David Letterman Returning With Netflix Talk Show

Late night television legend David Letterman is coming out of retirement to host a new Netflix talk show.

The streaming service said of the series in a press release: “The yet-to-be-named, six-episode series has Letterman combining two interests for which he is renowned: in-depth conversations with extraordinary people, and in-the-field segments expressing his curiosity and humor. In each hour-long episode, Letterman will conduct a long-form conversation with a singular guest – and will also explore topics on his own, away from the studio.”

Letterman, who spent 33 consecutive years on late night TV (1982-1992 on NBC, 1993-2015 on CBS), explained his return in the same release.

“I feel excited and lucky to be working on this project for Netflix,” said Letterman. “Here’s what I have learned, if you retire to spend more time with your family, check with your family first. Thanks for watching, drive safely.”

Ted Sarandos, Netflix chief content officer, said of the host, “Just meeting David Letterman was a thrill; imagine how exciting it is for me to announce that we will be working together.”

Sarandos continued his effusive praise, adding, “David Letterman is a true television icon, and I can’t wait to see him out in the wild, out from behind the desk and interviewing the people he finds most interesting. We’ll have to see if he keeps the beard.”

Letterman follows in the footsteps of Chelsea Handler, who began hosting a Netflix talk show in 2016.

The series is scheduled to premiere in 2018.