Ferguson Makes It Official

Craig Ferguson makes it official: he’s leaving the Late Late Show.

Since David Letterman announced his retirement in 2015, there was much speculation about what that would mean for Craig Ferguson. Despite his lucrative protection clause guaranteeing him $10,000,000 if he didn’t get first rights to Late Show, CBS selected Stephen Colbert‘s cultural-political appeal to Ferguson’s signature irreverence. While critics widely praised this move, it did leave Ferguson the odd man out.

Craig Ferguson has hosted the Late Late Show longer than anyone else, premiering his version January 3, 2005. He is known for an unconventional monologue, his Robot Skeleton sidekick, and his unstructured, insightful interviews.

Ferguson made sure to declare that he is leaving Late Late Show of his own accord — he wasn’t pushed out and doesn’t feel slighted that he was overlooked for Letterman’s show. Instead, he says he had been considering his own retirement from Late Late Show for the last two years.

Craig Ferguson is leaving at the end of his contract in December 2014.

Here is Letterman’s reaction to Craig Ferguson’s retirement announcement:

NYT’s Interactive Late Night Shuffle

From Carson to Letterman, the New York Time‘s snappy interactive timeline highlights key events in the last 22 years of late night. Starting with the undisputed King of Late Night’s retirement to David Letterman’s announcement of the same, and all the craziness in between.

Engage the timeline here.

NBC Chief Has Every Confidence in Fallon

NBC’s Chief Executive Steve Burke has expressed extreme confidence in Jimmy Fallon’s ability to hold his own against whomever takes over for David Letterman. Burke also dismissed reports suggesting Leno might go for the Late Show, citing that Leno is still in talks with NBC about doing specials.

Read the full article in AP.

What About the (Late Night) Band?

With David Letterman stepping into retirement, Marketplace took a quick look inside the economic realities of those who play us in and out of the show — and the commercials. What’s the 411 on playing music in late night?

Read (or listen to) the full story at Marketplace.

Colbert, Ferguson, Rumored to Take Letterman Spot

Popular speculation has it that Stephen Colbert is a likely candidate to succeed David Letterman when he retires in 2015, CBS however has not commented. Craig Ferguson, host of the Late Late Show that follows Letterman isn’t seen as a viable contender, but his contract apparently includes a clause giving him $8 to $12 million if not given the Late Show.

Read the full article in Variety.