Progressive comedian and political satirist Stephen Colbert will assume David Letterman’s late-night slot next year, CBS first announced by tweet at 11:59 a.m. on Thursday.
Minutes later the network issued a press release confirming the upcoming role of the politically-active writer and actor.
?Stephen Colbert, the host, writer and executive producer of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning ‘The Colbert Report,? will succeed David Letterman as the host of THE LATE SHOW, effective when Mr. Letterman retires from the broadcast.?
On April 3, Letterman ? host of his own talk show on two networks for 21 years ? announced that he would retire on an undetermined date in 2015.
Host of Comedy Central’s ?The Colbert Report? since 2005, the Charleston, S.C. native previously worked for ?The Daily Show,? ?Saturday Night Live,? and Chicago’s Second City comedy troupe.
In the press release, Colbert says:
?Simply being a guest on David Letterman’s show has been a highlight of my career. I never dreamed that I would follow in his footsteps, though everyone in late night follows Dave’s lead.?
Colbert’s career isn’t limited to entertainment; he’s also been politically active for progressive causes.
For example, he created of his own ?Super PAC? in 2011 to protest questionable campaign funding, and in 2010 testified on behalf of migrant workers before the U.S. House of Representatives.?In 2013 Colbert aided the campaign of sister Elizabeth Colbert Busch in her unsuccessful bid for South Carolina’s 1st congressional district.
The Late Show airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. Eastern.
Edited/Published by: WG
