Kilborn Going Off 'Late' Shift at CBS

By Cynthia Littleton
Hollywood Reporter

LOS ANGELES - After five years in late night, Craig Kilborn is exiting as host of CBS' "The Late, Late Show With Craig Kilborn."

A CBS spokesman confirmed late Thursday that Kilborn had informed the network that he would not seek a renewal of his contract, which is believed to expire this year. The spokesman declined to elaborate.

Sources familiar with the situation said the parting was amicable. One source said Kilborn's reps had sought a hefty salary increase for a new contract with CBS, but other sources discounted how much of a factor salary negotiations were in Kilborn's decision to move on.

CBS is not believed to have a replacement for Kilborn lined up for the show, which follows "Late Show With David Letterman" in the 12:35 a.m. time slot. Letterman's Worldwide Pants production banner has the right to produce the show in that time slot per Letterman's contract with CBS.

Kilborn took over "Late, Late Show" in April 1999 after Tom Snyder exited the post-Letterman slot on CBS. A former ESPN anchor, Kilborn first garnered attention for his comedy skills during his 1996-99 stint as the original host of Comedy Central's mock newscast "The Daily Show."

During Kilborn's tenure, "Late, Late Show" has been a steady performer for CBS, though it has consistently run second in the time slot to NBC's "Late Night With Conan O'Brien." During the past 12 months, "Late, Late Show" has averaged 1.6 million viewers each night, compared with 2.5 million for NBC's "Late Night."

I hope the new host is an african american comedian. It is time, they give a brother another chance to host a late night show.

Originally posted by tvje
I hope the new host is an african american comedian. It is time, they give a brother another chance to host a late night show.

I was actually thinking earlier that I'd like D.L. Hughley to get it. I didn't like his sitcom, but I think he's hilarious. Every time he's on Real Time, he cracks me up.

Kind of a far-fetched idea, but it'd be really cool.

How ironic. Just when I show an interest in watching the series, it is going off the air. :lol:

I hope if CBS puts in a replacement talk show at that hour, that it is really good. I've never watched an episode of TLLS so I can't judge that. It'd be a great one-two punch for CBS like NBC has The Tonight Show and Late Nite with Conan O'Brien.

I've been anti-Kilborn since -- well, forever.
I'm glad he's gone.

Conan moving to CBS would be a wise choice, because its obvious that Letterman wants to end soon -- and Conan will get the cherished 11:30 slot.
(unless they screw him over like NBC did with Letterman)

Well CBS has not begun their search. But a couple of names mentioned in the New York Post are possible replacements Amy Sedaris and Jeffrey Ross.

I agree D.L. Hugley would be a great choise, so would Eddie Griffin.

Was the Leno-Lettermen deal that Johnny Carson was on at 11:30 and Lettermen was on at 12:30 and then they gave Leno the 11:30 slot instead?



I never watched Kilborn, but I flipped by it to check if there was a guest i cared about sometimes.

I'm glad that Jon Stewart seems devoted to The Daily Show, because I'm sure the networks want him.


I think Stephen Colbert would make a great host, but I would be sad to see him leave The Daily Show also.



what I am truly terrified of, is that with the current climate of everyone loving this ridiculous blue collar comedy that they will give Larry the Cable Guy a late night show or something. Which would of course, bring about the apocolypse.


I think Judy Gold (from Tough Crowd) could possibly do well with a talk show, it would be nice to have a woman with a late night show.

And after all, Conan wasnt at all famous when he started, in fact, he was on a weekly contract for a while because he was so unpopular, they were only keeping him until they could find a replacement

Originally posted by ThirteenInchEscape
I think Judy Gold (from Tough Crowd) could possibly do well with a talk show, it would be nice to have a woman with a late night show.

Good pick, I like her.
D.L. Hughley would be nice too, but not Eddie Griffin.

If they do go for a female host, my top pick would be Kathleen Madigan, who recently lost on Last Comic Standing, but is pretty well known.
She once won the female comedian of the year award.

Originally posted by ThirteenInchEscape
Was the Leno-Lettermen deal that Johnny Carson was on at 11:30 and Lettermen was on at 12:30 and then they gave Leno the 11:30 slot instead?

Pretty much. Letterman clearly deserved The Tonight Show (he'd been their 12:30 guy since '82 and guest hosted for Johnny before that), but they stabbed him in the back and gave it to Leno instead

Originally posted by AKA
Pretty much. Letterman clearly deserved The Tonight Show (he'd been their 12:30 guy since '82 and guest hosted for Johnny before that), but they stabbed him in the back and gave it to Leno instead

It wasn't Carson's decision, was it??

no they never even asked johnny but most people who knew him knew he wanted letterman for the record so did i by the way what about kathy griffin for killborn she sure likes to talk?

Originally posted by barwars
It wasn't Carson's decision, was it??

No. NBC made the decision. As stated above, Carson preferred Letterman over Leno and agreed that Dave deserved The Tonight Show.

According to legend, Johnny even encouarged Dave to quit Late Night and go to CBS.

Originally posted by AKA
No. NBC made the decision. As stated above, Carson preferred Letterman over Leno and agreed that Dave deserved The Tonight Show.

According to legend, Johnny even encouarged Dave to quit Late Night and go to CBS.

Thats good to hear.
I'm hoping Conan jumps ship as well.... as long as he brings over the Max Wineberg 7. (I know, I spelled his name wrong)

A Letterman/Conan team would be pure gold.

Originally posted by barwars
Thats good to hear.
I'm hoping Conan jumps ship as well.... as long as he brings over the Max Wineberg 7. (I know, I spelled his name wrong)

A Letterman/Conan team would be pure gold.


I'd love it if that happened. Probably be as good as the Carson/Letterman team in the 80s and early 1990s.

BTW, does anyone remember if CBS had a late night talk show or two around the time Carson and Letterman were on?

Originally posted by Brian
I'd love it if that happened. Probably be as good as the Carson/Letterman team in the 80s and early 1990s.

BTW, does anyone remember if CBS had a late night talk show or two around the time Carson and Letterman were on?

They did for awhile. In the late '80s, there was a short-lived 11:30 show on CBS hosted by Pat Sajak of all people. It was pretty awful.

Originally posted by AKA
They did for awhile. In the late '80s, there was a short-lived 11:30 show on CBS hosted by Pat Sajak of all people. It was pretty awful.

Well that makes sense -- Pat Sajak is pretty awful.

Another suggestion, although he may be a little older -- Steve Martin.

And, although its farfetched -- Ellen could move into latenight.

I actually like the Ellen Degeneres show, but that may have to do with the fact that she has no competition at that time.

I dont really know if it has the qualities for a late night show though, it is more of a silly type of daytime show.




Oh, and I dont really like Leno or Letterman that much, but I like Leno more, am I the only one?


edit: I guess there is a poll to that affect, and I'm one of the few that likes Leno more :P

article from New York Daily News' David Bianculli:

Now that Craig Kilborn has stunned CBS by walking away from his "Late Late Show," the network has only four weeks to find a replacement.

Not to worry: I've already found five.

Start by eliminating the obvious, but not logical, front-runners.

Jon Stewart, current host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," where Kilborn also worked, is a well-deserved media darling. Though his recently renewed contract is with a cable network that, like CBS, is part of the Viacom family, Stewart's not likely to move just yet, especially mere months before a presidential election. The same goes for another recently reupped Comedy Central star with his own loyal following, Dave Chappelle.

So whom does that leave?

If you're CBS and David Letterman's Worldwide Pants, which controls the post-"Late Show" slot, you want someone who will flow nicely with, yet have a different comic style, than your famous lead-in.

Ideally, you want someone who appeals to the college-age crowd, and/or who is a female or a minority.

Oh, and to fit with Letterman, the replacement should be at ease on television and have plenty of attitude.

My list has five easy choices.

But if CBS feels caught between a rock and a hard place, stick with the rock - as in Chris Rock.

List of five easy choices

Sarah Silverman. I like this choice for two reasons. One, she always makes me laugh. Two, she and Jimmy Kimmel are an item, and this would put her in direct competition with ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live." Even that makes me laugh.

Vince Vaughn. This may seem crazy - but if you were watching in March 2003, when this sassy young actor was one of the rare guest hosts on "Late Show with David Letterman," you know it's a smart idea. Vaughn would be really good, and hopelessly, entertainingly hip.

Chris Rock. He's done interview segments, quite entertainingly, on his old HBO show. He's got widespread knowledge and impressive taste when it comes to the popular arts, and more than any of the other prime candidates, he's got something to say, and entertaining ways of saying it. He'd be my first choice, partly because he'd be smart enough to envision what he could do with a late-night network platform.

Jimmy Fallon. Like Kilborn, here's a guy who walked away suddenly from a sure, sweet, comfortable deal - in his case, being one of the most enjoyable cast members of the 21st century "Saturday Night Live." Though Fallon quit to pursue film deals, he's got so much energy, talent and enthusiasm - with or without a guitar - that he could make "Late Late Show" like his own "SNL" after-party. And don't underestimate his appeal to young men and women.

Bonnie Hunt. She's already hosted a talk show - albeit a fake one - on ABC's "Life with Bonnie," and gets along superbly with Letterman. Now that ABC has canceled her show, she's, uh, available. What could Hunt do with a real talk show, especially at that hour? What couldn't she do?

David Bianculli is The Daily News' TV critic.

Sarah Silverman - I love her, but I don't see her competing with Kimmel.

Vince Vaughn - Let him stick to movies.

Chris Rock - Too good for 12:30. He'd be a great replacement for Letterman once he retires, though.

Jimmy Fallon - He'd definitely have appeal to the intended demographic, but he's not my cup of tea.

Bonnie Hunt - Nah.

Jon Stewart would be crazy to leave the Daily show for the Late Late show. Eventhough, Kilborn did the same thing.

Eventhough it would be move from cable to network tv. The Daily Show is on at 11 pm, compered to the Late Late show which come up at 12: 30 am. That is a step down for Stewart. Though I could see Stewart taking over for Letterman, but I don't think he would leave the Daily show for a 12: 30 show.

If Chris Rock wanted to return to late night television, he has HBO ready to give him his show back. On HBO, he would only have to work once a week, and have an offseason. And HBO offers him the creative freedom, he can not get on network tv.

Jimmy Fallon has hollywood ambition. He has no desire to host a talk show at this moment.

I do think the four best people for the job are Stewart, Rock, Chappelle, and Fallon. But all four are at a point of their carrers that a 12:30 am talk show, is beneth them.

Originally posted by tvje
Jon Stewart would be crazy to leave the Daily show for the Late Late show. Eventhough, Kilborn did the same thing.

Eventhough it would be move from cable to network tv. The Daily Show is on at 11 pm, compered to the Late Late show which come up at 12: 30 am. That is a step down for Stewart. Though I could see Stewart taking over for Letterman, but I don't think he would leave the Daily show for a 12: 30 show.

If Chris Rock wanted to return to late night television, he has HBO ready to give him his show back. On HBO, he would only have to work once a week, and have an offseason. And HBO offers him the creative freedom, he can not get on network tv.

Jimmy Fallon has hollywood ambition. He has no desire to host a talk show at this moment.

I do think the four best people for the job are Stewart, Rock, Chappelle, and Fallon. But all four are at a point of their carrers that a 12:30 am talk show, is beneth them.

I wouldn't have Stewart do his show, he still has a 4 year contract to reup his show through 2008.

I wonder if Kilborn is leaving because his return appearence on Sportscenter made him mistyeyed over that

I could picture Margaret Cho doing a talk show, she'd be a tad too raunchy for daytime, so late night would fit her perfectly

Kilborn Knocks Off After 5 Years

by Charlie Amter
E! Online

To Craig Kilborn with love: We'll miss you, big guy.

The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn taped its final show Friday. Friends and fans of the show dropped by the afternoon taping at CBS' studios in Los Angeles to say goodbye to late night's lanky, irreverent king of frat-boy sarcasm.

Will Ferrell, Martin Mull and Vince Vaughn were among the guests hazing the 42-year-old Kilborn on his last day of work for the Eyeball.

Kilborn has been the host of The Late Late Show since March 1999. The Minnesota native was in negotiations for another five years with the network, when he decided to pull the plug and announced he was leaving the show three weeks ago. "I'm proud of what we've accomplished. We have a unique, small, intimate show," Kilborn told USA Today in a recent interview. However, he added, "I've done all I could do with this particular show."

Kilborn has taken his fair share of ribbing on the set lately, with guests claiming Kilby is leaving the show to pursue his own acting career (Kilborn had a small but memorable role in Old School with Ferrell and Vaughn and will appear in the upcoming Wes Craven werewolf thriller Cursed).

But the former Daily Show host tells USA Today that he'd rather be behind the scenes as a producer or writer. Kilborn also says he has two ideas for sitcoms, although no deals are in place with any network.

Starting next week, The Late, Late Show will air reruns for another three weeks. Then, CBS plans to bring in a series of guest hosts. Kilborn's friend Vaughn is a safe bet for at least a few nights, having acquitted himself well as a fill-in for David Letterman last year while Letterman was ill.

As for the future of CBS' coveted post-Letterman nightly slot, nothing is certain. Rumors had been floated that CBS was interested in both current Daily Show host Jon Stewart and NBC's Conan O'Brien. Stewart just reupped his contract at Comedy Central and has frequently voiced his preference for New York over Los Angeles, where CBS tapes the Late Late Show. O'Brien's contract, however, is up in 2005--and industry insiders say the red-head may entertain an offer from CBS--although it would have to be a spectacular bid to lure the funnyman from NBC. Reports speculate that the offer might need to include assurances that O'Brien would get Letterman's gig when the Late Show host eventually retires.

Meanwhile, Kilborn leaves his post on a high note. The show's audience has grown 34 percent since he took over in 1999, averaging 1.7 million viewers this season. He's also regularly beaten time-slot competitor Jimmy Kimmel Live, though O'Brien remains the 12:35 a.m. leader.