Matt Collette/ Uptown Radio
ELLE: Last week Matt Collette reported on Late Show host David Letterman’s retirement. He’s back again this week with news of his successor: Comedian Stephen Colbert. Welcome back.
MATT: Hey there. Glad to be here.
FELICE: What’s the thinking behind this pick?
MATT: A lot of people thought this was finally the time a late night show would be hosted by a woman, someone like Chelsea Handler.
That didn’t happen.
Stephen Colbert has a lot of younger viewers who follow him on TV and online.
But he won’t appear on CBS in character.
Here’s Stephen Colbert — the character — talking on his show about yesterday’s announcement that Stephen Colbert — the actual person — would be replacing Letterman.
COLLETTE_COLBERT_2WAY: This man has influenced every host who came after him, and even a few who come before him – he’s that good. And I’ve gotta tell you, I do not envy whoever they try to put in that chair. (0:16)
Most viewers don’t really know the Colbert who’ll be hosting the Late Show.
Colbert’s a devout Catholic and widely seen as an all-around good guy.
Colbert got his start on The Daily Show.
On last night’s show, Jon Stewart said he can’t wait to see Colbert’s name over Broadway, on the Ed Sullivan Theater’s marquee.
COLLETTE_STEWART_2WAY: There is no greater joy than seeing a geninuenly good man who works as hard as he can every day and deserves all the success in the world actually get that success. So for Stephen, we’re just thrilled. (0:14)
ELLE: You reported last week that the big challenge in replacing Letterman was that the new pick had to be able to go against Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show. What can we expect between those two?
Probably nothing like the all-out rivalry between Letterman and Jay Leno.
These two guys are actually really good friends, on TV and in real life.
MATT: Probably nothing like the bitter rivalry between Jay Leno and David Letterman. Jimmy Fallon dismissed that idea on his show last night.
COLLETTE_FALLON_2WAY: Now a lot of people in the media are talking about how there’s going to be a new late night war. And I just want to say there’s not going to be any war. It’ll be a dance-off (0:12)
Things could get tricky because while Fallon and Colbert are good friends, NBC and CBS are not.
FELICE: Thanks for the update, Matt
MATT: Happy to be here.
ELLE: Matt Collette is a reporter and producer for Uptown Radio. Last week he reported on Letterman’s retirement and the future of Late Night.
BACKANNOUNCE: Matt Collette is a reporter and producer for Uptown Radio. Last week he reported on Letterman’s retirement and the future of Late Night.
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