David Letterman - Shows, Projects, and News
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David Letterman - Shows, Projects, and News
They should go the stand-up route of it does happen, Todd Barry, Mike Birbiglia, Chris Rock all NY based all funny. Rock already had his own Emmy winning show on HBO.
Time to update that resume for late night’s last foreseeable opening, funny people: It’s widely predicted that CBS’ David Letterman, the beloved crank and comic’s comic, may retire if CBS chooses not to renew his contract when it expires in 2015, and some comedy experts think it’s a perfect time to try a non-traditional successor.
“It would be nice if there was somebody who wasn’t a white dude for a change,” Adam Frucci, editor of the comedy site Splitsider told us. Frucci endorses unexpected, alternative choices for future late-night hosts, such as Reggie Watts the mega-popular musician, improv comedian and co-host of the weekly IFC chat show “Comedy Bang! Bang!” and Maria Bamford, known for her dark, confessional stand-up, appearances on “Arrested Development” and the faux-advice web series “Ask My Mom.”
“You just have to find a really unique voice,” Frucci added. Not a “bland standard-issue comedian that will just kind of carry the torch forward but somebody who will really just kind of blow it up, or put it back together.”
As for Letterman’s successor, Frucci points to "The Late Late Show" host Craig Ferguson as the logical not-so-alternative replacement — or possibly even Jon Stewart, should CBS attempt to poach “The Daily Show” icon from Comedy Central. “I don’t see them taking anybody too outside the box for it,” he predicted. (CC: Seth MacFarlane and Joel McHale, whose sarcastic sensibilities offer a counterbalance to Fallon’s endearing yet not-as-edgy exuberance.)
Nate Dern, artistic director at the New York branch of Upright Citizens Brigade, said that if he were in charge of the universe he’d handpick Amy Poehler — who co-founded the improv venue in 1999 — to top-line a “Tonight”-style program.
Ellen DeGeneres is another brand-name possibility, according to Andrew Alexander, CEO and executive producer of The Second City. Ditto Sarah Silverman, a charismatic and no-holds-barred heir apparent to Joan Rivers, and Chelsea Handler, who suffers no fools (especially Kardashians) as headliner of E! Network’s “Chelsea Lately.”
And in the wild-card category, Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford, who’ve transformed the fourth hour of TODAY into appointment viewing, thanks to natural chemistry and the audacity to consume wine on the air at 10 a.m.
Collins praised cable TV’s willingness to give a chance to a wider variety of faces and personalities, thanks to lowered stakes and less pressure to attract a broad viewership. She also singles out the BBC for carving a spot for Graham Norton, the sharp-witted, openly gay emcee of a top-rated eponymous chat show in the U.K.
Stateside, Comedy Central’s Keegan-Michael Key could make a successful transition from cable to a network, suggested Alexander.
He praised the Second City alum — co-host of the acclaimed sketch series “Key & Peele,” which rolls out season four later this year — as having loads of charisma plus two other host-worthy qualities: intellectual curiosity and genuine interest in other people. And he’s got the endorsement of maybe the only person with more clout than Lorne Michaels: President Obama.
“It would be nice if there was somebody who wasn’t a white dude for a change,” Adam Frucci, editor of the comedy site Splitsider told us. Frucci endorses unexpected, alternative choices for future late-night hosts, such as Reggie Watts the mega-popular musician, improv comedian and co-host of the weekly IFC chat show “Comedy Bang! Bang!” and Maria Bamford, known for her dark, confessional stand-up, appearances on “Arrested Development” and the faux-advice web series “Ask My Mom.”
“You just have to find a really unique voice,” Frucci added. Not a “bland standard-issue comedian that will just kind of carry the torch forward but somebody who will really just kind of blow it up, or put it back together.”
As for Letterman’s successor, Frucci points to "The Late Late Show" host Craig Ferguson as the logical not-so-alternative replacement — or possibly even Jon Stewart, should CBS attempt to poach “The Daily Show” icon from Comedy Central. “I don’t see them taking anybody too outside the box for it,” he predicted. (CC: Seth MacFarlane and Joel McHale, whose sarcastic sensibilities offer a counterbalance to Fallon’s endearing yet not-as-edgy exuberance.)
Nate Dern, artistic director at the New York branch of Upright Citizens Brigade, said that if he were in charge of the universe he’d handpick Amy Poehler — who co-founded the improv venue in 1999 — to top-line a “Tonight”-style program.
Ellen DeGeneres is another brand-name possibility, according to Andrew Alexander, CEO and executive producer of The Second City. Ditto Sarah Silverman, a charismatic and no-holds-barred heir apparent to Joan Rivers, and Chelsea Handler, who suffers no fools (especially Kardashians) as headliner of E! Network’s “Chelsea Lately.”
And in the wild-card category, Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford, who’ve transformed the fourth hour of TODAY into appointment viewing, thanks to natural chemistry and the audacity to consume wine on the air at 10 a.m.
Collins praised cable TV’s willingness to give a chance to a wider variety of faces and personalities, thanks to lowered stakes and less pressure to attract a broad viewership. She also singles out the BBC for carving a spot for Graham Norton, the sharp-witted, openly gay emcee of a top-rated eponymous chat show in the U.K.
Stateside, Comedy Central’s Keegan-Michael Key could make a successful transition from cable to a network, suggested Alexander.
He praised the Second City alum — co-host of the acclaimed sketch series “Key & Peele,” which rolls out season four later this year — as having loads of charisma plus two other host-worthy qualities: intellectual curiosity and genuine interest in other people. And he’s got the endorsement of maybe the only person with more clout than Lorne Michaels: President Obama.
#2
DVD Talk God
Re: CBS may not renew Letterman's contract in 2015
I always assumed it was Stewart's job if he wanted it.
#3
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Re: CBS may not renew Letterman's contract in 2015
I think Jon Stewart is already the highest paid talk show host and being on a political show might scare away a lot of the type of political types he's currently makes fun of. But he would be a great host.
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Re: CBS may not renew Letterman's contract in 2015
I heard Louis CK is leading the running...
Spoiler:
#7
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Re: CBS may not renew Letterman's contract in 2015
Maybe five or six years ago, I could see Stewart jumping at this, now I'm not so sure.
I don't see him being interested in doing two "what-are-you-promoting" interviews and a band/comedian each night. There's a bit more flexibility on the type of guests and shape those single interview segments take on TDS.
Plus with the diminishing returns of late night network TV, the shift in $$$ wouldn't be that big of deal.
I don't see him being interested in doing two "what-are-you-promoting" interviews and a band/comedian each night. There's a bit more flexibility on the type of guests and shape those single interview segments take on TDS.
Plus with the diminishing returns of late night network TV, the shift in $$$ wouldn't be that big of deal.
#9
DVD Talk Legend
Re: CBS may not renew Letterman's contract in 2015
Maybe five or six years ago, I could see Stewart jumping at this, now I'm not so sure.
I don't see him being interested in doing two "what-are-you-promoting" interviews and a band/comedian each night. There's a bit more flexibility on the type of guests and shape those single interview segments take on TDS.
Plus with the diminishing returns of late night network TV, the shift in $$$ wouldn't be that big of deal.
I don't see him being interested in doing two "what-are-you-promoting" interviews and a band/comedian each night. There's a bit more flexibility on the type of guests and shape those single interview segments take on TDS.
Plus with the diminishing returns of late night network TV, the shift in $$$ wouldn't be that big of deal.
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Re: CBS may not renew Letterman's contract in 2015
Yes (something like $25-30m v. $20m), but in a poaching scenario, you'd have to assume CBS will have to offer some more money his way. I can't see CBS offering something like $35m to $40m for late night, when Kimmel and, I assume, Fallon are in the $10m range.
#12
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Re: CBS may not renew Letterman's contract in 2015
Chris Rock, he's a New Yorker, his show on HBO was great and Louis CK was the head writer. And he's not competing with Jimmy and Jimmy he can gain the growing minority audience in America that want something different which will prob cause Arsenio to be canceled. He's also a great comedian and social commentator.
#14
DVD Talk Legend
Re: CBS may not renew Letterman's contract in 2015
They should get English comedian Jimmy Carr just to confuse people even more. They could promote it as the United Kingdom of Late Night.
#16
DVD Talk Legend
Re: CBS may not renew Letterman's contract in 2015
I just want to point out that the "news story" in the OP says that Letterman leaving CBS is predicted.
Predicted. Not reported from sources. Not even rumored.
Predicted. Not reported from sources. Not even rumored.
#19
DVD Talk Legend
Re: CBS may not renew Letterman's contract in 2015
Nah, I love Ferguson but he wouldn't get away with half the stuff he does on The Late Late Show if he took Dave's spot. I'd miss Letterman if the end of his run is coming but I guess he's getting older and needs to step down at some point.
#20
DVD Talk Legend
Re: CBS may not renew Letterman's contract in 2015
It's Rashida Jones.
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Re: CBS may not renew Letterman's contract in 2015
I was a huge, HUGE Letterman fan for many years, but when I tune in now I can't watch more than a few minutes. His time has long passed.
Time for Norm Macdonald to move back onto TV!
Time for Norm Macdonald to move back onto TV!
#22
DVD Talk Hero
Re: CBS may not renew Letterman's contract in 2015
I hear there's a chance CBS may renew Letterman's contract
#23
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Re: CBS may not renew Letterman's contract in 2015
#24
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: CBS may not renew Letterman's contract in 2015
I expect that Letterman will retire. If add together the time he was on Late Night with the time on The Late Show, he's been doing this type of show longer than Johnny Carson did The Tonight Show - which is a long damn time!
And I think networks like to play it safe, so I think Craig Ferguson would be the odds on replacement.
And I think networks like to play it safe, so I think Craig Ferguson would be the odds on replacement.
#25
Senior Member