Stephen Colbert has come a long way. He’s gone from Jon Stewart’s sidekick on the “Daily Show” to being one of the most beloved comedians around with his political satire on “The Colbert Report.” He’s now reached the pinnacle of late night television as he will be replacing David Letterman on the “Late Show.” Although Colbert is adored by many, choosing him as Letterman’s successor raised some eyebrows. Colbert has always been a caricature as a parody of conservative pundits, so some are skeptical if “The Late Show” is really his forte. While this is new territory for Colbert, he is a great replacement for Letterman.

Back in 1992, the late night talk show landscape mirrored today’s. Johnny Carson, one of late night’s greatest hosts, had announced his retirement from late night and all signs pointed to David Letterman replacing him in the coveted Tonight Show slot. In a shocking twist however, it was Jay Leno, not Letterman, who took Carson’s seat. Many saw Leno as an outside-the-box choice for the position, seeing as Letterman had proved to everyone, including Carson, that he was a worthy successor. Ultimately, Leno happened to be a huge success for NBC, beating Letterman in ratings for the majority of their years as competing hosts.

It’s now Letterman’s turn to pass the torch to a new face, and like Leno before him, Colbert may seem an unorthodox host. He has a long history in comedy sure, but he has little experience in late night, especially for a major network such as CBS. Colbert’s work in comedy actually dates back to the early 1990s where he worked improv shows with up and coming comics Steve Carrell and Amy Sedaris as part of the renowned Second City improv troupe. Colbert then gained experience as a writer working on the short-lived Dana Carvey Show where he co-wrote sketches with Louis C.K., Charlie Kaufman and Robert Smigel.

Where Colbert has gained the most experience and acclaim is on The Daily Show and later The Colbert Report. He won over audiences with his satirical portrayal of hyper conservative newscasters such as Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity.

However, it has been confirmed that Colbert will not continue playing his conservative character on the Late Show. As sad as it is that we won’t see his old character again, the prospect of Colbert taking over the Late Show should be overwhelmingly positive. While many are focused on the change in character, the skills that Colbert has cultivated while on the Colbert Report can’t be overlooked.

During his stint on the Report, Colbert perfected the celebrity interview. In his interview segments, he mastered the ability to wring out as much comedy as possible from his guests. His penchant for jumping in on a guest’s anecdote with a clever joke or retort is a skill that every great late night host must have. What’s most impressive is that he was able to do this with guests from drastically different backgrounds. In the same week, Colbert was able to churn out hilarious interviews with political pundits, intellectuals, movie stars and musicians.

Colbert will also bring to the Late Show a skill that his predecessor didn’t have: musical talent. Having won two Grammys for Best Comedy Album and Best Spoken Word Album, Colbert should have no problem adapting his musical talents to the Late Show’s format. Jimmy Fallon, who has found great success on the Tonight Show, has already proven that musical segments don’t have to be left to just the guests. He’s wowed audiences with the help of The Roots and other guest musicians, and proved that funny musical segments can be a big hit on late night.

With these tools, Colbert should be able to successfully replace Letterman. One concern that naysayers have echoed are the heavy expectations that have been placed on him. Letterman has always been a critical darling among late night hosts and his act will surely be a tough one to follow. It will be interesting to see how Colbert and staff will handle early criticism for the show and how much leeway CBS will give him to make mistakes.

However, Colbert should be no stranger to the scrutiny that befalls a comedic talk show host. Colbert already had to go through the gambit of following the uber-successful Daily Show with a show that was largely the same thing. However, Colbert not only succeeded in following Stewart, he was even able to steal a few Emmys from his former boss. Having done it once before, Stephen Colbert will rise from another comedy legend’s shadow and steal our hearts again.

Marcello Rossetti can be reached at [email protected]