All good things must come to an end, as is the case for Late Show host of 32 years, David Letterman. CBS announced Wednesday that May 20, 2015, will be the final episode for the celebrated night show host.

There was no clear reason given for the departure, and the one specified remained long and complicated. However, Letterman had always been in agreement with the network owner, Leslie Moonves, that the timing and circumstance of his retirement would be worked out accordingly.

Letterman made the transition from NBC to CBS in 1993, and in doing so forever changed nighttime television. He started out a struggling stand-up comic, making many appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962). He became a permanent substitute host by the end of the 1970s.

NBC caught wind of him and immediately took to the young, irreverent comedian, prompting them to give him his own daytime talk show, The David Letterman Show (1980). The show was highly unsuccessful and only lasted a few months. Not long after the cancellation, Letterman took over the post-Carson slot with Late Night with David Letterman (1982).

In 1992, Johnny Carson decided to retire. After losing out to Jay Leno for Carson’s postion, Letterman announced that he was leaving NBC for CBS to star in The Late Show with David Letterman (1993).

Assuming that Letterman makes the rest of his scheduled broadcasts, leading up to May 20, he will have hosted 6,028 versions of the Late Show and its NBC precursor Late Night. Letterman has managed to remain relevant in the pop culture hemisphere for over three decades and is leaving no less than a legacy to be honored and remembered by.

Given the length of his years spent doing late night comedy, last April his retirement news did come as a surprise to fans. Unfortunately, the long time comedian admitted that his heart was just no longer in it.

Letterman had been a controversial game-changer from the very beginning. He knew right away what kind of late show host he was going to be. Starting out, he was always at odds with the censors over his show and favored being blunt over coddling guests. This only helped to make him an even popular household name. Because of the suddenness of Letterman’s success, many even went as far as to say that he surpassed Carson in popularity.

At 67, he has acquired 73 Emmy nominations, and won nine of those. There will be many nostalgic and significant episodes, leading up to his departure.

CBS president Leslie Moonves spoke of David’s “remarkable legacy of achievement and brilliance that will never be forgotten.” He admitted that while David will be sorely missed, this time will be used to celebrate his devotion to the world of television, and to cherish remaining episodes.

Stephen Colbert has already been chosen as Letterman’s replacement. The witty and charismatic talk show host will air the last episode of his own television show, The Colbert Report, next Thursday. Colbert made the announcement of his show ending in late October, though there is no word on when exactly he is slated to take over the Late Show slot.