Stephen Colbert Sets ‘Late Show’ Start Date
When we last saw Stephen Colbert, the late night host was riding off into the sunset alongside Santa Claus, Abraham Lincoln and Alex Trebek, as the curtain closed on The Colbert Report. Today, CBS revealed when we’ll have Colbert back on television on a nightly basis again as the host of The Late Show: September 8th. CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler confirmed Colbert’s return date at the Television Critics Association panel.
Tassler added that some members of The Colbert Report staff will accompany the host, as he makes the jump to CBS and that Colbert’s Late Show will have music à la Paul Shaffer on David Letterman and the Roots on Jimmy Fallon. “There will be parts that will be traditional, and there will be things he wants to do differently,” Tassler said of Colbert’s Late Show vision.
“Simply being a guest on David Letterman’s show has been a highlight of my career,” Colbert said in a statement after inking a deal to take over Late Show. “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.”
David Letterman previously announced that he’d depart the Late Show on May 20th. No word yet on how CBS will fill the 11:35pm opening between Letterman’s exit and Colbert’s Late Show debut. Meanwhile, Tassler also told the TCA panel that James Corden, who will take over for Craig Ferguson on The Late Late Show, will begin his tenure on March 23rd.