Kilborn Going Off 'Late' Shift on CBS

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - 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."


hmmm, this sucks, IMO. I used to watch his show a lot until I switched over to Conan O' Brien.

 

I wonder who will fill his spot.

 

Wouldn't it be funny if Andy Ritcher took the spot?

 

He's going back to ESPN!

It didn't say it in that article, but he's returning to ESPN once again.

 

He is? I didn't know that.

 

Yea, but he's already doing that Quintuplets show (which will probably be canceled since 1. it's on Fox and 2. it's on Fox and isn't the Simpsons)

 

Nice. Conan at 11:35 would own.

 

but then it wouldn't be "late night with conan o'brien"

if conan goes to cbs, he needs to take max weinberg and his band with him

 

I say, take everyone with him. Even Joel the Announcer.

 

Conan will stay on NBC. He's already got an established fan base, complete control over the show, and Walker Ranger clips for free!

KEEP COOL MY BABIES!

Oh yeah, I never really dug Kilborn. Something about the way he walked...

 

After thinking for a minute, Carson Daly (*shrug*) might get it. He works for MTV, MTV and CBS are owned by Viacom, yadda yadda, he'sboringandshouldneverfollowDaveLetterman. It could work out. I hope not though.