Late night television legend David Letterman announced Thursday afternoon during a taping of “The Late Show” that he is retiring.
He told his audience that he will end his 22-year run at CBS when his current contract runs out in 2015.
“I phoned [CBS chairman Leslie Moonves] just before the program, and I said, ’Leslie, it’s been great, you’ve been great, and the network has been great, but I’m retiring,’” Mr. Letterman said.
Mr. Moonves confirmed the announcement and said that “It’s going to be tough to say goodbye.”
“For 21 years, David Letterman has graced our network’s air in late night with wit, gravitas and brilliance unique in the history of our medium,” he said.
Mr. Letterman, who turns 67 this week and had a decade-long run at NBC along with band leader Paul Shaffer prior to joining CBS, said the show will not end for “at least a year or so, but sometime in the not too distant future – 2015, for the love of God, Paul and I will be wrapping things up.”
“What this means now,” he joked, “is that Paul and I can be married.”
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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