David Letterman joined the rest of the world in congratulating Stephen Colbert for being chosen to replace the retiring “Late Show” legend.
“Stephen has always been a real friend to me,” Letterman said in a statement. “I’m very excited for him, and I’m flattered that CBS chose him. I also happen to know they wanted another guy with glasses.”
Also read: Why Stephen Colbert Is the Perfect Choice for CBS
CBS tapped Colbert as the eventual Letterman replacement earlier on Thursday morning. The comedian signed a five-year deal with his new broadcast network.
“I’m thrilled and grateful that CBS chose me,” Colbert said in the announcement statement. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go grind a gap in my front teeth.”
Also read: The Most and Least Liked Potential Letterman Replacements – From Ellen DeGeneres to Conan O’Brien
Colbert will stick with Comedy Central’s “Colbert Report” through the remainder of 2014, and will inherit Letterman’s “Late Show” seat sometime in 2015 — though a more specific date has yet to be announced. The cable channel that made Colbert famous through his own show, and earlier, as a correspondent on “The Daily Show,” wished Stephen well.
The location and producers of Colbert’s version of “The Late Show” have also yet to be determined, the network said. Politicians in New York and Los Angeles have been lobbying to host the CBS late-night show currently based at the Ed Sullivan Theater in Manhattan.