Wow! http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/08/13/television.kilborn.reut/index.html LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) -- After five years in late night, Craig Kilborn is exiting as host of CBS' "The Late, Late Show With Craig Kilborn." A CBS spokesman confirmed late Thursday that Kilborn had informed the network that he would not seek a renewal of his contract, which is believed to expire this year. The spokesman declined to elaborate. Sources familiar with the situation said the parting was amicable. One source said Kilborn's reps had sought a hefty salary increase for a new contract with CBS, but other sources discounted how much of a factor salary negotiations were in Kilborn's decision to move on. CBS is not believed to have a replacement for Kilborn lined up for the show, which follows "Late Show With David Letterman" in the 12:35 a.m. time slot. Letterman's Worldwide Pants production banner has the right to produce the show in that time slot per Letterman's contract with CBS. Kilborn took over "Late, Late Show" in April 1999 after Tom Snyder exited the post-Letterman slot on CBS. A former ESPN anchor, Kilborn first garnered attention for his comedy skills during his 1996-99 stint as the original host of Comedy Central's mock newscast "The Daily Show." During Kilborn's tenure, "Late, Late Show" has been a steady performer for CBS, though it has consistently run second in the time slot to NBC's "Late Night With Conan O'Brien." During the past 12 months, "Late, Late Show" has averaged 1.6 million viewers each night, compared with 2.5 million for NBC's "Late Night."
Kinda sounds like he was fired. Maybe John Stewart can take over and make it a good show like he did with The Daily Show.
Damn, I always liked his show for some reason. He started off really raw and came off really arrogant to the quasi-star guests he'd have on. The writing did get better and he slowly started to evolve into a good host, Too bad he's calling it quits now.
WHAT?!??!?! STFU and get out of here! EVERYTHING Conan gets is from Letterman (meaning all teh stupid time fillers). Conan used to be completley boring and stupid for years, but has been probably the best in the past 5 or so years. Leno has been constant, but that's because he's got great writers. Kilborn is 'sophisticated' humor, more in the sense that you need to be in the right mindest to watch him. Letterman has always been funny, but I'll admit has gotten a little stupid (Conan stupid) in the past few years. He's still great at off-topic, unrehearsed comedy. I sitll think Letterman is the overall #1.
Kinda funny how this comes just one week after his ESPN "old school" gig. He seemed like such a big-shot coming back to grace the set where he got his humble start... now those guys have a job, and he doesn't.
I went and saw Kilborns show when I was visiting Hollywood ... I really liked the show, but he was definitely a prick ... It seemed like it was a "rough day at the office" for him and the TV Persona was all fake. I can't stand Conan either so I guess I'll just go to bed late late night now I only like Leno out of what's left anyways.
