Newsday: Kilborn leaves them talking

[Bud]

Of all the talk shows, Kilborn showcased Diana the best...

Source: http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/ne ... -headlines

Kilborn leaves them talking

BY VERNE GAY
STAFF WRITER

August 14, 2004

Five questions for Craig Kilborn: why, why, why, why, why?

The CBS late-night talk show host abruptly quit Thursday, leaving the network scrambling to find his replacement.

Kilborn, who announced his resignation in Variety, told the trade paper that "it was easily the greatest job I've had, and CBS was very generous in their offer to re-sign me, but I simply want to try something new. I can now focus on writing and producing different television projects I haven't had time for."

Kilborn's annual salary is about $2 million, and he had sought a salary boost a few months ago, though he and CBS remained apart on final terms.

Still, CBS and Worldwide Pants - David Letterman's production company - expected to sign a new deal with Kilborn, making the resignation all the more mystifying. Observers said Friday that if and when Letterman retires, Kilborn would not have been named his replacement and that could have informed his decision to leave.

However, Rob Burnett, president of Worldwide Pants, said Friday, "We would have absolutely continued with Craig at 12:30. We were very happy with him and the show, and extremely proud of our five-year association [but] whether or not Craig could ultimately replace Dave was nowhere on the radar here because Dave isn't going anywhere."

On speculation that CBS may have considered Conan O'Brien as a potential "Late Late Show" host, he said, "any implication that we wanted to replace Craig in hopes of finding a better replacement for Dave whenever Dave decides to retire is not accurate."

An NBC spokesman declined to comment on the O'Brien speculation.

Kilborn will officially leave the air in two weeks, after which CBS is expected to air repeats of the 12:35 a.m. show.

With his trademark "Five Questions" bit and wry, frat-boy humor, Kilborn's "Late Late Show" has become a draw among young, male viewers, although "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" drew more viewers.

Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.

[Samantha]

That is sad news. I really liked him, sometimes better than Conan. Yes, Kilborn did showcased Diana the best.