• Entertainment

Conan: Colbert Is the ‘Right Person’ for Late Show

2 minute read

Conan O’Brien is all smiles and handshakes over CBS’ decision to anoint Stephen Colbert the next host of the Late Show.

The 50-year-old talk show host of Conan said Stephen Colbert is the “right person” to take over the Late Show from the departing David Letterman, the Associated Press reports.

“I’m very happy where I am, but I love Stephen. I think Stephen is great. I’m a huge fan of his as a comic and as a human being. I think it’s fantastic. I’m really glad that he got the job. I look forward to seeing his show,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien took over for Letterman on NBC’s Late Night in 1993, and then took over Jay Leno’s spot at NBC’s Tonight Show for a brief seven months before being replaced by Leno in 2010. O’Brien now hosts his own late-night show, Conan, on TBS.

O’Brien said he was never in the running for Letterman’s spot anyway. “Whenever I would hear there was speculation (that I’d take over the Late Show), I was like, ‘No. What?’ I’m happy,” said O’Brien, whose TBS talk show has been renewed through November 2015. “I get to do what I want.”

[AP]

MORE: The Best of Stephen Colbert

More Must-Reads From TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com