Sharks, And Not Just Brian
It was about a year ago at this time, Craig was in the waters of the Caribbean, swimming with sharks for the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week. Here are two of the promotional announcements that ran in August of 2010, thanks to the RSA’s General @Malinky2Stoatir:
Video courtesy: TVsCraigFerguson
Video courtesy: TVsCraigFerguson
You can pre-order your copy of Craig’s Shark Week segments on DVD or Blu-Ray from the Discovery Channel website.
Josh and Geoff Josh Robert Thompson tweeted a fun picture from his time in Paris last month:
Shadowman Lives Actor/Director Joseph Reitman poked a little fun at Michael Naidus after this week’s shows:
It is starting to make me sad that my friend, the producer of The Late Late Show, is currently getting more screen time than I do…..
And television writer/producer Jose Molina tweeted:
When I grow up, I want to end all conversations with “mouth organ, awkward pause or touch my glittery ball?” @CraigyFerg#GreatDayForAmerica
Nerdist Talks Up Craig
The @Nerdist Chris Hardwick has nice things to say about Craig in his current podcast. Craig was Chris’ first guest on the pilot of the Nerdist television show, which is coming soon to BBC America. At about 2:45 into the show, he talks about how happy he was to have Craig as a guest. We’re still waiting to hear the exact date if and when it will be broadcast and we’ll pass it along as soon as we know.
Late Night Television Entertainment Weekly looks at Chelsea Handler’s ratings success on E!, compared to Conan O’Brien’s show on TBS. Thanks to the RSA’s @doxieone1 for the link.
Celebrate Good Times, Come On! Friday, July 1st was Canada Day. Saturday, July 2nd is the halfway point of 2011, as well as the UN International Day of Cooperatives and the start of the Tour de France. Sunday, July 3rd marks the beginning of Air Conditioning Appreciation Days (through August 15th – we appreciate the A/C), Stay Out Of The Sun Day and Compliment Your Mirror Day. And Monday, July 4th is Independence Day in the US. We hope all robot skeletons are enjoying a fun and safe holiday weekend. Please don’t drink and drive!
Opening Segment Changes It’s been five days since Craig & Company returned to CBS Television City from a fortnight’s hiatus. And it’s been five days since things changed in the Late Late Show’s opening segment. Monday’s lack of monologue appears to have been a one-time thing but the “split” use of the theme song may be a longer-term switch. As it turns out, there is a bit of a backstory.
Getting Viewers To Stick Around
From the earliest days of Craig’s run on the Late Late Show, the opening segment has been an odd thing. Most late night shows (and many other television shows) tend to start with the opening theme and a fairly long first segment. The first segment typically runs ten to twelve minutes in length, with the idea being to “hook” the audience… that is, to pique their interest and retain them for as long as possible. Many prime time shows have gone so far as to run an opening segment for several minutes before a tiny five to ten-second theme song or even none at all, with the hope of getting viewers too interested in the story to leave.
Ads Before Midnight
But because Craig is on so late (12:37am on the East and West coasts where the bulk of viewers live), advertisers wanted to be sure at least the first commercial break tied to the show would be seen before people went to bed. The idea was to give some sort of quick tease after David Letterman’s show ended, take a long commercial break for network and local ads and then start the show for real… at about 12:43am. There was discussion back and forth between the network and the show’s producers and the result, which could have been a negative, was turned into a positive. Craig and the LLS team came up with what have become trademark opening bits; sometimes a musical number, sometimes a foreshadowing of upcoming guests, an exploration of topics by Craig or a puppet, and sometimes a rambling but charming admission that he has no material for the night.
The Theme Song Moves
Fast-forward to this past week when viewers saw something new:Â Craig did his opening bit but then the full theme song played, followed by pictures of the night’s on the screen:
Video courtesy: TVsCraigFerguson
After the long commercial break for network and local ads, the show comes back with a reprise of the theme’s final phrase “Tomorrow’s just your future yesterday!” and the familiar words of announcer Shadoe Stevens, “Ladies and gentlemen, Craig Ferguson!” From there, the show proceeds as it has been, with Craig entering the studio to the cheers of candy-bribed hobos, teasingly smacking the camera and welcoming the studio and home audiences:
Video courtesy: TVsCraigFerguson
Our Educated Guess
While it is speculation on our part, the reason behind the change may come down to the original goal of having long opening segments: Retaining audience. Whether prodded by research or the producer’s gut feeling, we think it makes sense for three reasons:
Rather than Craig simply saying, “We’ll be back after this,” the show can use more of the shiny things in its toolbox (the catchy, energetic theme song and the promise of interesting guests) to encourage people to stick around after the commercials.
By placing the theme song earlier, the show’s “second start” with Craig’s monologue begins closer to 12:45am. That’s important to the people who track the show’s ratings because 12:45-12:50am is one of the five-minute blocks checked by electronic meters during the show. It’s a technical detail, but perhaps an important one.
And finally, the theme at the end of the opening segment allows a prime location for the announcer to say, “The Late Late Show, brought to you by…” We could see a “title” sponsor or two emerge in the coming months.
The Late Late Show and its more traditionally-formatted competitors are in an ongoing effort to draw more viewers. Perhaps this small change of format, which still manages to keep advertisers happy with their early commercial break, might help the show keep people awake just a little bit longer. That’s our best guess as to why the changes happened. What do you think about the way the show begins now? Let us know in the comment section below. Thanks to the RSA’s General @Malinky2Stoatir for the video clips of Thursday’s show.
Enjoying the Show
Thursday night’s guests each tweeted after their appearances. Henry Winkler said:
good morning!!! first of all thank you all for your supportive tweets about the CRAIG FERGUSON show ..what a great way to start this day
And astronaut Mike Massimino said:
Taping the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson was a blast! Hope you enjoy it!
Massimino’s appearance make the RSA’s @doxieone1 wonder what Geoff Petersen would look like as a astronaut/cosmonaut/robonaut. Friday evening, Geoff tweeted:
Tonight’s Guests Friday on the Late Late Show, Craig’s guests are actor/comedian Cedric the Entertainer and actress Moon Bloodgood.
Updated Guest List
The guest schedule has been updated through July 15th, with actor Tim Daly added to the lineup. As always, you can see the most up-to-date guest schedule available on our Guests page. Please give our guest page a “+1” on Google and link to it from you page if you have one. We appreciate your help in spreading the word.
Craig’s 4th of July Plans
Writer Jay Bobbin of the website Zap2It.com has an interview with Craig Ferguson, who talks about his plans for Independence Day and his role as the voice of Owl in the Disney animated feature film Winnie The Pooh, which opens in US and Canadian theaters on July 15th.
Craig To Appear on Nerdist TV Show
Earlier this week, the @Nerdist Chris Hardwick taped a pilot episode of a new panel talk show for BBC America, based on his popular podcasts. Among the guests for his first-ever show was the one and only Craig Ferguson. We have not seen a specific date when the show will air but we’ll keep an eye out for it and let you know. Until then, there are some behind-the-scenes photos from the show including a couple with Craig.
The Scots on Brave
The UK’s Daily Record talks about the making of the Disney/Pixar animated film Brave and how its makers strove to weave Scotland’s Highlands seamlessly into the story. The Scotsman.com has a story about the film’s composer. Craig voices the character of Lord Macintosh in the film, due out in July of 2012.
Coverage of Craig and Neil
The websites ComicsAllicance.com and SFX.co.uk caught Craig’s interview with author Neil Gaiman. Even Craig’s occasional guest Phil Plait (@badastronomer) chimed in:
Nice job on @CraigyFerg’s show, @NeilHimself! But Craig, I need to lecture you about the Coriolis force for an hour or two though.
Shades of Oz Geoff Petersen tweeted on Thursday:
Pay no attention to that @joshrthompson behind the curtain. I am my own robot. Okay, gay robot. Okay, gay robot skeleton.
Is that a beaded curtain, Geoff? Meanwhile, Craig has surpassed three quarters of a million followers on Twitter. That means he is among the top six hundred users on Twitter in terms of followers and the RSA continues to grow by the day!
Tonight’s Guests Thursday on the Late Late Show, popular guest Henry Winkler returns, along with astronaut Mike Massimino, who tweeted:
I will be a guest on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on Thursday night, I am looking forward to seeing Craig and his staff again // Getting ready for the Craig Ferguson Show, please watch tonight on CBS late night, I just met Henry Winkler, the other guest, a great guy!
Winkler added:
What a day!! Craig ferguson tonight That was fun
On Friday, Craig welcomes actor/comedian Cedric the Entertainer and actress Moon Bloodgood.
Guest Update
The future guest list has been updated with twenty new names who are scheduled for tapings and are expected to appear sometime in July. Check out our Guests page for the most up-to-date listings.
Actor/Director Joseph Reitman poked a little fun at Michael Naidus after this week’s shows:
Friday, July 1st was Canada Day. Saturday, July 2nd is the halfway point of 2011, as well as the UN International Day of Cooperatives and the start of the Tour de France. Sunday, July 3rd marks the beginning of Air Conditioning Appreciation Days (through August 15th – we appreciate the A/C), Stay Out Of The Sun Day and Compliment Your Mirror Day. And Monday, July 4th is Independence Day in the US. We hope all robot skeletons are enjoying a fun and safe holiday weekend. Please don’t drink and drive!
