LLS Great for Authors
In a recent blog post, author Richard Gazala explains why he enjoys watching the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and praises the show for featuring authors as guests, when so few other shows do.
New Orleans Trivia New Orleans is known as a city made for good times and celebrations but it was also set the stage for one of the definitive military victories of American history. When the young nation’s former colonial rulers made an attempt to regain control in the War of 1812, the Americans were able to turn back British forces, marking a turning point in the conflict. Country singer Johnny Horton popularized a musical account of the battle in 1959.
Bone Patrol Logo
The RSA’s @hoborobot couldn’t resist creating a logo for the show’s band Bone Patrol.
Reality Television
Craig talks about reality television while being filmed for a reality TV show.
Video courtesy: ParanoidFellow
Tonight’s Guests
Tuesday on the Late Late Show, Craig welcomes actor Simon Helberg and comedienne Maria Bamford. On Wednesday, watch for actor Dominic Monaghan and actress Ellie Kemper.
In Defense of the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
On the website PopMatters.com, writer Colin McGuire mounts a stirring defense of the Late Late Show as compared to the other late-night shows, and explains why Craig Ferguson does such a great job as host. We couldn’t agree more.
Craig Makes the Rounds
Craig stayed very busy on Monday, taping some segments for Sunday’s Super Bowl special around New Orleans, but also giving interviews to radio and television stations promoting the show. He had a fantastic 10-minute interview with sports broadcaster Jim Rome, along with several brief visits.
Enjoying a Good Book
Craig tweeted late Sunday as he settled in for his stay in New Orleans:
In hotel room in New Orleans about to embark on The Luck of the Bodkins by PG Wodehouse. #hellraiser
He tweeted on Monday about some of the taping going on:
Craig on ‘The Talk’
Be sure to set your DVR for the CBS daytime show The Talk on Tuesday, when Craig will appear as a guest. Check your local listings for the time “in your region.” He is also scheduled to be a guest on WWL-TV’s New Orleans Tonight at 6:30pm Central Time on Wednesday, and we’ve heard that video will be posted on the station’s website after it appears on television. Thanks to the RSA’s @Coleen_Byrne for the heads up.
Anatomically Correct
Craig explains the different parts of a necktie:
Video courtesy: Fergufool
Tonight’s Guests
Monday on the Late Late Show, Craig chats with comedienne Kathy Griffin and actor Michael Weatherly. On Tuesday, Craig’s guests are actor Simon Helberg and comedienne Maria Bamford.
Super Bowl Week Excitement is building with the Super Bowl just a week away, and even better, Craig Ferguson will host the Late Late Show Super Bowl Special on Sunday night after the game. The show is loaded with guests, comedy sketches and a tour of the sights of New Orleans. The start time of the show is uncertain, because it all depends on how long coverage of the Super Bowl and post-game celebrations will last. Once coverage wraps up, CBS will run an episode of the drama Elementary, followed by your late local news, and then the Late Late Show. Once the start time is set, we’ll post it here on the site and on Twitter.
Reese Witherspoon
New Orleans Trivia
New Orleans is home to many famous people, including writers Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote and Anne Rice, chef Paul Prudhomme, TV host Ellen DeGeneres, actors John Goodman and John Larroquette, actresses Dorothy Lamour and Reese Witherspoon, and countless musicians in nearly every genre of music.
His Chattiness Tweets Craig tweeted several times in the past week, starting with a response to singer Nellie Veitenheimer, a contender on the second season of The Glee Project. She was in Washington, DC for the inauguration of President Barack Obama. She tweeted that she had heard a rumor that Craig was somewhere in the crowd, and Craig said he was in Los Angeles.
“@nellielisabeth: Apparently @CraigyFerg is here?? I shall sing for him.†I’m in LA so crank it up or I won’t hear.
She later realized that she meant actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson, but tweeted that she was happy to have heard from Craig:
And by Craig Ferguson I meant Jesse Ferguson. Oopsies. But Craig tweeted me so that was neat. Holla.
During the week, Craig hung up a drawing by his son Liam on Twitter’s refrigerator door:
And on January 25th, he offered birthday wishes to Scotland’s most famous poet:
Happy Birthday to Mr Robert Burns, the pride of Ayrshire.
We’ll be watching for more tweets this week as Craig & Company visit New Orleans to tape the upcoming Super Bowl Special.
Zombie Poop
The website ComicBook.com enjoyed Craig’s recent conversation about zombies with actor Steven Yeun.
Craig in Vampire Bats
Craig once appeared in a CBS television movie called Vampire Bats. He talked about it in a monologue on the Late Late Show, which we’ve included below, along with Craig’s definitive scene from the movie:
Video courtesy: ParanoidFellow
Video courtesy: chakaroff
This Week’s Guests
Ellie Kemper
It’s another week of all-new episodes of the Late Late Show, beginning Monday with comedienne Kathy Griffin and actor Michael Weatherly. On Tuesday, Craig’s guests are actor Simon Helberg and comedienne Maria Bamford. On Wednesday, watch for actor Dominic Monaghan and actress Ellie Kemper. Actress Rashida Jones and actress Julie Gonzalo are Craig’s guests on Thursday. And on Friday, Craig welcomes football analyst Joe Theismann and reality TV personality Ariel Tweto. Then on Sunday, after the Super Bowl, an episode of Elementary and your late local news, watch for the Late Late Show Super Bowl Special featuring actor Steve Carell, actor Channing Tatum, TV host Julie Chen, actor Neil Patrick Harris, actress Nikki Reed and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
Emmy Rossum
Guest Update
The list of guests for future tapings of the Late Late Show has been updated, including Amanda Peet, Paul Williams, Emmy Rossum, Kristen Bell, Adhir Kalyan, Alfred Molina, Julie Andrews, Ted Danson, Russell Brand, Allison Williams, George Lopez, William Shatner and Mike Tyson. You can find the latest listings on our Guests page any time.
Super Bowl Show Guests
When Craig Ferguson & Company put together the special Super Bowl Edition of the Late Late Show, they’ll have some big-name guests along for the ride. CBS announced that when the show airs on February 3rd, Craig’s guests will be New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, actor Steve Carell, actor Neil Patrick Harris, actress Nikki Reed and TV host Julie Chen. The local CBS television station in New Orleans and the Times-Picayune newspaper are reporting the story. Add those guests to some planned comedy sketches and visits to some New Orleans landmarks, and it will be a blockbuster show.
We would say “set those DVRs” but the starting time will be in flux. After the game ends, CBS plans to air an episode of the drama Elementary, followed by your late local news and finally the Late Late Show. The exact starting time won’t be known until after the network’s post-game coverage concludes. We’ll be sure to post and tweet the starting time once it’s determined.
Hanging Out in Studio 56
The RSA’s @ShariVig and her son were in the audience last Thursday when Craig taped two shows, which aired last Thursday and Friday.
[stextbox id=”custom”]Watching the Show In Person
I really wanted to share my and my son’s experience last week when we went to a taping. My son was on the cold open on Friday. Although I have been to the show several dozen times, my son has been wanting to attend a taping since he was 15.
Finally when he reached 18, we made our way from Phoenix early Thursday morning to get to that afternoon’s taping. We made it and were first in line. Once in the studio, we were in the front row right behind Michael Naidus the producer. My son could not stop laughing at Chunky B’s humor. It was great to be there on a Thursday and was able to get to see two shows.
The first show started and Craig came out. My son was wearing a bright green pixilated-looking hoodie from the game Minecraft. Craig gestured at him and his jacket. The first show went on and it was great, of course. Then the second taping began. Craig came out and did his monologue. During the break, he told my son to “get down here.†I have never seen my son so nervous.
While they were putting his microphone on, Craig, who knows who I am because he signed my neck and I had it tattooed, asked me if that was my son. I told him yes and to be “nice.†Well from there you all saw what happened next. Afterward, Craig looked at me and gave me a smile and a thumbs-up as if to ask me if that was OK. I shook my head and gave him a thumbs-up back.
During the tweets and emails, Craig and Geoff then talked about my son again, but they apparently cut that, probably because one of the interviews went long. However, after they filmed the tweets and emails, Craig came over to us and asked my son if he was all right and chatted with us for a minute. Craig turned to Michael, the producer, and told him he wanted to make sure all three of us (my son, daughter and myself) would get to go to The Ivy restaurant.
Craig’s staff was great. They took us into an office after the show and talked to us about our dinner. They took care of everything. They asked us when we would like to go and since we were headed down to Anaheim that evening, they called the restaurant and got us a reservation for 8pm that night. The Ivy was amazing and the food was great. They didn’t even bring us the bill. After dinner the waiter came up to us and said, “It’s all taken care of.”
Overall it was a completely amazing day. My son has truly been changed from the experience. If that wasn’t enough, the following day we were at Disneyland and a girl walked by and said, “Hi Matt.†She then said, “I was at Craig yesterday.†It was such a coincidence that we would run into someone else who was at the taping and recognized my son. I know we all know this, but Craig is truly such an amazing and genuine person and his staff is so awesome.[/stextbox]
Thank you to @ShariVig for sending us her story! If you have a chance to see Craig in person, doing a show at CBS Television City or performing stand up comedy, we want to hear from you. Just use our Contact Us form to send us your story. Will you be in New Orleans to see the show taping on Wednesday, January 30th? Be sure to share your experience with the rest of the RSA!
Super Bowl Show 2007
The last time Craig did a special post-Super Bowl show was in 2007. Here is that show in its entirety. Enjoy!
Video courtesy: KeepInTouch0
Tonight’s Guests
Thursday on the Late Late Show, Craig’s guests are actress Julia Stiles, last-minute addition actor Jerry Ferrara and comedian Tom Cotter. On Friday, watch for actress Carrie Fisher and actor Steven Yeun.
Simon Helberg
Guest Update
The Late Late Show guest listings have been updated through January 30th, including Kathy Griffin, Michael Weatherly, Simon Helberg and Dominic Monaghan, plus future guests Kristen Bell, Joe Theismann, Ariel Tweto and Allison Williams. The show will be in re-runs next week as Craig & Company gear up for the Super Bowl special and will feature all-new shows with pre-recorded guests in the week leading up to the big game. You can see the latest details on our Guests page any time.
One-Week Break
With the show going into re-runs for a week, we’ll step aside for a short break and return with daily news about Craig and the show on Monday, January 28th.
Enjoying Friday’s Taping
When Craig Ferguson was in Studio 56 last Friday, he taped some segments for the Late Late Show’s upcoming Super Bowl special. In the audience at CBS Television City was the RSA’s @Colleen_Byrne, who sent us her story, which contains mild spoilers. If you want to wait until February 3rd to see what happens, you may want to skip the story below. If you don’t mind learning about some of what’s being planned, check out what Colleen saw:
[stextbox id=”custom”]Getting Ready for Super Bowl Fun
The email came, asking the faithful to come to a special taping last Friday. I’ve seen Craig do Sean Connery bits before at a regular show taping, so I knew that it would be hilarious, especially the parts that would never make it to air. I packed my bags and left Thursday afternoon so I could catch a late stand up show Thursday night by none other than Eddie Izzard. He’s been doing shows in LA in a small venue called Largo at the Coronet. This night he was working out some new material for his new show that he’s starting in March in Europe. It was amazing and a dream come true to see him work.
But back to Craig. Friday was very cool and windy so the waiting outside the studio was cut as short as they could manage and we filed upstairs to Studio 56. It was actually just as cold in the studio as it was outside but we got to enjoy the comedy stylings of Chunky B., the warm-up comedian. Soon it became apparent that things were going to go long. Chunky’s part is usually about 20 minutes of dumb jokes (my favorite!) and instructions but instead, Chunky introduced Bob Oschack to help him with the warm-up.
Bob Oschack has been a writer on the Late Late Show since 2010. He’s also written for Dennis Miller and a few other comedy TV shows. He was hilarious and very adept at stretching out for time as he gave away t-shirts and yukked it up with various audience members.
So why the delay? As we learned later, Craig and Josh Robert Thompson, the voice/puppeteer of Geoff Peterson, had been filming promos for the Super Bowl show earlier in the day and it had taken a little longer than expected. Then Craig had to get into the Sean Connery makeup, a complicated process which takes an hour what with the bald cap and beard.
Of course, Chunky and Bob explained the delay away by joking about “union breaks” and getting snacks. In any case, we finally made it through the long wait. The show’s long-suffering producer, Michael Naidus, came out and sat at his podium and Bob introduced a special guest, Sir Sean Connery!
From the moment he came from backstage, Craig remained in character as Sean Connery, even when he was chatting with Tuyen and Liza, the hair and makeup artists, as they did touch-ups. He ran through a number of Super Bowl bits as he sat on a leather couch in the familiar gentleman’s library set. Drinking scotch (actually apple juice) and eating popcorn, he would ramble after performing a bit and those rambles were the best part. None of them will air because of the cussing! He also worked a lot of sight gags using a life-sized stuffed sheep. The funniest one was when the sheep ended up next to him on the couch, facing away from him, and Craig ran through a dozen facial expressions as he looked at the sheep’s arse, and then to the camera.
On to Michael Caine in Space! Craig dashed offstage, Chunky and Bob vamped for about 15 minutes, and then introduced Michael Caine. He had the requisite glass of scotch (apple juice) and a cigarette, and he surprised everyone when he asked for the cigarette to be lit. I immediately thought of a July 4th debacle several years ago when Craig wanted to wave a sparkler and found out that he needed to take a fire safety course before he could. The same problem this time, only they needed to have a special effects person on set before they could light the cigarette. As long-time viewers know, Craig can’t live by their rules, man, and so many of the bits were punctuated with rants about impressionable youth being corrupted by a late-night show. So cutting and so funny! Everyone was laughing, Michael the producer, the camera people, the grips, and the audience of course. It’s the moments like these that make going to a taping like this so special. None of those rants will make it to air but we got to see it happen on the spot! There’s nothing like grumpy Craig on a rant.
After many takes, with cigarette and without, Craig asked, “Are we done?†and conferred with Michael. There were a few more things to do with Geoff but Craig said to reschedule those since he’d have to spend time getting out of the makeup. Michael mentioned that they needed a cold open so Craig did it as Michael Caine in Space, with a little help from your humble narrator. We’ll see if it actually airs or not.
All in all, my cohorts @HMSFox and @Diane4mail had an awesome time at the taping, even with all its stops and starts. Sometimes it’s fun to see behind the curtain[/stextbox]
Our thanks to Colleen for sending us her story!
Stand Up Tickets Don’t forget, Craig will be performing live at the Venetian in Las Vegas on February 8th and 9th. A number of good seats are still available for both performances. Meanwhile, the show in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on February 22nd is nearly sold out, with a few seats remaining in the balcony. As for the next night in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, some main floor seats are left but they won’t last. To get your tickets to see Craig in person, visit our Live Comedy Tour page for details. Book early to avoid disappointment!
Craig Talks About Jail
Craig talks about Martha Stewart and being in jail.
Video courtesy: Paranoid Fellow
Tonight’s Guests
Wednesday on the Late Late Show, watch for actor Don Cheadle and actor DJ Qualls. On Thursday, Craig welcomes actress Julia Stiles and comedian Tom Cotter.
Hellboy and Other Projects Craig Ferguson caused a stir last February when he tweeted that Hellboy was better than X-Men. On Monday, he had a chance to talk about future Hellboy films with producer Guillermo del Toro. ComicBook.com reports on the conversation, in which del Toro says he is trying to secure financing for a new film, and that if it gets made, Craig can make a brief appearance. In a separate story on the same website, the writer relays del Toro’s comments about the upcoming film Pacific Rim.
Young Authors Recognized
Actress Kathy Kinney, perhaps best know for her role as the pugnacious Mimi Bobeck on The Drew Carey Show, also appears online as Mrs. P., the host of Mrs. P’s Storytime, which encourages children to read. The project’s website has announced the winners of its fourth annual writing contest. Along with the national recognition, the winners will see their books brought to life on video by Mrs. P. herself.
Craig on The Talk
As we reported when it was first announced, Craig will be appearing on the CBS daytime talk show The Talk during the week leading up to the Super Bowl. The network is heavily promoting the week’s activities, including sending out a photo of the ladies of The Talk in football uniforms. Is it perhaps the worst Photoshop job ever? Could be. Until then, here is a clip of Craig appearing on The Talk back in 2010.
Video courtesy: Fergufool
Tonight’s Guests
Tuesday on the Late Late Show, watch for actress Lena Dunham and actor Bill Pullman (not Bill Paxton, as Craig often jokes). On Wednesday, actor Don Cheadle and actor DJ Qualls will be in the studio.
‘Brave’ Reaction
As we reported late on Sunday evening, the Disney/Pixar film Brave, featuring the voice of our fearless leader Craig Ferguson, took home a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Film, which bodes well for its chances at the BAFTAs and the Oscars. The newspaper Herald Scotland is among many in the UK celebrating Sunday’s Golden Globes win for Brave and several other films and television shows with British cast and crew ties that took home hardware.
Classic Comedy Josh Robert Thompson, the voice of Geoff Peterson, tweeted a photo Sunday of just a small part of his video collection of classic comedy shows, and he added a note about the kind of work he gets to do every day:
I enjoy doing what we do on @craigyferg because it harkens back to a bygone era of television. It’s still hard, particularly these days, to convince most people that it’s all improvised. But it is. Every impression, commercial outro, tweetmail intro, interaction, etc.–it’s all in the moment and without a net. Carol Burnett once came up to me after a show, gave me a big hug and said, “You are now part of a very small group of people who can still do this sort of thing. Welcome to the club.” And that’s really all the validation in the world I’ll ever need.
We enjoy watching it happen each night!
New Tweetmail Jingle
A new tweetmail jingle debuted last week; one that Craig said he didn’t even remember recording. The RSA’s @HoboRobot came up with an image that captures the flavor of the latest effort.
Craig Sends a Message
Always willing to help out a lady, Craig passes along a pointed message to a woman’s ex-boyfriend.
Video courtesy: CraigFergusonVideos
Tonight’s Guests
Monday on the Late Late Show, Craig’s guests are actress Jenna Elfman and producer Guillermo Del Toro. On Tuesday, watch for actress Lena Dunham and actor Bill Pullman.
Guest Update
Morena Baccarin
The Late Late Show guest listings have been updated through January 25th, with a week of encore performances from December and January, as the crew gears up for the Super Bowl. The re-run fairy will favor us with visits from Kristen Stewart, Sloane Crosley, Betty White, Morena Baccarin, Terry Fator, Bradley Cooper, Wolfgang Puck, Tom Hanks, Quentin Tarantino, Julie Chen and Angela Kinsey. Taping of new guests is still going on, so we anticipate new episodes returning on January 28th, leading up to the Super Bowl show on Sunday, February 3rd.
New Orleans is known as a city made for good times and celebrations but it was also set the stage for one of the definitive military victories of American history. When the young nation’s former colonial rulers made an attempt to regain control in the War of 1812, the Americans were able to turn back British forces, marking a turning point in the conflict. Country singer Johnny Horton popularized a musical account of the battle in 1959.
