When Will Stephen Colbert Start Hosting ‘The Late Show’? Find Out What David Letterman Said To Him In Final Episode

David Letterman’s time on “Late Show” is officially over. The host did his last show Wednesday night after 22 years with CBS and he passed the torch to the program's next star, Stephen Colbert.

“I just want to say a couple of things about Stephen Colbert,” Letterman, 68, said early in his final episode. “I’m very excited, I think he’s going to do a wonderful job and I wish Stephen and his staff and crew nothing but the greatest success. So let’s look forward to that.”

Letterman seemed to be genuinely pleased about the former Comedy Central host taking over, even though he didn’t pick Colbert, 51, as his replacement. When the veteran host spoke to the New York Times, he admitted that no one asked his opinion on who the next host should be. “Just as a courtesy, maybe somebody would say: ‘You know, we’re kicking around some names. Do you have any thoughts here?’ ” he said. “But it doesn’t bother me now.”

The “Colbert Report” host was announced as Letterman’s successor in April 2014, but fans will still have a while to get used to the idea of Colbert hosting. “Late Show” is on hiatus for the summer, and “Late Show With Stephen Colbert” will premiere on Tuesday, Sept. 8, on CBS.

Colbert is preparing for his big debut. “I have nine months to make a show, just like a baby,” he said in a statement in January. “So first, I should find out how you make a baby.”

Though Colbert will crack plenty of jokes, Comedy Central fans shouldn’t expect his satirical character from “The Colbert Report” to host the show. He has assured audiences that he’ll appear as himself.

“I won’t be doing the new show in character, so we’ll all get to find out how much of him was me,” the comedian explained in a statement in April 2014. “I’m looking forward to it.”

CBS signed Colbert to a five-year contract.