David Letterman, the longest-running host in the history of late-night television, announced that he will retire from his CBS show next year, the latest shakeup in a rapidly changing late night talk-show lineup.
Mr. Letterman, who has always used his show as the outlet for discussing developments in both his life and his career, revealed his decision during a taping Thursday afternoon in Manhattan.
Mr. Letterman, 66, said he had informed the CBS president, Leslie Moonves, of his intention to step down from "The Late Show" at the end of his current contract, which expires in 2015. Mr. Letterman is considered by many to be the most original voice in the late-night format, and Mr. Moonves has been steadfast in his assurances in recent years that he would never ask Mr. Letterman to retire, saying at one point, "You don't do that to a television legend."
His departure will mean that the coveted 11:35 pm time slot will have a largely new lineup of hosts. In January of 2013, Jimmy Kimmel moved his ABC show from midnight to 11:35, and in February Jimmy Fallon replaced Jay Leno on NBC's "Tonight" show.
In his statement on the air, Mr. Letterman said he and Mr. Moonves had had previous conversations about how his retirement would be handled. "We agreed that we would work together on this circumstance and the timing of this circumstance," Mr. Letterman said. "And I phoned him just before the program, and I said 'Leslie, it's been great, you've been great, and the network has been great, but I'm retiring.'"
Mr. Letterman also thanked both his staff and the viewers for supporting him during his run. He began "Late Show" on CBS in 1993 after an 11-year run on NBC's "Late Night" program, which he created. That total run of 33-years in late night (counting 2015) eclipses the 30-year tenure of Johnny Carson on NBC's "Tonight" show.
In a statement Mr. Moonves said, "For 21 years, David Letterman has graced our network's air in late night with wit, gravitas and brilliance unique in the history of our medium."
The specific end date for Mr. Lettteman has not yet been set. His contract has about 18 months left. In his commentary Mr. Letterman said, "We don't have the timetable for this precisely down - 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."
Correction: April 3, 2014Original Post by: http://ift.tt/1fC4lSM
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