IT'S OFFICIAL: DAVE TAKING ACT TO CBS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 15, 1993                   TAG: 9301150184
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Short
IT'S OFFICIAL: DAVE TAKING ACT TO CBS
David Letterman killed the suspense Thursday and gleefully announced he's got a better gig, wisecracking to his NBC "Late Night" audience that it came down to the flip of a coin: "Heads CBS . . . tails CBS."
The irascible talk-show host, whose "Stupid Pet Tricks" and Top 10 Lists are a staple of the wee hours, gave no details about the move except to say that his last NBC show would be June 25.
CBS announced later that it had signed him for an 11:30 p.m. talk show, smack against his old friend Jay Leno and NBC's "The Tonight Show." Letterman said he expected his first CBS show would air in August.
CBS was believed to have offered Letterman $14 million to $16 million, at least double his NBC salary. At a news conference with his new bosses, Letterman sidestepped questions about money, grinning slyly and saying only: "I got enough for gum."
NBC didn't say exactly how it would fill Letterman's 12:30 a.m. slot.
NBC Entertainment President Warren Littlefield, speaking in Santa Monica, Calif., said only that, come fall, the hour following "Tonight" would be a comedy hour developed by "Saturday Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB