CBS in Talks With Chelsea Handler for a Late-Night Show ... Is It Letterman's 'Late Show'?

With David Letterman retiring, there's been a ton of chatter the past few days about who'll replace him as host of Late Show. Popculturology has long believed that Conan O'Brien would be the perfect guy to follow Letterman (again), but it seems like the favorite now is Stephen Colbert. TheWrap added an interesting wrinkle to this story on Monday when it reported that CBS was in talks with Chelsea Handler for a late-night show.

According to TheWrap, CBS approached Handler about hosting a syndicated show, which Handler turned down. CBS then brought up the possibility of hosting The Late Late Show, which is odd, since Craig Ferguson is still hosting that show. This was all before Letterman announced he would retire in 2015. After that announcement, Handler turned her attention to Late Show.

OK, I'm going to be completely blunt with you here. Handler will never host Late Show. It's not because she's a woman — it's because she's Chelsea Handler. Certain shows and time slots require certain personalities. Just like how CBS appears unlikely to turn to Ferguson to host Late Show, they're not going pass it on to Handler either. Look at the people hosting 11:35 p.m. shows for NBC and ABC — Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel don't have reputations for being crass or sexually charged. That schtick may work on cable or even at 12:35 a.m., but it won't work at 11:35 p.m. Handler may want Late Show now, but I'm guessing The Late Late Show is all CBS will be willing to give her.

CBS is going to want someone safe but at the same time fresh. I'd love to say that's O'Brien, but Colbert doesn't come with the baggage O'Brien does. Also, on the Conan front, it looks like he'll still be working with TBS on major projects in July 2015. According to The Hollywood Reporter, O'Brien will host his show from San Diego during Comic-Con that month. I'm not saying that takes O'Brien out of the running for Late Show, but it does make it more difficult to see him parting ways with TBS around that time.