© AP / Stephen Colbert
April 10, 2014, 12:03 PM EST
By Tony Maglio
TheWrap
TheWrap
CBS has named Stephen Colbert its new host of "Late Show," the network said Monday.
The comedian and political satirist will take on his new duties after David Letterman retires next year.
Colbert inked a five-year deal with CBS, according to the network. Specific creative elements, as well as the producers and the location for the Colbert-hosted "Late Show," have yet to be determined and announced at a later date, CBS said.
Letterman, who has sat behind the "Late Show" desk for 21 years, announced his pending 2015 retirement on April 3. The long-tenured late night personality mentioned 2015 as his exit year, though no more specific timeframe has been targeted at this point.
"Stephen Colbert is one of the most inventive and respected forces on television,"
President and CEO of CBS Corporation Leslie Moonves said in the statement announcing the hire. "David Letterman's legacy and accomplishments are an incredible source of pride for all of us here, and today's announcement speaks to our commitment of upholding what he established for CBS in late night."
"Stephen is a multi-talented and respected host, writer, producer, satirist and comedian who blazes a trail of thought-provoking conversation, humor and innovation with everything he touches," Nina Tassler, chairman of CBS Entertainment, added. "He is a presence on every stage, with interests and notable accomplishments across a wide spectrum of entertainment, politics, publishing and music. We welcome Stephen to CBS with great pride and excitement, and look forward to introducing him to our network television viewers in late night."
Colbert had a few things to say about the deal himself, some sincere, some humorous.
"Simply being a guest on David Letterman's show has been a highlight of my career," he commented. "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," Colbert added, joking: "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go grind a gap in my front teeth."
Colbert's Comedy Central show, "The Colbert Report," has earned two Peabody Awards and 27 Emmy nominations, including an Emmy win for Outstanding Variety Series in 2013 and three Emmy wins for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program in 2008, 2010 and 2013.
Prior to that, Colbert spent eight years as a correspondent on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" as an on-air personality and writer of news satire for the Jon Stewart-hosted Emmy and Peabody Award-winning series.
In addition, Colbert has penned two books, "I Am America (and So Can You!)" and "America Again: Re-Becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't," appearing on the New York Times best-seller list. "America Again" also won a Grammy Award for Spoken Word in 2014.
Colbert won another Grammy -- this one for Best Comedy Album in 2009 -- for original holiday musical special on Comedy Central, "A Colbert Christmas. It also earned Emmy nominations for Art Direction, Picture Editing and Original Music and Lyrics. In April 2011, Colbert starred as Harry in the New York Philharmonic presentation of Stephen Sondheim's "Company."
Colbert has appeared on series such as HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and NBC's "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."
He was also a cast member and writer on ABC's "The Dana Carvey Show," wrote for "Saturday Night Live" and voiced roles in DreamWorks' animated films "Mr. Peabody and Sherman" and "Monsters vs. Aliens."
After graduating from Northwestern University, Colbert was a member of Chicago's Second City improv troupe with Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello.
The trio later created and starred in the CableAce-nominated sketch comedy series, "Exit 57," and created the cult-hit narrative series "Strangers with Candy," both for Comedy Central.
"The Late Show" is broadcast weeknights on the CBS Television Network from 11:35 p.m. to 12:37 a.m. ET/PT.
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