Late Night Dance

We're sticking with our prediction that David Letterman will keep his show at CBS.  Actually, everybody who's predicting seems to be sticking with that prediction, so it probably won't happen.  Nevertheless, we also have a prediction as to who CBS will go after for the slot if they lose Dave, which they won't unless they do.  Matt Drudge is reporting that Howard Stern is at the top of a short list, so that's probably not true.  Jon Stewart's name has been mentioned but, though I think Stewart is brilliant, I can't believe anyone thinks he could survive a three-way race against Dave and Jay.  He's out of the same school of comedy and the other two guys have already carved up that audience and developed loyal followings.  So my guess is that Stewart would be a little ways down on that list and Stern would be even lower.

What CBS would want there is someone young and capable of doing an entertainment show but whose style and audience didn't overlap so much with Leno and Letterman.  And if he's going to attract advertisers and big stars, the host would have to be enough of a star himself that he would instantly be accepted as a contender.

I haven't seen his name mentioned anywhere for this and I have no idea if he'd do it.  But if it comes down to CBS having to offer the 11:35 time slot to someone else — which it won't, unless it does — I suspect the first call would be to whoever represents Chris Rock.