Brave World Premiere Monday Night
The Disney/Pixar animated feature film Brave will hold its world premiere Monday night at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Many of the film’s stars are expected to attend the red carpet evening, which will be the closing event of this year’s Los Angeles Film Festival. Brave opens nationwide on Friday in the U.S. and Canada, with opening dates in Scotland, the U.K., Europe and Asia still to come. Among the voices you’ll hear in the film are those of Kelly MacDonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly, Kevin McKidd, Robbie Coltrane, Julie Walters and Craig Ferguson.
A Moment on the Show
The RSA’s @travkus was one of the people called to appear on camera with Craig during Friday’s opening segment. The Canadian fan blogged about his experience.
Cullen Skink
The other day on the show, Craig mentioned the traditional Scottish dish called cullen skink. If you’ve ever wanted the recipe, the website ScottishRecipes.co.uk has you covered. Thanks to the RSA’s @lockoffire for the link!
Kelly MacDonald on Brave
The New York Daily News interviews actress Kelly MacDonald about her role as Merida in the Disney/Pixar film Brave.
Brave Infomercial
Tired of the Shamwow commercial? How about this one for witches brew in Brave?
Video courtesy: TrailerParkification
This Week’s Guests
Kevin McKidd
It’s another week of all-new episodes of the Late Late Show, beginning Monday with two of Craig’s co-stars from the movie Brave, actress Kelly MacDonald and actor Kevin McKidd, plus emails with Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond. On Tuesday, watch for actor Steve Carell and rapper Snoop Dogg. Wednesday, actor Morgan Freeman returns to the show, and we’ll hear the music of Ben Dukes. Actor Jeff Daniels and author John Irving are in the studio on Thursday. And on Friday, Craig welcomes actor Mark Wahlberg.
A Relaxing Weekend Craig Ferguson has a busy life. Along with raising a family while hosting a nationally televised late-night talk show five nights a week, he runs a production company, writes books, works with charities, performs dozens of live stand up comedy performances across the country each year and is a sought-after voice talent for animated films. In fact, he’ll be attending the world premiere of the Disney/Pixar movie Brave on Monday evening in Los Angeles. So it’s easy to see why having a weekend off to relax is important. This weekend, Craig tweeted a photo of his German shepherd Gordon, sleeping in:
Craig has three dogs. The other two are Maryann the Jack Russell terrier and Cabbage, the notoriously farty French bulldog.
New Awards Program
As if there weren’t enough awards programs in Hollywood, they’ve started up a new one. A newly-formed group called the Pan-American Association of Film & Television Journalists has announced nominations for the inaugural PAAFTJ Television Awards. The Late Late Show has been nominated in two categories: Best Variety Series and Best Writing for a Variety Series. As the website Zap2It.com explains, the winners will be announced on July 8th. Since Craig pokes fun at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for their Golden Globe Awards, we can only imagine what he’ll have to say about these. Unless of course, the show wins.
Remastered Daleks
The Paley Center in New York has announced a special program which will feature digitally remastered episodes of Doctor Who, to be shown on the last Saturday of each month from now until September. And for Doctor Who fans, a new book recalls the series from its beginnings.
Brave Billboard
The RSA’s @HMSFox spotted a Brave billboard in Florida, featuring the three Scottish Lords whose sons are vying for the hand of the princess Merida. You can see Craig’s character, Lord MacIntosh, on the far right, with his hand to his head.
June Birthdays
Barry Manilow
Saturday, June 16th is the birthday of comic actor Stan Laurel, boxer Roberto Duran. actress Yasmine Bleeth and golfer Phil Mickelson. Sunday, June 17th is the birthday of actor Thomas Haden Church, actor Greg Kinnear, tennis player Venus Williams and singer/songwriter Barry Manilow. Though he endured a period of being considered “uncool” for having many of his greatest hits emerge during the era of disco (five of his albums were on the best-selling charts in 1978 alone), Manilow is a multi-talented musician and composer, working alongside greats like Bette Midler and Dionne Warwick, selling more than 80 million albums worldwide. Before hitting it big, Manilow wrote or performed several well-known commercial jingles:
Video courtesy: EasyStreetTV
Sunday is Father’s Day. We hope all fathers have a great day, as King Fergus does in Brave:
Alex Salmond on the LLS
On Monday, when Craig Ferguson‘s Brave co-stars Kelly MacDonald and Kevin McKidd are guests on the Late Late Show, the Scottish theme will continue as Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond joins Craig to read tweets and emails. Craig interviewed Salmond when the LLS visited Scotland. BroadwayWorld.com was first to report that Salmond would drop by during a visit to LA. Thanks to the RSA’s @bgrhubarb for the link!
Scottish Alphabet
Someone has gone to the trouble of trying to explain the Scottish alphabet, with some examples of how to use each letter on conversation. We think they’ve done a pretty good job.
A Brave Review With some somewhat significant spoilers, the website BleedingCool.com reviews the Disney/Pixar film Brave, saying the treatment of the story is not necessarily authentically Scottish but has the rich, thorough visual treatment moviegoers have come to expect from Pixar.
A Different Scottish Animated Film
The RSA’s Gus reminded us that there was another Scottish-themed animated film released this year, featuring the voice talents of none other than Sir Sean Connery who talks about the movie. The film Sir Billi, the first ever animated feature created in Scotland, premiered at the Sonoma International Film Festival in April.
Church Pickup Lines
Craig sympathizes with a viewer’s email about being nervous in a conversation with a girl at church, and introduces us to the magic of “sock cleavage.”
Video courtesy: Fergufool
Tonight’s Guests
Friday on the Late Late Show, Craig guests are actress Jenna Elfman, author Don Winslow and we’ll see a performance by The Imagineers.
Foxwoods Tickets
Tickets for Craig Ferguson‘s October 13th live stand up comedy performance at the Foxwoods Resort in Connecticut officially go on sale Friday at 10am ET but because you are a Craig Ferguson fan, you can get your tickets early by following the special link on our Live Comedy Tour page. There is no promo code needed. Just use the link and you’re in! We have heard some reports that the link was not working correctly for a time but it appears to be working now.
Craig and Geoff Craig decided to tweet the graphic he used on Wednesday night’s show, as a prototype for a CBS Emmy campaign:
twitpic.com/9wfvo7Â Big push for an Emmy nom. We spent over $4. (2 bucks for the hat)
Olympic Torch
The Olympic torch is traveling all across the UK this summer, leading up to the Games. One of the cities it passed through was the town where Craig grew up in Scotland, Cumbernauld. The Scottish television network STV was there and captured photos of the torch run. Thanks to the RSA’s @bgrhubarb for the link!
Brave Review In a review of the Disney/Pixar film Brave from Variety and reprinted in the Chicago Tribune, which contains significant spoilers (you have been warned), reviewer Peter Debruge says the movie is not groundbreaking but is enjoyable, and is a study in the way Pixar creates the worlds its characters inhabit.
Secretariat in New York
When Craig and Jimmy Fallon were exchanging Christmas gifts in 2010, Craig sent Secretariat to New York City. If this doesn’t make you smile, we don’t know what will.
Video courtesy: caseymnj
Tonight’s Guests
Thursday on the Late Late Show, Craig spends some time with the legendary Don Rickles and actor Max Greenfield. Friday, Craig’s guests are actress Jenna Elfman, author Don Winslow and The Imagineers.
Foxwoods tickets:Craig will be at the Foxwoods Resort in Connecticut on Saturday, October 13th. For a special link to pre-sale tickets 24 hours before they go on sale to the general public, visit our Live Comedy Tour page now!
Imagineers Double Play As Craig Ferguson first tweeted on Tuesday, Glasgow-based band The Imagineers will be performing on the Late Late Show two times in the near future. CBS confirmed today that the band will be featured on Friday, June 15th and again on Tuesday, August 7th. The band was chosen to perform the Late Late Show theme song during Craig’s recent week of shows in Scotland and performed a new song each night during the week.
Big Daddy
As part of a campaign to promote prostate cancer awareness, a group called On The Line is hosting a contest for you to choose your favorite celebrity “Big Daddy” in a bunch of different categories. As you might expect, there is a category for “Late Night Host Big Daddy,” with the nominees Conan O’Brien, David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart and of course, Craig Ferguson. Kimmel and Letterman appear to be in the lead at the moment. You can visit On The Line’s Big Daddy Awards website to vote for your favorites. Voting continues through Fathers Day on Sunday, June 17th, and the winners will be announce on Monday, June 18th.
A Review of Brave
We’re posting some reviews of the Disney/Pixar film Brave as the premiere date draws closer. In this review, with MASSIVE SPOLIERS (you have been warned), IndieWire.com calls the movie a powerful but wobbly feminist fairy tale.
Shark Week Fun
The RSA’s @Scribish spotted a photo that made her laugh and think of Craig, who hosted Shark Week on the Discovery Channel in 2010. Even though it’s not Craig in the picture, we’d like to think it could be.
Puppet Craig
At one point when Craig was using puppets on the show nearly every night, a special puppet made a one-time appearance on the show to say that the puppets had decided to take over:
Video courtesy: caseymnj
Tonight’s Guests
Wednesday on the Late Late Show, Craig talks with actress Ellen Page and we’ll hear the music of Lee Brice. Thursday, Craig’s guests are comedian Don Rickles and actor Max Greenfield.
Guest Update
Harvey Weinstein
The Late Late Show guest listings have been updated through June 25th, including confirmation that Jenna Elfman and Don Winslow will be Friday’s guests, along with The Imagineers, as mentioned above. Also new to the list are Snoop Dogg and Harvey Weinstein. Finally, a performance by musician Ben Dukes has been moved from June 19th to June 20th. See the most up-to-date listings on our Guests page.
Imagineers In Town The Imagineers, the Glasgow band tapped by Craig Ferguson to provide a rendition of the Late Late Show theme song during his recent week of shows from Scotland, are in Los Angeles this week. As Craig tweeted, they are at CBS Television City, taping two songs for future shows:
Top notch beat combo from Scotland @TheImagineers are taping two songs for my show today. Welcome to America talented urchins. ?#fuckautotune
When the band’s appearances on the show are scheduled, we’ll post the dates on our Guests page.
Dolby Theatre Sound Issues
As we have reported here, the Disney/Pixar film Brave will have its world premiere at the newly-renamed Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on June 18th as part of the Los Angeles Film Festival. But as Deadline.com explains, there have been issues with the theater’s new Dolby “Atmos” sound system. Brave is scheduled to be the first-ever film screened using the new audio technology, but it is not clear that all of the parties involved have given final approval. If the deals are not signed, the film will still be shown in 3D and with Dolby 7.1 surround sound.
Brave Reviews The UK’s Telegraph newspaper reports that reviews are beginning to surface as critics get an early look at Brave. One review, which contains a couple of HUGE spoilers (we’re not kidding) comes from The Hollywood Reporter, which calls the movie good but not as imaginative as Pixar films can be. We’ll be posting more reviews in the coming days.
When Michael Met Sean
In a classic early sketch from the Late Late Show, the most famous scene from the movie When Harry Met Sally is sent up as only Craig could do it:
Video courtesy: cbsqa
Tonight’s Guests
Tuesday on the Late Late Show, it’s a triple-header with actor Andy Garcia, actress Cody Horn and comedian Matt Kirshen. On Wednesday, Craig talks with actress Ellen Page and we’ll hear the music of Lee Brice.
Guest Update
Another guest has been added to the list for future tapings, author Don Winslow. See the full listings on our Guests page.
Craig’s Back on the Tweety
After sending only three tweets since the 4th of March, our fearless leader Craig Ferguson returned to Twitter on Monday, sending out several tweets, beginning with a question:
I haven’t tweeted in so long I think my tweety may have seized up. Are there any robot skeletons in the house?
Several skellies responded, welcoming Craig back to Twitter. He asked astronomer Phil Plait about his Twitter handle @badastronomer using his current catchphrase:
Hey Phil Is a bad astronomer like a naughty librarian? #thatsoundsdirty
Then after poking fun at a mean tweet and re-tweeting a couple of notes from fans, he tweeted a picture of the inside of Studio 56 at CBS Television City, now under renovation to become the new home of the Late Late Show.
What you can see in the photo are parts of the studio’s lighting grid, currently lowered to the floor, but which will eventually be raised back to the ceiling with lights hanging from them. Note: The following is probably more than you ever wanted to know about studio lighting, but we think it’s fun:
The grid of metal piping can be lowered on cables to the floor, where lights can be attached and plugged in. Then once the grid is hoisted back up into place, technicians can use ladders or hydraulic lifts to go up and “focus” the lights. Not only do the lights need to be pointed in the right direction, they are used for different reasons. Some are set up to overlap slightly, casting an even wash of light across the set. Others light up the background. And some are set up in positions to highlight Craig during the monologue, Geoff at the podium, the door where guests emerge from backstage or for anyone sitting in the chairs and the desk. For the lights in specific positions to light people on the set, most are set up in groups of three or four, to provide lighting from the front, at least one angle off to the side to create a more three-dimensional look and one from behind, to help separate the person from the background. Most are white lights but others might be slightly blue, amber or pink to help bring out natural skin tones. With a bigger stage in the new studio, they’ll need more lights to make sure everything can be seen. And don’t let Craig’s jokes fool you. Lighting for high-definition television is tricky and the technicians will be working to make sure it looks good.
Smell My Finger Awkward Pause
Aussie RSA member @Mel_mitches re-tweeted a photo from @RicBelfast, and wondered whether the “smell my finger” awkward pause was catching on. There seems to be evidence in at least one work of art, which appears to be a mural in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Brave Review Scotland’s television network STV has offered a mostly positive review of the Disney/Pixar film Brave. Note:Mild spoilers are included in their review of the movie, which opens on June 22nd across the country.
Brave Summer Games
With the 2012 Summer Olympic Games coming soon, Disney/Pixar used a “Summer Games” theme for their newest promotional video for Brave:
Video courtesy: Disney/Pixar
Tonight’s Guests
Monday on an all-new episode of the Late Late Show, Craig’s guests are actor Jason Schwartzman and comedian Rory Scovel. Tuesday, Craig chats with actor Andy Garcia and actress Cody Horn, plus a comedy performance by Matt Kirshen.
Guest Update
Tyler Perry
We are still awaiting official word about the guests for the next two Fridays. However, a few more names have been added to the list of June tapings, including Elijah Wood, Kathleen Rose Perkins, Lisa Kudrow, Denis Leary and Tyler Perry. For the most complete listings, see our Guests page. And please, if any of your Twitter friends are wondering who will be on the show and when, send them our way!
