[Cross posted from the TV Tyrant blog.]

BLOGGER’S NOTE (April 10, 2014) – Right network, wrong host.

Stephen Colbert delivered the 2011 commencement address at our alma mater, Northwestern University.

Faster than I ever would have guessed, CBS announced today that Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert (The Colbert Report) will succeed David Letterman when the latter retires at the end of the year. I had speculated (below) that Jon Stewart (The Daily Show) would be the more likely candidate from Comedy Central. I thought that Colbert’s blustery, conservative TV persona wouldn’t hold up for 10 hours a week. But my thinking was too narrow. Forbes reports that Colbert will be leaving that character behind when he moves to CBS. Viewers of his new show will get to meet the brilliant comedian behind the character.

“Spread far the fame of our fair name. …”

On a personal note, I take pride in the fact that, with the elevations of Colbert and Seth Meyers from Saturday Night Live to NBC’s Late Night, Northwestern alumni own late night.

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Front Runners

Jon Stewart – The world is his oyster.

The host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show and the 2006 Academy Awards has a superb wit, deft interview skills and facial reactions that can draw a laugh without a word. Nothing ever seems to change in news and politics, so he might be getting tired of skewering the same old stuff again and again. He’s also done late night before: The Jon Stewart Show on MTV from 1993-1995. Unlike Comedy Central compadre Stephen Colbert, Stewart doesn’t have a separate, on-air persona that could be hard to expand from two hours a week to 10. (With every monologue on NBC’s Late Night, Seth Meyers demonstrates that Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” schtick doesn’t work five nights a week.)

Neil Patrick Harris – TV’s host with the most. He’s emceed a host of awards shows – sorry, couldn’t resist – most notably the Emmys and Tonys. In addition to smarts, timing and a winning personality, Harris also would bring his song-and-dance skills to the stage.  Knowledgeable and quick-witted, he’s been a crucial component of How I Met Your Mother, a staple in the CBS comedy lineup for the last nine years. And the child star of Doogie Howser, MD has been in America’s living rooms since 1989. Harris might have a broader following than Stewart beyond political and media circles.

Craig Ferguson – The Joe Biden of potential successors, his Late Late Show has followed Letterman on CBS since 2005 and is produced by Letterman’s Worldwide Pants Inc.

Alice Eve on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

Like the veep, you never know what Ferguson might say. Put an attractive actress in front of him – Kristen Bell or Alice Eve, in particular – and watch the sparks fly.

But he has a serious, thoughtful side evidenced by interviews with the likes of Archbishop Tutu and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond – or his deft on-the-air treatment of various national tragedies such as the Aurora, Colo., mass shooting or the Boston Marathon bombings.

Despite his Scottish accent, Ferguson might play well in America’s heartland. He’s known outside of late-night circles for playing Nigel Wick for eight seasons on The Drew Carey Show. A U.S. citizen since 2008 whose catchphrase is “It’s a great day for America,” his frequent expressions of patriotism are heartfelt. He titled his 2009 memoir “American on Purpose.” But would a man who has spent nine years deconstructing the late-night genre be comfortable leading it?

Big Risk/Reward

Howard Stern – Since moving to subscription-based satellite radio, Stern has been able to let his freak fly unfettered. He may have gotten it out of his system, judging from the toned-down presence he has displayed on NBC’s America’s Got Talent since 2012. Stern groupie Vinnie Favale is CBS’ vice president of late night programming for the East Coast.

The Ladies

Tina Fey and/or Amy Poehler – Well, duh. Just look at the last two Golden Globes shows. But it’s unclear if either would want the job. Poehler is busy with Parks and Recreation on rival network NBC, while Fey has earned some time off after completing NBC’s 30 Rock.

Amy Schumer – Comedy Central’s “it girl” is fresh enough and spunky enough to steal the spotlight from “the two Jimmies,” Fallon and Kimmel.

Chelsea Handler – The comedian and writer already has announced she plans to quite E! network’s Chelsea Lately nine months. But her perpetually annoyed demeanor has worn thin, and it has seemed like she’s been phoning in Lately. Plus, her brand of humor may be too acerbic for the CBS audience. There is nothing Handler brings to the table that Schumer couldn’t do with more energy and creativity.

Aisha Tyler – The actress/comedian is a co-host of CBS’ The Talk. The Dartmouth grad is quick-witted, and her humor has a broader appeal than Handler’s. But she recently began hosting The CW’s Who’s Line Is It Anyway? Would she make time for The Late Show? Probably.

Julie Chen – Host of Big Brother and one of Tyler’s co-hosts on The Talk, both on CBS. Never bet against a woman married to the network president.

Been There, Done That

Conan O’Brien – Like Letterman, he got screwed by NBC and Jay Leno. But he’s mostly fallen off the radar since moving to TBS.

Arsenio Hall – Brought back his Arsenio Hall Show last year, but it’s not the late-night heavyweight it was from 1989 to 1994. And at age 58, he wouldn’t be a long-term answer for CBS.

Curveballs

Nathan Lane – One of a series of Late Show guest hosts in 2000 while Letterman recovered from quintuple bypass surgery, the multitalented Lane proved surprisingly quick with joke. Not afraid to get political on occasion, he nonetheless carries broad popularity from his many film and stage roles. Like Harris, he would add a song-and-dance component to the show. But nine days older than Arsenio, he also might not be in for the long haul.

Patton Oswalt – The actor/comedian has demonstrated his intelligence and sarcasm to 1.6 million Twitter followers. And of all the folks I’ve named, Oswalt might be best suited to carry on the cranky wiseass tradition that Letterman created. His credits range from Comedy Central roasts to serious acting. Hey, any schlubby guy to manages to romance Charlize Theron on film is a hero to me.

Adam Sandler – Scheduled to be the lead guest on March 20, 2007, Sandler was enlisted to guest host The Late Show when Letterman came down with a stomach virus. “You may remember me from Saturday Night Live,” Sandler said in his monologue. “I am the great … Jimmy Fallon.” (Prescient?) Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra played him over to the desk with Metallica’s Enter the Sandman.

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Stuart J. Robinson, a college friend of the TV Tyrant, is a writer, editor, media-relations practitioner and social-media guy in Phoenix.

Tags: Adam Sandler, Aisha Tyler, Alice Eve, Amy Poehler, Amy Schumer, Arsenio Hall, Chelsea Handler, Conan O’Brien, Craig Ferguson, Howard Stern, Jon Stewart, Julie Chen, Nathan Lane Patton Oswalt, Neil Patrick Harris, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey