Well it’s official, the late shows will have no more familiarity. Over a year after Jay Leno retired from the Tonight Show, his long time rival David Lettermen hosted his last episode of the Late Show on Wednesday ending his 33 year career. Letterman even referenced their friendly rivalry in his first joke of his monologue.
“I’ll be honest with you, it’s beginning to look like I won’t get the Tonight Show.” Letterman said as he gave a sarcastic disgruntled look to the crowd.
His 6,028th show had his normal quirky and uncomfortable comedy with past highlights of interviewing kids, working the drive through at Taco Bell and skits from past episodes that makes him one of the most influential comedian pioneer we have ever seen.
His top ten list was “Things I’ve Always Wanted to Dave” that consisted of comedians from Bill Murray to Tina Fey and it even had one of his favorite sports heroes, Peyton Manning.
It ended with a montage of past moments during the show choreographed perfectly by the Foo Fighters performing the appropriate “Everlong”.
Letterman’s absence will leave a gaping hole in late night show experience. With Jimmy Kimmel being the lead experience and rating getter and Jimmy Fallen only having a year under his belt, people are wondering what’s next for the late show time slots.
What to Expect from Stephen Colbert
In six months, Stephen Colbert will be the new name and face of the Late Show. Letterman signed off by expressing his trepidation for the new late host.
“I’m very excited, I think he’s going to do a wonderful job and I wish Stephen and his staff and crew nothing but the greatest success.”
So what is there to expect for Colbert? One thing is for sure, he will have to adjust from being a sarcastic, far-right-wing Republican like the one he successfully transformed into 9 years on the Colbert Report. But what he will be able to take from his political satire show is his intellectual and direct satire that will go hand in hand with the Late Show and the Letterman audience.
To get a good grasp on Stephen Colbert’s comedy check out his episodes on the Colbert Report and the Ace and Gary cartoon skit performed on Saturday Night Live.
