# Who will succeed Letterman? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 6, 2003, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-succeed-letterman/211668 "2003-11-06T06:57:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-succeed-letterman/211668/21 "2003-11-07T01:59:02Z")
Stewart used to have a late-night talkshow. My summary: the sketches were brilliant but the interviews were kind of dull. I still miss Three Minute Vacation [sigh]. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-succeed-letterman/211668/22 "2003-11-07T04:27:50Z")
I think Stewart would have to tone it down for the audience. If you’ve ever seen the Larry Sanders Show, there’s an episode on this very topic. ---
**Author:** ![Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moo_the_Magic_Cow)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-succeed-letterman/211668/23 "2003-11-07T06:35:48Z")
Jon Stewart has had a lot of talkshow gigs, and I think he truly belongs on the Daily Show. FOREVER. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-succeed-letterman/211668/24 "2003-11-07T06:48:08Z")
I recently read an interview with Conan O’Brien in which he expressed interest in taking over Letterman’s job. Clearly, if the logistics could be arranged, Conan has to be considered the #1 pick. After all, he followed Letterman at his last gig. I love Jon Stewart, and he’d be fantastic, but I think Conan is a ‘safer’ bet, because he has shown the ability to do the entire talk-show shtick - monologue, long interviews, desk pieces, etc. Conan has 2 years left on his current contract. That might be just about the time Dave will decide to hang it up. He’ll be pushing 60 and his kid will be growing up. So the timing could be right. There are four powerhouses in late-night television now. Leno, Conan, Dave, and Jon Stewart. Leno’s not going anywhere. He’ll be doing the Tonight Show for at least ten more years. So if Conan ever wants to move to 12:30, he’ll have to follow Dave. So he’s my bet. But Jon Stewart would be fine, as well. We’re pretty lucky to have four excellent shows to choose from, if you think about it. ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-succeed-letterman/211668/25 "2003-11-08T12:53:42Z")
I remember Stewart’s syndicated talk show, I liked the interviews, just because so many of them were trainwrecks. The episode with Lara Flynn Boyle and Mickey Spillane was classic for all the wrong reasons. But I really wish I had those “Talk Show Jon” segments acted out with doll and action figures on tape. The _Apocalypse Now_ spoof where Jon was going upriver to kill Screech from _Saved By The Bell_ would make a set worth buying just by itself. On _The Daily Show_ I find myself wishing most of the interview segements were longer, I like his mix of serious question and goofing around with legit guests. Whoever succeeds Letterman I just hope it isn’t Kilborn, dreadful. Dennis Miller is getting his own CNBC show, guess he’ll be trying to do more issue oriented hard talk. I’m surprised he wound up there rather than Fox News considering his political shift and his weekly appearances on Hannity and Colmes. Personally I’d like to see Eddie Izzard give it a shot, if those Doctor Who rumors don’t pan out. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-succeed-letterman/211668/26 "2003-11-08T20:10:03Z")
My predictions: Letterman won’t retire for another 5 to 10 years at lest, unless (and this is an important unless) he has another major health problem. If he does end up retiring soon, the prime candidates are Kilborn and O’Brien. I haven’t made up my mind who’s more likely to get it. Kilborn has organization muscle, while O’Brien’s funnier. Jon Stewart would get the show that whoever gets the Letterman show abandons. And, of course, Jay Leno, being evil, will never give up “The Tonight Show”… ---
**Author:** ![Lobelia\_Overhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@Lobelia\_Overhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobelia_Overhill)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-succeed-letterman/211668/27 "2003-11-08T22:46:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*Good idea! Since Roy’s out of commission for a while - maybe forever - I’m sure he’s got the free time. But no live tigers on the set! And I say J. Fred Muggs gets to be bandleader! > Oh, _wait_… \*\* I’m voting for dantheman … ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-succeed-letterman/211668/28 "2003-11-08T22:51:05Z")
Jon Stewart is definitely the best current choice for Dave’s timeslot. As for Dave’s age, Johnny was in his late 60’s when he retired. I think Dave could follow suit. As for Dennis Miller, he stopped being funny a couple of years ago. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-succeed-letterman/211668/29 "2003-11-08T23:05:06Z")
Jack Paar! ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-succeed-letterman/211668/30 "2003-11-08T23:06:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Governor Quinn \* > [BIf he does end up retiring soon, the prime candidates are Kilborn and O’Brien. I haven’t made up my mind who’s more likely to get it. Kilborn has organization muscle, while O’Brien’s funnier. > > \*\* What pull does Kilborn have? Is his late, late show doing that well? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-succeed-letterman/211668/31 "2003-11-08T23:13:00Z")
Well, if Greg Kinnear’s movie career doesn’t work out…oh wait… ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-succeed-letterman/211668/32 "2003-11-09T00:01:34Z")
There was already speculation about an impending Letterman retirement early this year. And he tried not long ago to cut his workweek to 4 days and bring in guest hosts - it failed. I have the sense that Dave wouldn’t mind handing in the spurs in the not-too-distant future. But then, Carson was talking retirement for what, a decade? Came in handy during contract negotiations. So who knows? Kilborn gets slaughtered by Conan in the ratings. If Conan, Kilborn, and Jon Stewart were equally available, and CBS was completely free to pick among them, I’m pretty sure they’d take Conan. He’s a proven commodity. One question would be his writing staff - if they couldn’t go with him, the show would be a lot weaker. Robert Smigel in particular would be sorely missed, and I don’t know if he could move - he’s pretty tied to NBC through his SNL gig. So there goes the Clutch Cargo guys, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, and a whole bunch of other material. I think it’ll come down to logistics. When Letterman retires, some of the people we’re talking about will be tied up in contracts, or unwilling to take the job. Remember, Conan was parachuted in out of the blue because NBC couldn’t find a replacement (Garry Shandling was offered the spot, and refused). Speaking of Shandling… Since his career has slowed down, I wonder if he’d take one of the 1:30 spots? I don’t see Dennis Miller doing it - late-night hosts have to be apolitical, a little bland, and light-hearted. Miller carries too much weight. There’s a reason why late-show hosts tend to be mild-mannered goofballs from the midwest. They need to be totally inoffensive. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-succeed-letterman/211668/33 "2003-11-09T00:03:53Z")
The “organization” in question is the fact that he’s aready employed by CBS, as opposed to all the previously mentioned candidates for his job. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-succeed-letterman/211668/34 "2003-11-09T00:04:40Z")
The “organization” in question is the fact that he’s aready employed by CBS, as opposed to all the previously mentioned candidates for Letterman’s job. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-succeed-letterman/211668/35 "2003-11-09T00:08:09Z")
I don’t see how I double-posted that, but, somehow, I did. Oh, well. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-succeed-letterman/211668/36 "2003-11-09T00:08:55Z")
I wouldn’t count that as actual muscle, though, when compared with O’Brien. Kilborn has no edge because he’s a CBS employee, IMO. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-succeed-letterman/211668.md?page=1)