1 / 10

Kevin Hart - David Letterman rocked the world of late night talk shows last week when the legendary Late Show host announced he would be retiring next year after 31 years. There's no doubt a new era is underway for late night chat shows — Jay Leno finally gave up his throne earlier this year — so we're looking at a few good men and women who could, literally, take Letterman's seat. Our list of ten comedians who could take over the Late Show starts with Kevin Hart. The Real Husbands of Hollywood star has gone from Philly comedian to household name with hits like Think Like a Man, Ride Along and several sold-out comedy specials. Like Letterman, Hart's humor is both sardonic and self-deprecating but ultimately full of heart.  (Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images)

2 / 10

Wayne Brady - With stints on Deal or No Deal and Whose Line is It Anyway? and hosting this year's BET Honors, Brady has already proven he can get the Heartland to eat out of his hand. With his family-friendly humor and improv skills (which should come in handy during interviews), Brady seems like a natural fit for late night. (Photo: Robin Marchant/Getty Images)

3 / 10

Donald Glover - If network execs are looking for someone to appeal to a younger demographic post-primetime, we suggest Donald Glover. The Community standout is not only handsome, funny and as New York as they come, he already has experience working a writers' room. Glover's breakthrough gig was as a scribe for the hilarious series 30 Rock.  (Photo: Rick Kern/Getty Images for Samsung)

4 / 10

JB Smoove - After an audition for In Living Color early in his career failed to get him a call back, Smoove used failure to fuel him. The writer and comedian has used his goofy sense of humor to slowly and steadily build a following of both Black and white audiences. He became a household name after a memorable stint as Larry David's houseguest-from-hell in Curb Your Enthusiasm and, of course, as Kevin Hart's wingman on Real Husbands of Hollywood. We think there's no time like the present for Smoove to bring his everyman charm to late night.(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

5 / 10

Wanda Sykes - Sykes comes in with something most of the people on this list don't have: experience in late night. The comedienne hosted her own post-primetime talk show, The Wanda Sykes Show, from 2009-2010 and became a mainstream favorite in films like Monster-in-Law, Evan Almighty and Rio. Sykes would bring a much-needed dose of feminine energy, and sass, to the Late Show.(Photo: Angela Weiss/Getty Images)

6 / 10

Dave Chappelle - If anything could pull Dave Chappelle out of retirement, could it be a chance to assume the throne of late night? The controversial comedian exhibited his genius on Chappelle's Show and would certainly shake up the sanitized talk show landscape, but we gotta wonder if America is ready for what Chappelle would bring to the table, er, desk. (Photo: Gary Miller/FilmMagic)

7 / 10

Aisha Tyler - With her breathtaking beauty and dry wit, Tyler made a name for herself as host of E!'s Talk Soup in 2001. After years of guest spots on dozens of television shows, Tyler is back to her hosting roots as co-host of daytime talker The Talk. But we think this smart and talented gal is ready to reset her alarm clock to late night.(Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for Family Equality Council)

8 / 10

Chris Rock - One of the most recognizable faces in America with a sense of humor that transcends race and class, Rock would be an amazing addition to the late night scene. The Saturday Night Live veteran has hosted everything from the MTV VMAs to the Academy Awards.(Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

9 / 10

Whoopi Goldberg - Here's a candidate who needs no introduction. As the long-running co-host of daytime talk show The View, Goldberg's credentials more than speak for themselves. The actress, comedienne and professional talker could fill Letterman's seat with her eyes closed. (Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

10 / 10

Maya Rudolph - She may have never done it in real life, but this former Saturday Night Live star did play a talk show host on TV. If Late Show producers want to see audition tape of Rudolph behind the desk, they need only binge-watch her sitcom Up All Night. (Photo: Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images)