Jon Stewarts stunning announcementthat he was leaving The Daily Show left many Colbert Report fans including Star Wars creator George Lucas wondering whether Stephen Colbertwould have taken that gig instead of David Lettermans The Late Show if Colbert had known of Stewarts impending departure. In a discussion with Lucas at the Tribeca Film Festival Friday, Colbert made it clear that hosting The Daily Show was never in his plans, Deadline reports.
Dont you think the perfect choice to replace that Jon Stewart fella would have been you? And now youre working at Late Show where nobody sees you, Lucas asked. Who stays up past 1 a.m.? Colbert responded, I love it when people ask Why are you going into late night? I was on at 11:30 p.m., Im moving to 11:35 p.m. Ill have an extra cup of coffee to stay up an extra five minutes.
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Besides the extra cup of coffee, Colbert felt he couldnt follow in the footsteps of Stewarts The Daily Show legacy. I dont want to be the guy who takes over for Jon Stewart. Ive worked with him, and my memories of him is that hes the keenest, most intelligent, most beautifully deconstructive mind the clearest thinker I ever worked for, Colbert said of his former Comedy Central coworker. I would never get underneath his shadow. Someone else who doesnt love him as much might have a better time on that show than I ever would.
Colbert was also complimentary of incoming Daily Show host Trevor Noah, calling the South African comedian a very funny guy. One thing Colbert didnt discuss: What he had planned for when he takes over The Late Show on September 8th.
Colberts quick humor was on display throughout his conversation with Lucas. At one point, the filmmaker described his own films dialogue as wooden, to which Colbert, a lifelong Star Wars fan, said, Its not wooden, its hand-carved dialogue. At one point, after Lucas sneezed, Colbert said, May the force be with you. Lucas himself was a guestof both Colbert Report and The Daily Show, appearing during the formers series finale sing-alongand the latters recent Fox News-mocking segment.