CBS' Les Moonves On 'Late Show' Location: 'We Haven't Yet Made A Decision'
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — After Thursday's announcement that Stephen Colbert will succeed David Letterman as host of the "Late Show," CBS Chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves said the network hasn't solidified future plans for the show's location.
Mayor Eric Garcetti penned a letter to Moonves last week, asking that the "Late Show" be moved to Los Angeles when Letterman retires in 2015.
"As a longtime fan, I was saddened to hear of David Letterman's retirement. But as Mayor of Los Angeles, I am excited for the opportunity to encourage you to bring CBS' next late night show to our city — the entertainment capital of the world," Garcetti's letter read.
Despite the letter, Moonves hinted Thursday that the show could remain in New York.
"We haven't yet made a decision on where this show will be," Moonves told CBS News. "Stephen Colbert is a New York guy; his family's there. It is more than likely it will be on the East Coast. You know, we're still talking, we're being wined and dined by New York, L.A., Connecticut, New Jersey. It's very nice to be the prettiest girl at the dance, and that's the position we are in, so that will be decided in the coming months."
Moonves said he recently had dinner with Garcetti, as well as New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.
"We had a good conversation with him, you know, and Bill de Blasio," Moonves said. "It was fun talking to the two mayors, neither of whom I knew very well, but we had a good conversation about bringing production – more production – to both cities and what they're going to try to do, which is good for our business."
Moonves also said he talked to Garcetti about the cost of production in Los Angeles.
"I told Garcetti something shocking: that for the first time, our head of production at CBS, we're going to do a pilot here in L.A.," he said. "He says, 'It's cheaper to do it in New York.' I said, 'Really?' And that's because of the tax that New York City does and New York State does that we need to do more of in L.A."
To watch Moonves' complete interview, click here.
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