David Letterman To Retire

Late night television legend David Letterman will retire in 2015.

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Letterman announced his retirement decision during a taping of "The Late Show" on Thursday afternoon. CBS (CBS, Fortune 500) subsequently released a transcript of his remarks.

"We don't have the timetable for this precisely down," Letterman said. "I think it will be at least a year or so, but sometime in the not too distant future, 2015 for the love of God, in fact, Paul and I will be wrapping things up," he added, referring to his longtime band leader Paul Shaffer.

Letterman's announcement sparked a standing ovation from his much-surprised audience at the Ed Sullivan Theater in midtown Manhattan.

It also triggered immediate speculation about who might replace him on the iconic CBS program.

Letterman's announcement initially leaked out when a performer, Mike Mills, who was at the taping of

"The Late Show" tweeted out the news. "Dave just announced his retirement," Mills wrote.

The news comes just weeks after Letterman's longtime rival, Jay Leno, retired from the NBC "Tonight Show." Leno was replaced by Jimmy Fallon.

I remember a skit they did when a staff member came out and screamed at Dave, "When will it be over?!?!" and Dave quietly said, "Oh in about 3 years." That was about 2012. So I've been expecting it for a while.

I think Dave will not make the same mistake Johnny Carson did when he passed him over for the Tonight Show. Dave will ask Craig Ferguson to do the Late Show. If Craigy doesn't bite, then it's anybody's guess.

Glad he's leaving, hasn't been good since the 90's

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[Edited 4/4/14 14:49pm]

Slave2daGroove said:

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[Edited 4/4/14 14:49pm]

Maybe in 9 years when his tv series has ended.

I find this painful to swallow; when I was born the guy had already been there for some years; he's a tv legend and a truly likeable guy and I've grown up with him; I'll miss him

now I feel a lil older, another element of my childhood/teenagehood gone away...

I couldn't see Adam hosting anything. He's funny but I just don't think he could pull off hosting/interviews.

I think the best choice right now is Chelsea handler by far. Great interviewer, funny, edgy. Connan already has a talk show and there really isn't anyone else.

V10LETBLUES said:

I think the best choice right now is Chelsea handler by far. Great interviewer, funny, edgy. Connan already has a talk show and there really isn't anyone else.

I think CBS would be WAY scared of Chelsea and her brand of comedy. If she went to CBS we wouldn't get the Chelsea Handler that I love.

lazycrockett said:

V10LETBLUES said:

I think the best choice right now is Chelsea handler by far. Great interviewer, funny, edgy. Connan already has a talk show and there really isn't anyone else.

I think CBS would be WAY scared of Chelsea and her brand of comedy. If she went to CBS we wouldn't get the Chelsea Handler that I love.

Yeah the more I think of it, she may not be mainstream enough. Not sure how she would do with the male audience.

Is Bill Murray too old?

V10LETBLUES said:

lazycrockett said:

I think CBS would be WAY scared of Chelsea and her brand of comedy. If she went to CBS we wouldn't get the Chelsea Handler that I love.

Yeah the more I think of it, she may not be mainstream enough. Not sure how she would do with the male audience.

Wasn't Dave pretty edgy when he started out, though? It would be a fun shakeup.

Stephen Colbert has been the most talked about this week, but he would have to giuve up his right-wing pundit schtick.

Plus why hasn't anyone considered Aresnio Hall, or for that matter, some other "not white male" person? Chelsea Handler is good at stand-up, but I don't know if she could do skits like Jimmy Fallon or Jimmy Kimmel.

^I'd say Aresenio is too old. They could go with Wayne Brady. I like Colbert where he's at and his schtick.

[Edited 4/5/14 9:50am]

Elayne Boosler!!

McJagger said:

Elayne Boosler!!

Isn't she like 75 now?

Keith Oberman...

lazycrockett said:

you know... that is not a bad idea

lazycrockett said:

V10LETBLUES said:

I think the best choice right now is Chelsea handler by far. Great interviewer, funny, edgy. Connan already has a talk show and there really isn't anyone else.

I think CBS would be WAY scared of Chelsea and her brand of comedy. If she went to CBS we wouldn't get the Chelsea Handler that I love.

Isn't 2 broke girls a show on cbs (a show co-created by whitney cummings a friend of Chelsea.) ? They have the same brand of humor. And she said she was leaving (Etv)after her contract expires about the same time Dave leaves (She leaves 6 months earlier off TV and then starts a new late night???)

OnlyNDaUsa said:

Keith Oberman...

Sarah Silverman!

Rita Rudner!

Barbara Gaines!

Samantha Bee!

[Edited 4/6/14 14:54pm]

Bring back Kilborn!

what about Joel McHale?

JoeBala said:

Bring back Kilborn!

Or Kermit the Frog would be a good host.

CNN is reporting that Colbert will replace Letterman, which sucks cause I adore the colbert report.

728huey said:

Stephen Colbert has been the most talked about this week, but he would have to giuve up his right-wing pundit schtick.

Plus why hasn't anyone considered Aresnio Hall, or for that matter, some other "not white male" person? Chelsea Handler is good at stand-up, but I don't know if she could do skits like Jimmy Fallon or Jimmy Kimmel.

Stephen Colbert has officially been chosen to replace Letterman

An excellent choice. Probably the best choice. Although Stephen Colbert will have to give up the right-wing character and just be himself. I guess Craig Ferguson didn't want to move back east. It's nice that CBS has handled this so smoothly.

Hopefully Samantha Bee get's Colbert's spot.

That would be cool.