Four years later, CBS's faith in Kilborn has been rewarded in spades. Kilborn's ratings have grown each season on the air, and The Late Late Show has closed the gap against Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Kilborn continues to rate especially high among male viewers ages 18-35. "I joke that I have a sore lower back from carrying the male 18-35 demo on my back for CBS," says Kilborn, who does in fact have back problems.
The network is pleased, as measured by its conspicuous lack of meddling . "Both the network and Worldwide Pants [Letterman's production company, which developed The Late Late Show for CBS], they kind of just leave me alone. They pat me on the back and say, 'Nice job.' I love having that freedom.... Maybe I'm on so late they just don't care."
Kilborn's kidding, of course. Late night is one of network television's most contentious battlegrounds. Comings and goings--what's hot and who's cooled--are measured in increments of days. If in fact CBS executives aren't awake at that hour, it's because they're sleeping easy.
Were it not for his massive appetite for messing around, Kilborn would be a natural to someday succeed Dan Rather as anchor of CBS Evening News. Think about it. The elocution. The hair. The unflappable demeanor. Regular viewing reveals Kilborn's essential wholesomeness. To watch also is to admire the consistancy of the show's tone. The Late Late Show delivers the same sneaky thrill whether Kilborn has Clint Eastwood in the guest seat or is winging his way through the B list.
Kilborn does have a role in a feature film, Old School, starring buddy Vince Vaughn, in the pipeline. He swears he could do The Late Late Show, happily, ad infinitim. He's equally convincing when he says he could just as easily retire young. One senses ambition in him, but not restlessness.
The Late Late Show is established, but still an up-and-comer. Smart, but with ample room for Kilborn to explore his inner smart aleck. He is famous, but can travel releatively carefree from the CBS Television City soundstage to his beloved home. "When I got [The Late Late Show], it was exhilarating. But no nerves. It was like, 'This is what I wanted to do,'" Kilborn says. "I live in this cool old Spanish house, fairly close to work--I avoid traffic. I go to the gym and have a decent workout, take a steam. Then I get to interview charming celebrities. Afterward I go to expensive restaurants and spend too much money, then go to bed."
Kilborn trips the switch in his voice box to: shtick. "Salmon," he says. "I eat a lot of salmon."
