CBS’ ‘Late Show’ Has No Immediate Succession Plans for Chris Licht
variety.comBrian Steinberg Senior TV EditorThe showrunner is leaving, but the show must go on.Staffers at CBS’ “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” aren’t sure who the next top producer will be at the program, according to three people familiar with the matter, with top producers ready to take their time to examine the needs of the show after the departure of Chris Licht, who has been executive producer of the late-night mainstay since 2016.
Licht’s decision to take a new role as the CEO of CNN once Discovery closes its acquisition of WarnerMedia leaked this weekend, well before the executive was able to formally inform George Cheeks, CEO of Paramount Global’s CBS operations, or Shari Redstone, chairman of the company, according to one of these people. “Late Show” staffers were informed of Licht’s decision on Saturday afternoon, after many press reports had confirmed Discovery’s plans.
A “Late Show” spokesperson declined to comment and CBS declined to make executives available for comment.Licht’s tenure at Colbert’s program has been marked by stability.
NBC’s “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” has cycled through a few producers during that time. NBC put former news and sports executive Jim Bell in 2018 after a trio of comedy veterans — Mike DiCenzo, Katie Hockmeyer and Gerard Bradford — ran things for a few years.
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