Daily Show's Larry Wilmore lands Stephen Colbert's Comedy Central spot
Comedian Larry Wilmore, currently part of Jon Stewart's late night The Daily Show, will headline his own show that will replace Stephen Colbert's The Colbert Report on Comedy Central next year, the network said.
Wilmore, 52, often billed as "Senior Black Correspondent" on Stewart's late night satirical news show, will host The Minority Report with Larry Wilmore, which will air following The Daily Show starting January 2015.
He's also an Emmy-winner, having earned a trophy for his writing for the comedy series The Bernie Mac Show, which he co-created, in 2002. His other credits include In Living Color, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, The Jamie Foxx Show, The PJs and The Office.
The new show is being created by Jon Stewart and will be produced by his Busboy Productions. Stewart and Wilmore will serve as executive producers.
Comedy Central, a unit of Viacom Inc, said in a statement Friday that the show will tackle news and current affairs and feature "a diverse panel of voices currently underrepresented in comedy and television."
Colbert meanwhile will leave his critically acclaimed Comedy Central gig to replace the retiring David Letterman on CBS's Late Show next year.
Colbert will take on competitors Jimmy Fallon on NBC's The Tonight Show, and Jimmy Kimmel on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!