Larry Wilmore to replace Stephen Colbert with ‘The Minority Report’

Comedian Larry Wilmore will succeed Stephen Colbert in the 11:30 p.m. slot on Comedy Central, hosting a show called “The Minority Report” beginning in January, the network announced Friday.

Wilmore is already familiar to Comedy Central viewers as “Senior Black Correspondent” on “The Daily Show,” where he has offered his wry takes on contemporary issues of race since 2006.

Like both “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report,” “The Minority Report” will take a comedic look at politics and current events but will do so from “a perspective largely missing in the current late-night landscape.” It will be produced by Jon Stewart’s Busboy Productions.

As the title of his show indicates, Wilmore will bring some diversity to Comedy Central as the network’s first African American late-night host. Colbert, who also rose through the ranks at “The Daily Show” before spinning off with “The Colbert Report” in 2005, will replace David Letterman as the host of “Late Show” next year.

“I’m beyond excited to have this chance to continue my relationships with Comedy Central and the brilliant Jon Stewart,” said Wilmore. “I love the city of New York and promise to only wear my Laker T-shirts when I’m layering.”

Said Stewart, “While Larry Wilmore is a brilliant comic and show runner, this is all just a complicated ruse to get him to move to New York and turn him into a Knicks fan.”

In addition to his work on “The Daily Show,” Wilmore is an Emmy-winning writer and producer who’s written for shows including “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” “In Living Color” and “The Jamie Foxx Show.” He also co-created the animated series “The PJs” and “The Bernie Mac Show.”

It’s been a big week for the comedian. On Thursay ABC announced a series order for “Black-ish,” a sitcom starring Anthony Anderson that he will executive produce.

“We are thrilled to be expanding our relationship with Jon Stewart and Busboy Productions, and are looking forward to the world getting to know Larry Wilmore even better. He’s a spectacular talent in front of and behind the camera,” said Comedy Central President Michele Ganeless.