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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Tired of “Late Night,” Craig Kilborn calls it a day


Craig Kilborn
 (The Spokesman-Review)
The Spokesman-Review

Craig Kilborn is quitting CBS’ “Late Late Show” after five seasons, leaving the network to find a new host to follow David Letterman‘s “Late Show.” “It was easily the greatest job I’ve had, and CBS was very generous in their offer to re-sign me,” Kilborn told Daily Variety.

“But I simply want to try something new. I can now focus on writing and producing different television projects I haven’t had time for.”

Not one to pass up a gag, Kilborn added: “And this is cool: I will continue to wear makeup in my everyday life.”

Kilborn had drawn solid ratings for CBS since he took the time slot over from Tom Snyder. Since 1999, the audience had grown 34 percent to this season’s average of 1.7 million viewers.

CBS had no comment on his replacement. There was immediate speculation that Conan O’Brien, whose “Late Night” contract with NBC has more than a year to run, might be a candidate — if he could eventually end up with Letterman’s job.

McEnroe’s not getting a lot of love

Former tennis-megastar-turned-TV-host John McEnroe might not be long for his self-titled CNBC talk show. Since its July 7 debut, he has twice registered a 0.0 household rating — meaning too few people were watching to even show up in the national rankings.

You could say he’s a real stand-up guy

John Heffron, who says he began doing stand-up in clubs as soon as he was old enough to be admitted, is NBC’s newest “Last Comic Standing.”

Heffron got the most votes nationwide to win Thursday night in the second-season finale of the talent contest hosted and produced by comedian Jay Mohr. He will receive an NBC talent contract and his own half-hour special on Comedy Central.

It’s one of her more concrete achievements

Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams of the old “Laverne & Shirley” TV show claimed their stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday.

“I always thought I was a doormat — I let people walk on me,” said Marshall, 61. “Now I’m a piece of cement. It’s harder, but it’s got a star on it.”

So does that mean all is forgiven?

Clint Eastwood has settled a libel lawsuit against the writer and publisher of an unauthorized biography he said portrayed him as a wife abuser.

As part of the settlement, the author and publisher of “Clint: The Life and Legend” agreed to remove a reference to Eastwood beating his former wife, Maggie Eastwood, as well as other statements the actor-director said were false and defamatory.

It’s not exactly the force’s finest hour

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he’ll launch an investigation into whether “60 Minutes” newsman Mike Wallace was mishandled by city taxi cops.

Wallace was handcuffed and arrested Tuesday after arguing with officers over his driver being double-parked outside a Manhattan restaurant.

Said Bloomberg: “Why a man in his 80s was so threatening that they had to arrest him when they normally don’t arrest anybody certainly gives you cause to ask the question.”

The birthday bunch

Actress Alice Ghostley is 78. Singer David Crosby is 63. Actor-comedian Steve Martin is 59. Actor Antonio Fargas (“Starsky and Hutch”) is 58. Actress Susan St. James is 58. Cartoonist Gary Larson (“The Far Side”) is 54. Actress Marcia Gay Harden is 45. Singer Sarah Brightman is 43. Actress Susan Olsen (“The Brady Bunch”) is 43. Actress Emmanuelle Beart is 39. Actress Halle Berry is 36. Actress Mila Kunis (“That ‘70s Show”) is 21.