't thought of him but I like that idea! progressoid Apr 2014 #51

Anyone but Conan O'Boredom - I'd tell you why, but I'm getting sleepy just thinking of him (nt) UrbScotty Apr 2014 #57

Well, I've never "gotten" what the FALLON hype is all about. n/t UTUSN Apr 2014 #62

Aisha Tyler Liberalynn Apr 2014 #60

Chelsea Handler...here's why.. doxydad Apr 2014 #65

Other: Nobody. Chan790 Apr 2014 #69

Create a completely new show. Create something unlike what is currently on TV mulsh Apr 2014 #71

Create a completely new show. Create something unlike what is currently on TV mulsh Apr 2014 #72

No one alive can replace Dave brooklynboy49 Apr 2014 #73