Awwww, isn't it nice when one late night host gives a compliment to another?
Late, Late Show host Craig Ferguson says that he would like to see Jon Stewart take over for David Letterman if and when Letterman retires. Letterman's current contract with CBS is up in 2010, which just happens to be the same time that Stewart's contract is up with The Daily Show and Comedy Central.
But that's not the most interesting part of this interview with Ferguson over at Broadcasting and Cable. Ferguson hints strongly that if Letterman stays, he'll stay, but if Letterman does indeed retire, he'll probably retire too. And he really doesn't have an interest in the 11:35 slot (Ferguson has already said he might leave CBS when his six year contract is up).
As I've said here before, it would be great to see Jon Stewart take over for Letterman. Sure, he's had crazy success with The Daily Show and has become sort of an icon in that role and has probably been influential in some way, but as he has said a thousand times in interviews, success doesn't last forever in this business, and he might see the timing of the late night shake up (Leno leaving NBC in 2009, Conan taking over for him, Letterman and Ferguson possibly leaving in 2010) as a way to move on to the next thing in his career. Plus, he looks up to Letterman and would probably like to be part of that family again.
Maybe if Letterman retires, Stewart can get the 11:35 slot and Colbert can come over too and get the 12:35 slot? That would be an interesting shift in the late night network talk show landscape.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-11-2008 @ 3:11PM
David said...
It's too bad that Ferguson is talking about walking away. I started watching his show nightly after the WGA strike waiver thingie, and I find it refreshingly good.
I always wanted Conan to take over Dave's show, but I'll take Jon Stewart.
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2-11-2008 @ 3:36PM
dt3 said...
can someone explain to me the difference between conan taking over jay or dave's spot.
2-11-2008 @ 3:39PM
David said...
A few differences:
* NY vs. LA
* Ed Sullivan Theatre vs. NBC Studios
* Being a child of Letterman, not a child of Leno and a grandchild of Carson
... and the #1 difference between taking over dave's spot vs. taking over jay's spot:
* a big $*@# you to NBC
2-12-2008 @ 6:18PM
dt3 said...
wow those sounds like a bunch of points that are very important to you... and no one else in the entire world.
2-11-2008 @ 4:20PM
Cody said...
What is Kilborn up to these days? He's one of my top choices for replacing Letterman if/when.
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2-11-2008 @ 6:22PM
David said...
I worked around Kilborn when he hosted the original Daily Show. Biggest jerk I've met in my entire life. Seriously.
2-11-2008 @ 4:28PM
jordancda said...
Kilborn will never be back on late night television. No one who gets canned ever comes back to it. Kilborn was terrible.
I do wish Conan was taking over for Letterman instead of Leno, but whatever. At least he's moving up and Leno will finally be off my television.
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2-11-2008 @ 5:34PM
Oreo said...
There have been rumors that Leno is being fired to make way for a younger Tonight Show host, Conon.
So Leno is pissed and might go over to ABC and ABC might get rid of Nightline.
2-11-2008 @ 5:20PM
mike m said...
I'm pretty much ok with this actually. I love Ferguson, but he isn't what most want out of their 11:37 time slot. I think he'd be excellent at 11:37, but if Dave walks, and Craig does as well, a Stewart Colbert late night on CBS, isn't unfeasible...especially since Comedy Central is owned by Viacom as well.
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2-11-2008 @ 5:23PM
segsig said...
I've seen Ferguson twice and he was great both times, it's too bad if he leaves. I don't think Stewart/Colbert will translate well onto a network, but at least it's not nbc.
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2-11-2008 @ 5:39PM
Jeff N. said...
Craig Ferguson is terrific. I wish CBS would broadcast his show in HD.
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2-11-2008 @ 6:00PM
Chester said...
Ferguson is playing the game, looking for more money next contract plain and simple.
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2-11-2008 @ 6:32PM
Mary said...
Why would Jon Stewart leave a show that is successful and that he has creative control over?
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2-11-2008 @ 7:06PM
JW said...
I highly doubt Stewart would take Letterman's place, but if he did, CBS would be messing up big time; I am pretty sure a lot of people who watch Letterman would quit watching if anyone replaced him, especially those like Stewart. Plus Comedy Central would lose viewers too. Colbert '08!
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2-11-2008 @ 7:13PM
Joey Geraci said...
Ferguson is painful.
There is no way that Stewart is leaving Comedy Central; he is comfortable in his little fiefdom, and I can't see why he would want to rock the boat.
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2-11-2008 @ 7:23PM
Stacy said...
Yeah I really don't see Stewart going to CBS. He seems like he prefers interviewing politicians to celerities and he won't be able to do that with the Late Show. Plus, I sort of remember him saying on his show that he was very happy where he was, but that was a few years ago so I guess plenty can change.
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2-11-2008 @ 10:47PM
Justin said...
Stewart won't take Letterman's spot simply because he's also loyal to Conan and I don't think Stewart would want to be seen as a rival for Conan.
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2-11-2008 @ 11:57PM
Chris Shifty said...
Why is Stewart loyal to Conan? Because they appeared on each other's shows during a Writer's Strike? Late Night has a bulletin board with a list of guests on other talk shows and the Daily Show isn't on that because according to producer Jeff Ross, they're not their competition.
He may be quite happy doing his 22 minute episodes 4x a week (he's been cleaning up with Emmy wins) but if he's still allowed to poke fun at politicians and the media and interview more guests and have a bigger budget then why not? He could do it for 5 or 6 years and do something else. These guys (Craig, Jon, Conan, Colbert and Jimmy) are already approaching their mid40s and don't seem like Letterman or Carson and will continue until their 60s.
Of course Letterman's viewers may not like Stewart but they're also getting older each year and thus less important to CBS. Stewart on CBS will attract a younger audience.
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2-12-2008 @ 2:21AM
cathy said...
craig is consistently the funniest thing on tv.
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2-12-2008 @ 5:37AM
E.T. said...
Kilborn was horrible, that said Jon Stewart's was God awful as a comedian and even worse as a talk show host.
I am telling you I couldn't stand this guy, but he did a 180 when he started hosting TDS.
He found he niche, but he will fail if he does the Late Show, his interview skills are below that of Carson Daily.
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