David Letterman doubts late-night’s future before Colbert finale

Ahead of the final episode of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on CBS, former network late-night host David Letterman said that he would be “surprised” if other shows in that format last too much longer. Letterman, 79, made the remark in an interview with the New York Times that was published on Tuesday, in which he also described his “disbelief” upon learning Colbert’s show had been cancelled. Evidently alluding to nightly comedic talkshows hosted by Jimmy Kimmel on ABC as well as Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers on NBC, Letterman remarked the format was “not completely dead on arrival, but I would be surprised if it lasts more than a year or so. “But it’s such an easy soothing format that it’s got to stay on.” When pressed on whether he would truly “be surprised if late night survives another year or so”, Letterman responded, “Well, maybe specific shows. I don’t think it’ll ever go away because it’s just the best. It’s humans talking to humans.” Letterman’s interview comes as the last episode of The Late Show’s 33-year run is scheduled to air on 21 May . CBS announced the show’s cancellation in July. Executives at the time said that it was “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night”. …