Stephen Colbert announced the date of his last night hosting The Colbert Report, as he prepares to take over hosting The Late Show.

Stephen Colbert's Move To 'Late Show'

Colbert announced on Thursday that the last Colbert Report show would air on Comedy Central on Thursday, Dec. 18, as he looks forward to filling the shoes of longtime Late Show host David Letterman.

"Simply being a guest on David Letterman's show has been a highlight of my career," Colbert said in a statement. "I never dreamed that I would follow in his footsteps, though everyone in late night follows Dave's lead. I'm thrilled and grateful that CBS chose me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go grind a gap in my front teeth."

"Stephen Colbert, the guy you've seen here every night for nine years will be gone. All you'll have left of me is this book," Colbert added, promoting the paperback copy of his book, American Again: Re-becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't.

It was announced back in April that Colbert would be making the jumb to CBS' Late Show. At the time, Comedy Central released a statement congratulating their longtime talent.

"Comedy Central is proud that the incredibly talented Stephen Colbert has been part of our family for nearly two decades," the network said. "We look forward to the next eight months of the ground-breaking Colbert Report and wish Stephen the very best."

Colbert, who got his break as a correspondent on Jon Stewart's The Daily Show, launched The Colbert Report in 2004. Taking over in his timeslot on Comedy Central will be Larry Wilmore's The Minority Report.

Colbert will replace Letterman on The Late Show in 2015.