| BBC News | - |
Stephen
Colbert, host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, will succeed Late
Show host David Letterman upon his retirement next year.
10 April 2014
Last updated at 12:43 ET
On his show, Colbert plays a satirical version of himself as a conservative television commentator and pundit
Letterman, 66, said last week he was retiring, one year before his contract was set to expire.
He is one of the biggest names in US TV, after 21 years hosting the CBS chat show and 11 years on NBC's Late Night.
'Highlight of career'
Letterman has been a key figure in late night US television for decades
"Stephen Colbert is one of the most inventive and respected forces on television," CBS president Leslie Moonves wrote in a statement following the announcement.
"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."
On his popular and influential Emmy-winning Comedy Central programme, Colbert performs in character as a caricature of a right-wing pundit.
His biting satire draws critical acclaim as well as provoking ire. Recently he was attacked on social media for a joke some viewed as disparaging toward Asian Americans but which he meant as a satirical jab at the owner of the Washington Redskins American football team.
Of his hiring to the Late Show top spot, Colbert said, "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."
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Stephen Colbert to replace retiring David Letterman
On his show, Colbert plays a satirical version of himself as a conservative television commentator and pundit
Stephen Colbert, host of
Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, will succeed Late Show host David
Letterman upon his retirement next year.
The announcement was made on the Twitter page of US broadcaster CBS on Thursday.Letterman, 66, said last week he was retiring, one year before his contract was set to expire.
He is one of the biggest names in US TV, after 21 years hosting the CBS chat show and 11 years on NBC's Late Night.
'Highlight of career'
Letterman has been a key figure in late night US television for decades
"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."
On his popular and influential Emmy-winning Comedy Central programme, Colbert performs in character as a caricature of a right-wing pundit.
His biting satire draws critical acclaim as well as provoking ire. Recently he was attacked on social media for a joke some viewed as disparaging toward Asian Americans but which he meant as a satirical jab at the owner of the Washington Redskins American football team.
Of his hiring to the Late Show top spot, Colbert said, "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."
end quote from:
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