Giving Back
As you enjoy some Thanksgiving leftovers and get your holiday shopping under way, we hope you’ll take a moment to be thankful for those who are serving their country overseas this holiday season. One of the charities Craig supports is the USO, which provides a wide variety of services to military members and their families around the world.  Check out the programs the USO runs all year long and learn more about how you can lend a hand.
Looking Ahead to Brave A Scottish newspaper, the Strathspey and Badenoch Herald ponders what the Disney/Pixar animated film Brave will mean for the world’s view of Scotland. Meanwhile, one reviewer thinks the film’s trailer might indicate that the film based too much on a “girl power” formula. The film’s producers have promised otherwise, so we’ll have to see which vision reaches the big screen next year.
Yo Gabba Gabba
An article in the Las Vegas Review Journal covering a Yo Gabba Gabba live stage show sets the scene with the conversation Craig had last month with Jeffrey Tambor about the children’s show.
Presidents, Madonna and Iron Man
For the holiday weekend, enjoy a classic Craig monologue from the archives featuring the real Iron Man, complete with some familiar background music.
Video courtesy: 0mniscient
Tonight’s Guests Friday on the Late Late Show, it’s an encore presentation of the September 14th show featuring Dancers from the Moulin Rouge, actor Danny DeVito and actress Olivia Munn. Fresh, new episodes return on Monday.
Thanksgiving Weekend Lots of tweets popped up Thursday as members of the #RSAFamily wished each other a happy holiday and looked forward to some serious shopping this weekend. We hope you’re getting a chance to spend some time with your family and take a short break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. A special thanks to everyone who has to work this weekend. Whether you’re working behind the counter at a busy store, cooking a meal or in some way helping people enjoy their weekend, know that you are appreciated. Please travel and shop safely!
Brimming Over With Brimley
The reviewer at AOL’s TV Replay didn’t get it, but Wednesday’s show featuring Wilford Brimley was a great example of how Craig can relate to a guest and enjoy someone who tells it like it is. It was evident that Brimley is perfectly happy to be retired and away from the craziness of Hollywood but you could tell that he and Craig appreciate each other, which is what it’s all about.
Red Solo Cup
Country singer Toby Kieth and the songwriters behind his unlikely hit “Red Solo Cup” tell theboot.com about the story behind the song. Craig Ferguson and Geoff Peterson make a brief cameo appearance in the video, which is filled with celebrities from start to finish. And as if the viral hit weren’t enough, boomtron.com says the cast of Glee plans to do its own version.
Post Thanksgiving Fun
Craig talks about how he spent his Thanksgiving in 2008:
Video courtesy: Fergufool
Tonight’s Guests
Thursday on the Late Late Show, sit back and enjoy the September 13th episode with comedian Tim Meadows and actress Lauren Graham. Then on Friday, it’s the September 14th show featuring Dancers from the Moulin Rouge, actor Danny DeVito and actress Olivia Munn.
Wilford Brimley
After months of invoking the name of Wilford Brimley for one joke or another, the Late Late Show invited the mustachioed actor to be a guest of Craig Ferguson. And on Wednesday night, Brimley appears in person. Here is a preview:
Video courtesy: CBS
Wilford Brimley has had an interesting life. As his Wikipedia entry states, he served in the Marines and worked as a ranch hand, rodeo rider, bodyguard to Howard Hughes and stuntman before becoming an actor. And in addition to his work on television and film, he has even taken a turn as a singer, releasing an album of jazz standards in 2004. He mostly portrays gruff but likable characters, and as someone with too much time on their hands discovered a few years ago, he bears a striking resemblance to several cats.
Segel On London’s Muppet Vibe
The online newspaper Examiner.com talks about Jason Segel‘s appearance on the Late Late Show, where he explained that he wrote the script to the new Muppets film in London.
Goo Goo Dolls
Two online sources, TheSilverTongueOnline.com and TenGossip.com are reporting that the Goo Goo Dolls will appear on the Late Late Show December 19th.
Thankful for Grant and Geoff
In a list of things he’s thankful for on television, a writer for DaemonsTV.com thanks Grant Imahara for creating Geoff Peterson.
Tonight’s Guests
Wednesday on the Late Late Show, Craig chats with actor Ty Burrell and welcomes the one and only Wilford Brimley. Thursday, enjoy an encore presentation of the September 13th show, with comedian Tim Meadows and actress Lauren Graham.
To all of our American readers, we hope you have a happy Thanksgiving. We are thankful for all of our loyal readers!
Did You Say Your Dad is Here?
AOL’s TVReplay caught Craig cracking up at Robin Williams‘ interpretation of a scene in a Scottish bar. Craig sounded very Scottish as he asked the question, didn’t he?
Beating The Drum
NBC and Jimmy Fallon are being called on to apologize after the Late Night show’s band played a controversial song Monday night, when Congresswoman and presidential candidate Michelle Bachmann appeared on the show. CBS News reported on the incident.
Nobody Knows Who
Ireland’s RTE added to the discussion that the current cast of the Doctor Who television series have not been contacted about the latest discussions of a Doctor Who feature length film. A growing chorus of fans are concerned that not involving the shows creative team could result in a box office backlash.
McGregor McHBO
Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Ewan McGregor has singed on for an HBO project called The Corrections.
Is This Thing On?
Craig’s sister Lynn‘s husband Mark Tweddle gets the nod for funniest tweet we’ve seen in a while:
So today is 11/22/11. I wonder if December 12 next year will be internationally recognized as a day of microphone testing? #testing121212
Craig Enjoys The View
Craig has made a few appearances on The View, including this one in 2008, shortly before he hosted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Video courtesy: 0mniscient
Tonight’s Guests Tuesday on the Late Late Show, Craig talks about Muppets with actor Jason Segel and chats with actress Eliza Coupe. Wednesday, watch for actor Ty Burrell and actor Wilford Brimley.  The schedule has been a bit confusing but we’re told that because of when Tuesday and Wednesday’s episodes were taped, we’ll be hearing Josh Robert Thompson as the voice of Geoff Peterson this week. Then, according to CBS, Thomas Lennon returns as Geoff’s voice Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week to finish out the month of November. Ah, the magic of television.
Craig Shines in the Sunshine State Craig Ferguson‘s weekend in Florida drew thousands of people to see him in person and he was warmly received. One reviewer in the Palm Beach Post commented on the obvious goodwill between Craig and his audience. And for those who didn’t have a chance to see the shows, the RSA’s @NancyInTampa has been blogging all weekend. Here is her final post from the weekend:
[stextbox id=”custom”]Craig On The Road – The Florida Tour: The Real Hollywood
It’s the last night of Craig’s Florida tour and I need to get to the Hard Rock now!! My #RSA friend Janis directed me on the phone as I made my way to through the party palace on 441 in Hollywood to the entrance of the Hard Rock Live. She was telling me how she managed to find her way to the meet & greet and was waiting with others at the end of a hallway. I didn’t know what to say! I was excited, but then I tend to play by the rules, so I was worried. Would I be in trouble for showing up here? I’ve spent a lot of time backstage at events, from hosting meet & greets as part of my radio job to just hanging out with friends who are performers. A pre-show meet & greet is different, not necessarily the most comfortable thing to do just before you take the stage. All these people were getting in because they were high rollers or contest winners. I was none of these things.
Suddenly there was no more time to think. We were in, and Craig was standing in front of a wall with Hard Rock logos all over it. This would be photos only, taken by the Hard Rock photographer (to be picked up next week). Janis stepped up first. Then it was my turn. I mumbled something like “sorry you got roped into this.” And then thought, wait! no! Feeling very much like Ralphie scrambling back up the slide in “A Christmas Story” I managed to get out my Twitter name and said was writing about the tour for RSA News. Craig couldn’t have been more gracious or his blue eyes more…lovely. Sorry, it had to be said. 🙂 A smile, a handshake, and a moment that made this weekend even more perfect. Many thanks to Janis for making this happen! And to Craig for being so kind. x
The Hard Rock crowd was large, late, and a bit unruly, but Joe and Craig made it work for them Joe Matarese came out to do his set and did a great job. The audience was still rolling in, so there were moments when people walking through the aisles and rows got in the way. I’m not used to this, but Joe soldiered on and was,once again, very funny.
Then Craig introduced himself and took the stage. Tonight’s outfit, a black shirt with suit jacket and jeans. Very nice! He was doing great, fine-tuning the phrasing on some of the bits, playing with the audience, getting some very big laughs. I really didn’t want this show to end. Then the panties hit the stage. Yep. Even from my vantage point, halfway back in the house, they looked kind of gnarly. I wouldn’t have picked them up with a stick! Pass the Purell? The crowd got even crazier after that. It was a real juggling act, but Craig played with them all – the Scots to his right, the Canadians to his left, and the underwear lady – for awhile longer, and then moved on to his finish. I didn’t want to see him go, but it was time.
And that’s it! Three days in Florida, a different show every night. Craig gave us his best, and we were lucky to have him here again for awhile. I hope he enjoyed his stay. I loved doing this. Thanks to RSA News! And I can’t thank you enough, Craig! Looking forward to the next adventure. <3 #RSAForever [/stextbox]
Hollywood, FL Pictures Janis Bassel captured some images of Craig on stage at the Hard Rock on Sunday night and we thank her for sharing them with us:
Justin Time
Country singer Justin Moore is having a busy week. Along with appearing on next Monday’s Late Late Show (taped earlier, thank goodness), his wife gave birth to the couple’s second daughter, reports AllAccess.com.
Brave Prediction The online newspaper Scotsman.com thinks that Disney/Pixar is inviting comparisons between its upcoming animated film Brave and the hardly historically accurate Hollywood blockbuster Braveheart, but predicts that Brave will be better received by a sometimes skeptical Scottish audience.
Who Movie News Doctor Who actors Matt Smith and Karen Gillan have publicly reacted for the first time to news that a Hollywood film based on the popular television series is in the works. As DoctorWhoTV.co.uk reported, the pair told a radio audience that it was unlikely they would be involved in the project.
Tonight’s Guests Monday on the Late Late Show, Craig reads emails with Robin Williams and interviews actor Johnny Galecki. CBS tweeted:
Tuesday, Craig chats with actor Jason Segel and actress Eliza Coupe.
The Road Home Craig Ferguson wrapped up his 2011 stand up comedy tour in Hollywood, Florida Sunday night with a sold-out show at the Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena. In all, Craig performed 36 live shows in the past twelve months, covering thousands of miles by land and air from Vancouver to Miami and plenty of places in between. Many robot skeletons who are regular readers had a chance to see Craig this year and we hope you get a chance to do the same in 2012. As soon as we get word of Craig’s shows being booked for the new year, we’ll pass them along to you and include them on our Live Comedy Tour page.
Fort Myers Pictures John Patrick, the chief meteorologist at the local ABC television station in Fort Myers was in the crowd on Saturday night and took some pictures of Craig during the show. We thank him for sharing them with us:
On The Road with Joe Craig’s opening act in Fort Myers and Hollywood, FL this weekend is comedian Joe Matarese, who tweeted on Saturday after the show:
Holding Down the Fort
The RSA’s @NancyInTampa has been following Craig through his three-day trip around Florida, blogging about her experience. Here is what she had to say about the show in Fort Myers on Saturday night:
[stextbox id=”custom”]Craig On The Road – The Florida Tour, Part deux
I remember Ft. Myers from years ago when we used to travel across Alligator Alley for a weekend away from our crazy life in Ft. Lauderdale. And here I was, day 2 of Craig’s Florida tour, driving from Tallahassee to make this 8PM show in a neighborhood that looks somewhat familiar. Getting a feel for life on the road. It’s great to be at (your venue’s name) (in your region). 🙂
Craig stayed on the beach in Naples. I know that place, it’s really sweet. Did you see the photos? I stayed five minutes from the Barbara Mann. And my hotel was very cool. With a random upgrade to the private floor, I felt pampered. But all concentration was on getting to the show.
Once I arrived at the Mann, it was already time to take my seat. I met people at the hotel who were in town just to see Craig. Those people were there, but there were plenty of locals too. John Patrick from WZVN-TV posted some great pics! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.325082414173675.98636.220565714625346&type=3 And there were some older people who were surprised that Craig didn’t have a little “tootsiefrootsie” pop up in front of his face when he said a curse word. I wish I’d had that “warning” flyer from the high school show in Bucks County. Really.
One of the things I loved most about this evening was the very beginning, before Craig’s opening act Joe Matarese came out. No spoilers because there’s a show tonight.  Joe was hilarious! I saw him in Red Bank. He is very funny, a really nice guy, and he has a CD out. http://twitpic.com/7h2pxo Check him out here - http://joematarese.com
Then it was time for Craig, dressed in a fresh white shirt, suit jacket and jeans, looking relaxed (like he’d been at the beach!). This was his night. The night before had been so much about the FSU event. Tonight there was time for more of the material I’ve come to know and love. The crowd was enthusiastic with plenty of whistles and outbursts (positive ones). Â The one person I couldn’t see or hear from my 6th row seat was down in front and seemed to have a running commentary on everything Craig said. He used great restraint in not really going after her. In spite of the distraction, Craig put on a fantastic show, even getting to the family stories. ? Kudos to Craig for great concentration and a standing-O worthy show!
I met Joe Matarese in the lobby after the show, bought his CD, talked with him a bit. Then he had to run for the bus. Craig and the tour bus bring back great memories of last year in Florida. I waved to them as they drove away. One more night! The Hard Rock. Will I get to say hello to the Chief before this is all over? Wish me luck! [/stextbox]
Doctor Who Movie With word spreading quickly in places like Britain’s Daily Mail that a Hollywood film of Doctor Who is in the works for release possibly in 2014, the folks at IGN.com make an impassioned plea for the filmmakers to pay close attention to the beloved franchise’s history and storylines before crafting a script. They make the point that part of the reason the latest reboot of Star Trek was successful is because the creative team respectfully acknowledged the show’s past as they came up with a new story. MTV.com gathered similar reactions. Let’s hope that when it comes to casting, writing and storytelling, the Doctor gets the same consideration.
Christmas Special
Meanwhile, the new trailer for the 2011 Doctor Who television Christmas special has been released:
Video courtesy: BBCAmerica
This Week’s Guests
Wilford Brimley
Thanks to some creative pre-taping (Shh! It’s the magic of television!), we’ll get to enjoy three all-new episodes of the Late Late Show this week, even as Craig and company are taking the week off for Thanksgiving. On Monday, Craig’s guests are actor Robin Williams who helps out with tweets and emails, plus actor Johnny Galecki. On Tuesday, it’s actor Jason Segel and actress Eliza Coupe. And on Wednesday, Craig welcomes actor Ty Burrell and the long-awaited guest, actor Wilford Brimley.  We’ll have a visit from the re-run fairy on Thursday and Friday this week, as folks enjoy some time with their families and shop at odd hours. Thursday’s show is from September 13th, and features comedian Tim Meadows and actress Lauren Graham. Friday’s episdoe is a rebroadcast from September 14th, with the Dancers from the Moulin Rouge, actor Danny DeVito and actress Olivia Munn. New episodes return on Monday, November 28th. For the latest listings, see our Guests page.
Fort Myers to Miami Craig Ferguson played to a lively crowd in Fort Myers Saturday night before making his way across the Everglades to reach Hollywood, Florida (just north of Miami) for his Sunday night show at the Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena. Fort Lauderdale’s Sun Sentinel has a short interview with Craig about his stand up show and his career.  Sunday’s stand up comedy performance is the last scheduled live show for Craig in 2011 and we’ll be keeping an eye out for announcements about 2012. We’re also hoping to hear your stories. If you attended any of Craig’s shows this weekend, we’re looking for your stories and pictures to share with the rest of the RSA. Just use our Contact Us form to send us your information or links and we’ll be happy to pass them along.
Florida State Pictures
The folks at FSUNews.com got some great pictures of Craig on stage Friday night:
Tallahassee Fun
There were several hobos in the audience in Tallahassee on Friday night, including the RSA’s @Nancy InTampa, who took a picture of Craig wearing his Florida State jersey as he was being projected on big screens at the Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center. She is attending all three of Craig’s shows this weekend and is blogging as she goes:
[stextbox id=”custom”]Craig On The Road – The Florida Tour, Part 1
 There’s only one person who can make me drive all over the state of Florida and still feel like I’m having a relaxing weekend. When Craig’s Florida standup dates were announced, I knew I would make good on my promise to see all of them. When the FSU Pow Wow was added to the mix, I wondered if I was even allowed to go! Not an alum, though I do have plenty of friends who are. So that’s my excuse. 🙂
Tallahassee is a beautiful place, capitol of the state and home of the Florida State Seminoles. When I found the Civic Center, I was surprised that even with GA tickets I found a seat in the 5th row! (Going on my own made it a little easier I think.) The crowd waiting to get in was huge. Not sure how many were there, but most of the 13,800 seats filled up quickly.
The Homecoming entertainment was fantastic! An excellent jazz band, followed by singing groups and dance troupes and videos, nonstop for at least 90 minutes. During this, Craig was tweeting from backstage. Â I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much activity on Twitter for a live show! Check the stream and you’ll see all of Craig’s retweets and responses. BTW during all this, I kept seeing a gentlemen in a kilt walking around. Hmm…
Finally, after an intermission, Craig’s opening act, a very entertaining comedian who’s name I don’t have (help?lol) came out and did a great job. Former theater major at FSU, worked as Goofy at Disneyworld, how do I know all about him and not his name?! Then it was time for Craig. Then I found out why the kilted guy. A full band of bagpipers came out playing the FSU fight song, and then Craig, tomahawking his way onto the stage wearing an FSU jersey, jeans and  black,red and white sneakers. Perfect! And he danced with the music! The big screen at the back of the stage projected all this wonderfulness to the cheering crowd.
Since I know the basics of this show well (5 times in Denver, then Chicago, Bucks County and Red Bank), I have a different take on it. I enjoy watching Craig figure out the audience. And a college crowd at homecoming is different! He included the marching band (sitting upper deck stage right) Â and changed things up for the partying college crowd, getting in the Seminole spirit of things. It was the master at work. And FSU loved him! It was very cool that he took a picture of the audience. Like a family photo. The perfect end to a memorable evening.[/stextbox]
Craig Pictures Craig captured a couple of pictures from his hotel room in Fort Myers on Saturday:
http://twitpic.com/7ghfho Naples FLA in November. I should have packed my speedos. Btw Packed Speedos is a website etc etc…
Joe Knows
Craig’s opening act for Fort Myers and Hollywood, FL is Joe Matarese, who tweeted on Saturday morning:
Can’t wait to open for @CraigyFerg tonight in Ft.Myers,Fl. The crowd will be alert, intelligent, and happy they aren’t in Kingston,NY.
The Leg Bone’s Connected To The Bolt
The RSA’s @celtickisses75 read an interesting article in Discover Magazine and wondered if Geoff Peterson is perhaps setting a trend in fashion, given the advances in medical science with exoskeletons. If skeletons become the next big thing, Geoff is on the cutting edge of fashion as we speak!
Neil Gaiman on The Simpsons
Author and LLS guest Neil Gaiman makes an appearance as himself on Sunday night’s episode of The Simpsons on Fox.
Video courtesy: Fox/20th Television
ComicBookResources.com did an extensive interview with Neil about his Simpsons episode, the Los Angeles Times mentions the show Neil blogged about the day he recorded his voice for the show back in January.
A Scottish newspaper, the Strathspey and Badenoch Herald ponders what the Disney/Pixar animated film Brave will mean for the world’s view of Scotland. Meanwhile, one reviewer thinks the film’s trailer might indicate that the film based too much on a “girl power” formula. The film’s producers have promised otherwise, so we’ll have to see which vision reaches the big screen next year.
Friday on the Late Late Show, it’s an encore presentation of the September 14th show featuring Dancers from the Moulin Rouge, actor Danny DeVito and actress Olivia Munn. Fresh, new episodes return on Monday.
