TOP 10: Replacements for David Letterman

Last week, David Letterman announced that he will retire from THE LATE SHOW after his current contract ends, in 2015. The are plenty of candidate to fill the spot, but for CBS, this is a very big decision. A wrong move by the network could completely kill CBS in late night. Remember, Letterman and THE LATE SHOW is the only program that has worked in late night, for CBS. The previous 40 years are littered with failures.

So, who should get the gig as the new host of THE LATE SHOW? It has to be someone who will not only challenge NBC and Jimmy Fallon, but beat the leader of late night for the last 60 years. Here are my top choices.

10) ELLEN DEGENERES:
Age: 56 - Ellen has proven she can host a successful talk show, but day time success and late night success are not the same. At 56 years of age, she is just 10 years younger than Dave. CBS needs to have a host that can run 15 to 20 years. With Ellen, she would have no more than 5 or 6 years.

9) JON STEWART:
Age: 51 - Jon Stewart is the hot cable host that may be looking to get the network gig. But, his track record outside THE DAILY SHOW is a little suspect. His previous two talk shows (on MTV and syndication) did little in the ratings. He would not be a bad pick, but could he top NBC and Fallon?

8) CHRIS ROCK:
Age: 49 - Rock is funny and has the experience to pull of being host of THE LATE SHOW. He has fans of all ages with his movies and animated voice work (MADAGASCAR). Plus, he may bring a demographic to the show that has been mostly ignored by the networks. The only weak spot I see is the interviewing skills. He is funny, but can he carry a conversation with a guest and make them funny too?

7) CHRIS HARDWICK:
Age: 42 - In just a few short years, Hardwick has gon from just a simple stand up comedian, with a podcast, to leading one of the top podcast networks and hosting the most watched talk show on cable, TALKING DEAD. Hardwick would bring a young audience back to the show, perhaps even a college crowd. He would be there for the long haul, if successful, and would challenge NBC and Jimmy Fallon in the ratings.

6) EDDIE MURPHY:
Age: 56 - Eddie Murphy's movie career has not been good over the last 15+ years. He needs a career change and TV is the best place for it. He has the comedic chops for the show. In fact, he may be the best stand up comedian on this list. Although he is 56, he would give you such a surge in the ratings that even 10 years would be successful. The only downside would be his commitment level IF his LATE SHOW would be a massive hit. Would Murphy bolt from TV to go back to the movies?

5) WILL FERRELL:
Age: 46 - It seems like he should be a lot older, but Ferrell is just 46 years old. He is one of the funniest people in Hollywood, but his last few movies have not done well at all. His improve and SNL background would give a new dynamic to the show. I think he could beat Fallon in the ratings game, but like Eddie Murphy, would he stick around when success hit the show?

4) CRAIG FERGUSON:
Age: 51 - It is natural to think that the host of 12:35 show, on CBS, would inherit the 11:35 show, on CBS. But, Craig may have the same stigma that Letterman had, over at NBC, and that is he is too wild for the earlier time slot. Personally, he, along with Kimmel, have the funniest late night show on TV. His age does not help if CBS wants a long term solution for the show.

3) TINA FEY:
Age: 43 - We know she can write, act and be funny, and all at the same time. Show is the best candidate to be the first lady of late night TV and could, potentially, top Fallon in the ratings. But, is the TV audience truly ready to embrace a female host, on late night TV? One obstetrical she faces is that 30 ROCK was never a mainstream hit. It pulled mediocre ratings, at best. Could Tine Fey play with the big boys, and win?

2) STEPHEN COLBERT:
Age: 49 - Colbert appears to be the early favorite, by CBS, to replace Letterman. He is funny, is good with the interview and is popular with a mix of ages. At 49, he too is on that line of perhaps being too old. I would not have ranked him as high had the rumors not put him in the top selection seat. He would not kill THE LATE SHOW or CBS late night presence, but I do not think he has the ability to top THE TONIGHT SHOW.

1) NEIL PATRICK HARRIS:
Age: 40 - He is the youngest candidate on this list and has everything it takes to succeed and push THE LATE SHOW to the #1 spot. He has shown he can hold an audience as a host. He has great comedic timing and wit. His skills at other talents, music, dance, comedy, sketches, etc... would give a wider range of content for the show. His stock has never been higher, than it is now, with HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER ending just a week earlier.

Whoever CBS picks to be the next host of THE LATE SHOW, they will have huge shoes to fill. Not just in following Letterman, but continuing CBS late night efforts into the next 20 years. CBS owes everything they have accomplished in late night, to NBC. Now they need to become as big in late night as NBC has been for 60 years. Always playing second fiddle may not be enough.