David Letterman retiring in 2015

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

I'm sure Colbert's CBS or whatever network's top choice, but I don't buy this rumor for a second (remember how Stewart was supposedly one of CBS's top choices to replace Dan Rather ).  But I hope you guys realize he'd just become another hyper-censored, humorless has-been TV hack who only makes safe jokes for old people like Leno, Fallon, Letterman, etc.  CBS/ABC/NBC wouldn't offer even a sliver of the creative freedom Comedy Central offers.  If Stewart or Colbert ever move to one of those networks, anyone who hates them should uncork the champaign, because whichever one of them went to CBS/ABC/NBC will have lost all influence and come to be seen as sell-outs by most of their audience in a year or two (at most).  Stewart and Colbert have their niche on comedy central and would never be allowed to anything remotely like it on one of these creative wasteland networks.  The best person who fits in the Leno/Letterman old-people niche is Craig Ferguson (who is decent enough at what he does), but no program on CBS/ABC/NBC will even be allowed to swear, let alone do anything even remotely edgy.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

I'm sure Colbert's CBS or whatever network's top choice, but I don't buy this rumor for a second (remember how Stewart was supposedly one of CBS's top choices to replace Dan Rather ).  But I hope you guys realize he'd just become another hyper-censored, humorless has-been TV hack who only makes safe jokes for old people like Leno, Fallon, Letterman, etc.  CBS/ABC/NBC wouldn't offer even a sliver of the creative freedom Comedy Central offers.  If Stewart or Colbert ever move to one of those networks, anyone who hates them should uncork the champaign, because whichever one of them went to CBS/ABC/NBC will have lost all influence and come to be seen as sell-outs by most of their audience in a year or two (at most).  Stewart and Colbert have their niche on comedy central and would never be allowed to anything remotely like it on one of these creative wasteland networks.  The best person who fits in the Leno/Letterman old-people niche is Craig Ferguson (who is decent enough at what he does), but no program on CBS/ABC/NBC will even be allowed to swear, let alone do anything even remotely edgy.

Fallon is younger skewing believe it or not. Also Ferguson is younger skewing as well despite his age. I think "older people" now don't matter to TV because advertisers now just want Gen Yers, and Letterman has been the older generation's last late night holdout. So any new late night host has to appeal to today's teens, 20-somethings, and 30-somethings.

I agree Craig Ferguson skews younger and that's why he'd be the best pick to replace Letterman.  Perhaps Fallon skews a little younger, but his jokes are still incredibly "safe" in terms of the jokes he makes on his show.  My point is that you can't do anything remotely resembling what Colbert and Stewart are known for on CBS, ABC, or NBC.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

I'm sure Colbert's CBS or whatever network's top choice, but I don't buy this rumor for a second (remember how Stewart was supposedly one of CBS's top choices to replace Dan Rather ).  But I hope you guys realize he'd just become another hyper-censored, humorless has-been TV hack who only makes safe jokes for old people like Leno, Fallon, Letterman, etc.  CBS/ABC/NBC wouldn't offer even a sliver of the creative freedom Comedy Central offers.  If Stewart or Colbert ever move to one of those networks, anyone who hates them should uncork the champaign, because whichever one of them went to CBS/ABC/NBC will have lost all influence and come to be seen as sell-outs by most of their audience in a year or two (at most).  Stewart and Colbert have their niche on comedy central and would never be allowed to anything remotely like it on one of these creative wasteland networks.  The best person who fits in the Leno/Letterman old-people niche is Craig Ferguson (who is decent enough at what he does), but no program on CBS/ABC/NBC will even be allowed to swear, let alone do anything even remotely edgy.

Fallon is younger skewing believe it or not. Also Ferguson is younger skewing as well despite his age. I think "older people" now don't matter to TV because advertisers now just want Gen Yers, and Letterman has been the older generation's last late night holdout. So any new late night host has to appeal to today's teens, 20-somethings, and 30-somethings.

I agree Craig Ferguson skews younger and that's why he'd be the best pick to replace Letterman.  Perhaps Fallon skews a little younger, but his jokes are still incredibly "safe" in terms of the jokes he makes on his show.  My point is that you can't do anything remotely resembling what Colbert and Stewart are known for on CBS, ABC, or NBC.

Bill Maher managed to move Politically Incorrect from Comedy Central to ABC for a five year run before declining ratings sent him back to cable.  Craig Kilborn was the original host of The Daily Show and then spent five years as the host of The Late Late Show after Letterman.  So the idea that they couldn't make the transition to broadcast is silly.  Where Colbert and Stewart would run into trouble is in making the transition from half-hour to hour, especially with the added half-hour being standard talk show interviews.  That's why if Colbert were to make the transition, dropping the persona and being himself would be the wise thing to do, tho it might flop.

Bill Maher is on HBO now and he got fired from ABC because something he said was considered too controversial, not because of ratings.  Craig Kilborn's Daily Show wasn't that much like Stewart's and Colbert's shows, those two would have a much harder time than most making the transition.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Bill Maher is on HBO now and he got fired from ABC because something he said was considered too controversial, not because of ratings.

That likely contributed to his ratings slump, but like it or not, it was the ratings that got him fired.  Any of the broadcast networks is willing to put up with controversy, if they can make money off of it.

Fair enough

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

RIP Colbert