The world of late-night talk shows hasn’t been quite the same since David Letterman left the air two years ago, after 33 years and over 6,000 episodes as host of NBC’s Late Night and CBS’ The Late Show, but he’s set to return from his well-earned retirement to dive back into the world of hosting.
Letterman has signed on to work on a new program for Netflix, featuring a mix of long-form interviews with guests, plus a bit of extra journalism outside of the studio, The Hollywood Reporter says.
Set to hit in 2018, the series will consist of six hour-long episodes, giving Letterman a more relaxed schedule than the five live tapings he was doing week in, week out on television. The longer interview format will allow him more of an opportunity for in-depth interviews, however, a format that is often replaced by new hosts like Jimmy Fallon with shorter meme-friendly segments.
“I feel excited and lucky to be working on this project for Netflix. Here’s what I have learned, if you retire to spend more time with your family, check with your family first. Thanks for watching, drive safely,” Letterman says.
“Just meeting David Letterman was a thrill,” adds Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos. “Imagine how exciting it is for me to announce that we will be working together.
“David Letterman is a true television icon, and I can’t wait to see him out in the wild, out from behind the desk and interviewing the people he finds most interesting. We’ll have to see if he keeps the beard.”
Letterman has kept a quiet profile of late, but made an appearance at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year, inducting Pearl Jam after Neil Young was forced to withdraw due to illness.
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It’ll be great to be able to see him stretch his legs again as he makes the jump to streaming.
David Letterman inducts Pearl Jam into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year
