Is Neil Patrick Harris Replacing David Letterman On 'The Late Show'?

Neil Patrick Harris has responded to rumors regarding him potentially taking over The Late Show hosting slot after David Letterman last week announced that he was stepping down from his long-term television role. Harris had emerged as one of the names touted to replace the talkshow host and has since responded to the speculation during a press conference in New York.

Neil Patrick Harris Has Addressed Rumours That He'll Be Replacing David Letterman.

The 40 year-old actor, who is best known for his Barney Stinson role in hit CBS sitcom, How I Met Your Mother, addressed the rumours after being pressed by reporters. He is currently starring in Broadway hit Hedwig and the Angry Itch as a drag queen.

"I'm super-focused on Hedwig at the moment, so that hasn't even been a conversation at all," the star replied when asked about the possibility of his taking over Late Show. "But I'm a big fan of CBS and Les [Moonves, CBS CEO], so who knows?" via THR.

Letterman Announced His Nearing Retirement Last Thursday On 'Late Show.'

Asked if the late-night gig would be fun, Harris replied: "It would be an asinine amount of work." The press conference was held with New York Sen. Charles E. Schumer and various Broadway stars to dicuss the pros of theatre tax breaks. Other names that the media has speculated on as possible replacements include Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, Ellen DeGeneres, Chelsea Handler and Whoopi Goldberg, the latter of whom shot down the rumor on her daytime talk show.

The View's Goldberg put a stop to the rumours as soon as they arose, saying "What do you mean? I've got a job here. I work for ABC."

Letterman's contract expires in 2015 and announced the news of his retirement on last Thursday's Late Show. "The man who owns this network, Leslie Moonves, he and I have had a relationship for years and years and years, and we have had this conversation in the past, and we agreed that we would work together on this circumstance and the timing of this circumstance," said Letterman.

The 'HIMYM' Actor Described The 'Late Show' Hosting Gig As An "Asinine Amount Of Work."

"And I phoned him just before the program, and I said, 'Leslie, it's been great, you've been great, and the network has been great, but I'm retiring,' " Letterman told his audience.

After two successful rounds hosting the Emmy Awards and having drawn a record 12.9 million viewers to last week's final episode of HIMYM, there is a great deal of industry confidence in Harris right now. Whether he decides to capitalise on this success and go down the late night talkshow route will be up to him.

They do look pretty similar, don't you think?

More: 'How I Met Your Mother' may get alternate ending after petition - read more here.

More: David Letterman sheds light on reasons for retiring - click for full story.