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Neil Patrick Harris Drops A Late Night Bombshell, Reveals Why He Turned Down 'Late Show'

Neil Patrick Harris Was Offered 'The Late Show' Before Colbert
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Entertainment Editor, HuffPost

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NEW YORK - JUNE 3: Neil Patrick Harris talks with Late Show host David Letterman about hosting the Tony Awards during Monday's 6/3 taping in New York. (Photo by John Paul Filo/CBS via Getty Images)

Neil Patrick Harris has finally revealed why CBS won't get him to "Suit up!" for "Late Show."

On Wednesday, Harris confirmed to Howard Stern that CBS pitched him the idea of taking over on "Late Show" before offering the job to Stephen Colbert, but he turned it down, according to Variety.

Harris said CBS called him in, wined and dined him with "fantastic sushi" and talked about the possibility of replacing the retiring David Letterman on "Late Show" or the outgoing Craig Ferguson on the "Late Late Show." Raw fish covered in seaweed obviously wasn't enough to seal the deal though. Harris said he was "surprised" by the offer and ultimately wasn't interested in hosting a nightly talk show.

The reason? It would have simply bored his pants off.

“I think I would get bored of the repetition fast,” Harris said to Stern.

Though he's not interested in a late night talk show at this point, Harris may still be interested in hosting a weekly "SNL"-type variety show at CBS sometime in the future.

You can listen to the interview below.

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Before You Go

Late Night Talk Shows
'Late Show With David Letterman'(01 of14)
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Airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on CBS. (credit:CBS)
'Jimmy Kimmel Live'(02 of14)
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Airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC. (credit:ABC)
'The Tonight Show With Jay Leno'(03 of14)
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Airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC. (credit:NBC)
'Conan'(04 of14)
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Airs Monday through Thursday at 11 p.m. ET on TBS. (credit:TBS)
'Chelsea Lately'(05 of14)
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Airs weeknights at 11 p.m. ET on E! (credit:E)
'The Daily Show With Jon Stewart'(06 of14)
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Airs Monday through Thursday at 11 p.m. ET on Comedy Central. (credit:Comedy Central)
'Watch What Happens: Live'(07 of14)
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Airs Sunday through Thursday at 11 p.m. ET on Bravo. (credit:Bravo)
'The Colbert Report'(08 of14)
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Airs Monday through Thursday at 11:30 p.m. ET on Comedy Central. (credit:Comedy Central)
'Totally Biased With W. Kamau Bell'(09 of14)
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Airs Thursdays at 11 p.m. ET on FX. (credit:FX)
'BrandX With Russell Brand'(10 of14)
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Airs Thursdays at 11:30 p.m. ET on FX. (credit:FX)
'The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson'(11 of14)
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Airs weeknights at 12:35 p.m. ET on CBS. (credit:CBS)
'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon'(12 of14)
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Airs weeknights at 12:35 p.m. ET on NBC. (credit:NBC)
'Real Time With Bill Maher'(13 of14)
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Airs Friday nights at 11 p.m. ET on HBO. (credit:HBO)
'Last Call With Carson Daly'(14 of14)
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Airs weeknights at 1:35 a.m. ET on NBC. (credit:NBC)
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