(CNN) -- Come December 18, we'll have to say goodbye to our favorite blowhard political character, "Stephen Colbert." That's the day the real Colbert will retire "Colbert" the character as he signs off from his Comedy Central show, "The Colbert Report," in preparation to take over for David Letterman in 2015. For all of us Colbert fans, it feels like losing an old friend who we've grown to know, laugh with (and at) over the past nine years. You see, when Colbert takes over Letterman's show next year, he will no longer be "Colbert," but rather the real Colbert. But here's the thing: What happens if we don't find the real Colbert as entertaining and engaging as the fictional "Colbert"? After all, "Colbert" is a bigger-than-life character and the reason his humor works so well is because it's delivered in a comedic voice.
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On December 18, we'll have to say goodbye to the political character, "Stephen Colbert"
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Dean Obeidallah: For all of us Colbert fans, it feels like losing an old friend
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When Colbert takes over David Letterman's show, will he be as funny as his fictional persona?
But those same TV executives should keep in mind that in the sweeps ratings period in May, "The Colbert Report" was almost tied with the number of viewers "@placeholder" attracted in the coveted 18-49 age demographic.
That means "Colbert" will likely never be too far away from @placeholder.