Now that CBS has officially named Tom Snyder heir to the post-Letterman throne — his live 12:30 a.m. show premieres in December — the question remains: How will the 20-year TV veteran fare with 20-year-olds? The results of an informal poll:
The media analyst: ''I don't think it's a natural flow from Letterman to Snyder. David Letterman has a much younger audience. I'm not sure [CBS] didn't blow it.''
The CNBC staffer: ''His career has defied [demographics]. He has always been popular with kids from way back on the Tomorrow show. He transcends age.''
The program director: ''He deserves more of a chance than some others who've been given the opportunity.''
The Late Show audience member: ''Tom Snyder is a staple of late-night TV. It's a safe bet for CBS to stick him on. [But] I like Conan O'Brien better. I'm a cynical Generation X member who doesn't appreciate prepackaged, corporate, late-night TV.''
Dave himself: (On what kind of demographics he envisions) ''We're shooting for nursing homes.'' — With reporting by Dana Kennedy and Sarah A. Young
