Why Stephen Colbert Wouldn’t Want to Take Over The Daily Show

Stephen Colbert had a quick response when George Lucas asked him on Friday why he wasn’t taking over The Daily Show from Jon Stewart.

“Don’t you think the perfect choice to replace that Jon Stewart fella would have been you?” Lucas asked Colbert at a Tribeca Film Festival panel, according to Deadline. “And now you’re working at Late Show where nobody sees you. Who stays up past 1 a.m.? Wouldn’t you say, I’m taking over the crown?”

Colbert replied, “I don’t want to be the guy who takes over for Jon Stewart. I’ve worked with him, and my memories of him is that he’s the keenest, most intelligent, most beautifully deconstructive mind—the clearest thinker I ever worked for. I would never get underneath his shadow. Someone else who doesn’t love him as much might have a better time on that show than I ever would.”

Stephen Colbert is taking over from David Letterman as the host of The Late Show on CBS, starting this fall. Comedian Trevor Noah is set to be Jon Stewart’s replacement on The Daily Show.

[Deadline]