Another Carson on Late-Night TV

By Lucy Maher

08/16/2001 at 01:20 PM EDT

Get ready for another Carson on late-night TV. Carson Daly, currently the host of MTV's "Total Request Live," has agreed to host a revived "Later" talk show on NBC next year, the Associated Press reports. Daly, 28, is following in the footsteps on Bob Costas and Greg Kinnear, who previously hosted the dormant talk show, which airs at 1:35 a.m. ET. NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker said that it was "gratifying to know that we have added another Carson to our regular lineup of terrific hosts." Daly did not return calls seeking comment. Daly's move comes as a bit of a surprise as his current employer, Viacom, has given him several other on-air opportunities, including appearances on CBS specials and during the Super Bowl telecast. The company, however, didn't have a talk show to offer him. "He just felt like there were more opportunities at NBC," said Daly's spokeswoman, Shirine Coburn. Daly's contract with MTV ends in September 2002. There is no word on whether it will be renewed. In the meantime, Daly's three-year contract with NBC enables him to appear on other network shows -- he's slated to appear on the upcoming NBC Jennifer Lopez special and the Golden Globe awards. He will also develop a program for NBC's teen-oriented Saturday morning lineup.