Dave’s talking.

In an effort to lock in David Letterman to a new multiyear contract, CBS has begun negotiations with the only successful late night guy in its history.

Julia Roberts kisses David Letterman after Letterman's return to his late night show in February 2000 following quintuple bypass surgery. Letterman is negotiating a new contract with CBS.

Details on the negotiations were vague purposely so although the spokesman for Letterman’s production company, Worldwide Pants, did confirm “we’re talking with CBS.” Report of the jump-started negotiation surfaced in Friday’s edition of The Hollywood Reporter, which noted that it is “unclear” how much longer Letterman intends to remain with the show.

That is certainly true, and also appeared to be true in July 1996, or just before CBS and Letterman agreed to a three-year extension of a contract that was to have expired in 1998. That extension is up in August.

Without question, Letterman who’s celebrating his 20th year on late night television this month on “Late Show” has been “reinvigorated” (a favorite term that critics typically apply to him) after undergoing a quintuple bypass on Jan. 14, 2000.

The show also seems to have a lock on the Emmy for outstanding variety show (five since ’94) while Letterman himself seems more “at ease” (another critic’s fave description) than at any time since joining CBS in 1993.

So what could derail these negotiations? Probably nothing, but Letterman will almost certainly agree to a short-term deal (two to three years), which is standard for most big stars, and also gives him flexibility in case he does decide to bail by 2005-06.