'I don't want to be the guy to take over for Jon Stewart,' Colbert says during an event at the Tribeca Film Festival, adding, 'I would never, however successful I'd be, get underneath his shadow.'
- Apr 20, 2015
AceShowbiz - The interviewer got interviewed during a discussion at the Tribeca Film Festival on Friday, April 17. Stephen Colbert, who was serving as moderator during the event, had to respond to some questions from George Lucas who was curious to find out why Colbert didn't take over "The Daily Show" from the soon-to-be-exiting Jon Stewart.
It began as an audience member asked Colbert if he considered getting into the filmmaking business. "Oh, he asked me a question about me and I'm here for George," Colbert responded. "I do not wish to become a film director, but thank you for asking me that question. I'm flattered you would ask me a question when he's sitting right there," he said, referring to Lucas who was sitting beside him.
Lucas then began asking Colbert, "Now that the world has changed in the way that is has... Don't you think the perfect person to replace that Jon Stewart fellow would've been you? ... And now you're working on late night, where nobody sees you, because nobody stays up until 1 o'clock in the morning. couldn't you just say, 'I'm taking over the crown...' "
Colbert replied, "Um, I love it when people say, 'Why aren't you taking over- Why are you going into late night?' I was at 11:30, I'm moving to 11:35. Yes. I'll drink a cup of coffee and stay up five minutes later."
Showing his support for Stewart's successor Trevor Noah, he added, "Listen, Trevor Noah's a very funny guy. I don't want to be the guy to take over for Jon Stewart. I worked for Jon Stewart at that show. My memories will always be of him being the keenest, most intelligent, most deconstructive mind, the clearest thinker I've ever worked with or for."
"I would never, however successful I'd be, get underneath his shadow," he continued explaining. "Someone who doesn't know him as well and maybe doesn't love him as much might have a better time on that show than I ever would."
Lucas jokingly told Colbert, "But you can- you don't have to be under his shadow. You just, you know, he gets down and you start jumping on his body and say, 'I won, I won, I won!' " Colbert responded, "Sure, I'll try that. Yes."
