Stephen Colbert On Booking George Clooney, Format Of His ‘The Late Show’

Stephen Colbert officially takes over behind the desk at CBS’ “Late Show” this September.

On Monday afternoon, Colbert hit the Television Critics Association Summer Tour and he addressed his format, competition and, of course, his first guest, George Clooney.

“I wish I could have done better than George Clooney, but, he’ll do for the first guest,” Stephen joked.

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“I hope somebody has let him know,” Stephen continued, referencing his recent Tweet about someone telling the Oscar-winning actor he is Stephen’s first guest. “It’s going to be very awkward if he doesn’t show up on September 8. I like George Clooney because, I mean, he’s a brilliant actor, a great director, and he cares about the world.”

Asked by Access Hollywood if he has a personal connection to Clooney, Stephen quipped, “We’re very tight. Very tight.”

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“I’m in Lake Cuomo all the time. Someone please let him know that as well because he will not open the gate,” Stephen joked.

The new “Late Show” host suggested he had no plans to change the format of the show.

“CBS has asked nothing of me other than I fill an hour every night Monday through Friday. So the format hasn’t changed,” he said.

“I love the grind of a daily show, I love a live audience. I like meeting the guests and I like telling jokes, but that’s it. They haven’t asked me to change or do anything. They liked the show I used to do and they said, ‘Would you mind adding another 120 hours a year?'” he added.

During the panel session, Stephen said he spoke to David Letterman and asked him a number of questions about hosting the show. One thing Dave told him – he always wanted to try moving the desk to the other side. Stephen said he called up his set designer afterward and asked to move the desk.

When one reporter asked him about the competition from the other 11:30 late night programs, Stephen said there isn’t competition. They’re all just doing their own thing.

“We’re competing with ourselves to have fun on the show,” he said.

— Jolie Lash