Though Craig Ferguson’s exit from The Late Late Show was not a surprise to anyone at CBS, and though a relaunch of his show will happen before Stephen Colbert takes over The Late Show, CBS Entertainment chairman Nina Tassler is reportedly not anxious about finding a replacement, focusing instead on the transition from Letterman to Colbert.
Tassler says they have no intention of naming a replacement until after the May 14th upfronts. As she tells The Hollywood Reporter:
“Obviously, it’s an incredibly valuable time period,” says Tassler of 12:35, admitting her phone is ringing with pitches. “We haven’t really thought about it yet. We want to let this sink in.”
Meanwhile, the names of potential replacements have begun to surface, and they are a mix of the expected and slightly unexpected. The Daily Show’s Jason Jones and John Hodgman have been discussed, as has Amy Schumer. Michael Ian Black is in the mix (as he was after Craig Kilborn left), and perhaps Joel McHale (though, he wouldn’t be able to do it unless Community is cancelled). Aisha Tyler has been mentioned, and would be a great choice, while two other possibilities would not: Neil Patrick Harris (he’s too famous for a 12:35 talk show) and Sean Hayes (who has no relevance after his failed sitcom).
The one person not likely to get it, however, is Chelsea Handler, who CBS apparently shot down.
Source: THR
