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10 Out-of-the-Box Letterman Replacements That Would Break the Late-Night Mold

By Dustin Rowles | Lists | April 3, 2014 |

By Dustin Rowles | Lists | April 3, 2014 |


David Letterman announced his retirement today (and you can actually watch the announcement now, here) and though I thought we could wait until tomorrrow to start rattling off potential replacements, that hasn’t happened. Most of the names being bandied about, so far, are the names you’d expect to see: Stephen Colbert, Craig Ferguson, Jon Stewart, Conan O’Brien, and even Jay Leno. There have been a few mold-breaking choices (Ellen Degeneres, Chris Rock, Neil Patrick Harris).

I think, however, that if you’re going to compete against Fallon — who has a commanding lead in the ratings over on The Tonight Show — and Kimmell, you really have to offer a real alternative, instead of another Seth Meyers, or Carson Daly, or any number of white guys in their 40s. This is the only way to really give audiences a choice, instead of a variation on a similar theme.

My suggestions? Maybe these 10, none of whom have a shot in hell.

Hannibal Buress

Amy Schumer

Aisha Tyler

Aziz Ansari

Tina Fey

Amy Poehler

Lena Dunham

Mindy Kaling

Cecily Strong

Ira Glass (OK. Admittedly, older white guy, but not anything like anyone else on late night).