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State of the Arts Blog
MPR News Staff

Nation! Colbert to take over ‘Late Show’ for Letterman

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Jon Stewart And Stephen Colbert Hold Rally On National Mall
Comedian Stephen Colbert in 2010. Getty Images

Faux conservative pundit Stephen Colbert is leaving "The Colbert Report" to take over "The Late Show" from the retiring David Letterman, CBS announced today.

"Simply being a guest on David Letterman’s show has been a highlight of my career," Colbert said in a statement. "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."

Stephen Colbert-Late Show
David Letterman, left, shaking hands with fellow talk show host Stephen Colbert of "The Colbert Report," during a surprise visit on the "Late Show with David Letterman," in New York. CBS, Worldwide Pants Inc. via AP

Mashable reported earlier this week that Colbert would have a new persona at CBS: his own.

Colbert would leave behind the pseudo-conservative persona he's cultivated at The Colbert Report and just be himself at his CBS home, one of the individuals told Mashable. He has stepped out of character on rare occasion, though not on his show, and possesses the same wry, incisive interview skills that Letterman has showcased for decades.

20140410_colbert2_53
Comedian Stephen Colbert hosts a rally with former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain at the College of Charleston on January 20, 2012 in Charleston, South Carolina. Colbert held the event with Cain, titled "Rock Me Like a Herman Cain South Cain-olina Primary Rally", as part of his pseudo-run for president of "The United States of South Carolina."

This being a Minnesota blog for Minnesotans though, let's look back at some local moments from The Colbert Report.

1) September 17, 2013. The soul-rending Cheerios ad, "Breakfast with Nana."

[image]

2) June 4, 2013. Stephen is en-saddened by Rep. Michele Bachmann's retirement.

[image]

3) January 8, 2013. Interview with then-Vikings punter Chris Kluwe.

[image]

4) August 9, 2012. A profile of Minnesota's "Fighting 5th" district.

[image]

5) May 13, 2010. Talking Catholicism with former Minnesotans and current Hold Steady band members Craig Finn and Tad Kubler.

[image]

Jason DeRusha, local CBS affiliate WCCO news anchor, chimed in on the Colbert news with a rim shot on Twitter:

And 'CCO sports guy Mark Rosen is "ecstatic'

One thing we're wondering is whether Colbert will keep the show in its home, the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York. AdWeek's trying to figure that out, too:

While CBS said the location for the Colbert-hosted Late Show will be determined at a later date, one may well imagine that the network would just as soon maintain the status quo. After all, it does own the Ed Sullivan Theater and the office space above it, and keeping the show in New York would appear to be more prudent than packing up and moving to Los Angeles.

Naturally, Colbert will have a say in the matter. As a political satirist and long-time New Yorker—and someone who appears to have never ventured west of Chicago (he graduated from Northwestern in 1986)—Colbert may not have the stomach for L.A.

(If New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has his way, the Late Show is staying put. That said, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has been lobbying CBS to help restore the balance of power now that NBC’s Tonight Show has relocated to Manhattan.)

And here's the moment that started everything: Letterman announcing his retirement:

http://youtu.be/l5sVI_-LRCI