5 things we learned at the CBS upfronts

The mystery is answered! We finally know who Stephen Colbert will be playing when he takes over The Late Show on Sept. 8.

Himself! And he’s pretty dang good at it.

Here’s what else we learned at CBS’ Upfront Presentation in New York City Wednesday:

1. CBS is No. 1, too! After two days of hearing other networks crow about being No. 1 in some form or another, CBS said that it, too, was top dog in total viewers and consumers. It was also first in adults 25-54 and just 124,000 people behind NBC in adults 18-49, or as CBS Corp. topper Leslie Moonves described it, around the population of tiny Patterson, NJ.

2. If his performance at Carnegie Hall is any indication, Colbert is going to kill in the fall. After a clever opening video package that had him camped out in front of a TV watching CBS programming, Colbert brought the house down with a bunch a zesty one-liners. Here are a few:

“A lot of you are asking, who is Stephen … mostly my wife. I love you, I want to say … Denise.”

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Columbia Broadcasting System, better known in the core demo as ‘Co Bro Sys.'”

“I know you advertisers really want young eyeballs, and not just ones that Rupert Murdoch buys on the black market.”

“I know what you are asking: Will Stephen Colbert do inclusive sponsorship? Young people trust me because of my integrity, and that integrity is brought to you by Old El Paso Seasoning. Old El Paso, you can really taste the old!”

3. CBS may have finally figured out how to make a show about a female superhero. CBS unveiled an extended teaser of Supergirl, its new drama from wonder boy producer Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash) that stars Melissa Benoist as Superman’s cousin. The drama that also stars Calista Flockhart as Supergirl’s Devil Wears Prada-like boss is earnest, breezy fun without the painful, superhero cornpone.

4. CBS is not ashamed to admit that sometimes, the best way to create success is by repeating it. The network that is brimming with executives who used to work on NBC’s ER are now responsible for Code Black, a new drama starring Marcia Gay Harden that’s about an ER.

5. Tea Leoni is thankful that CBS made it possible for her to kiss co-star Tim Daly from Madam Secretary. How do we know this? A video montage showed CBS actors saying what they are thankful for and one scene showed Leoni thanking the network for making it possible to kiss her co-star (and now boyfriend) Daly. So there you go.