Over thirty years ago, the Late Night with David Letterman show made its first appearance on NBC television. The nightly hour show was created and hosted by David Letterman who started it in 1983. Letterman began his broadcasting career as an announcer and newscaster at a college’s student-run radio station (WBST). He was fired for treating classical music with irreverence. He then became involved with another college’s campus station-WAGO-AM 570. His inspiration for his career he credits to Paul Dixon a Cincinnati-based talk show host.

“I was just out of college [in 1969], and I really didn’t know what I wanted to do. And then all of a sudden I saw him doing it [on TV]. And I thought: That’s really what I want to do!” Letterman said.

After college, he began his career as a radio talk show host on WTNS (AM) and on a TV station (WLWI) as an anchorman and weatherman. He also starred in a local kiddie show, and hosted a late night TV show called “Freeze-Dried Movies”. Along with that he hosted a talk show that aired early on Saturday mornings called “Clover Power”. He then appeared as a pit reporter for ABCs Sports. In 1975 he made the decision to move to Los Angeles where he began performing at The Comedy Store. Since then he made various appearances on talk and TV shows.

His big break came shortly after his move to LA, when he The David Letterman Show on NBC. The show was a critical success, winning two Emmy Awards, but was a ratings disappointment and was canceled in October 1980. From there he got his current show; Late Night with David Letterman on CBS.  Letterman was the host of late night for 21 years until he announced his unexpected retirement earlier in the month.

It was soon announced Stephen Colbert host of Comedy Central‘s The Colbert Report, would take over his place. He inked a five-year deal with The Late Night Show. Colbert is host of Comedy Central‘s faux-news show The Colbert Report. Colbert has been on the radar for top choice with CBS network for some time. Colbert won’t fully take over the show until 2015.

“Simply being a guest on David Letterman’s show has been a highlight of my career. I never dreamed I would follow in his footsteps.” Colbert said.