Paris Day Five Thursday’s show was another winner with Sid avoiding rabbit-eating countries, Craig Ferguson enjoying his favorite bookshop in Paris, sliding on the floors of Versailles with Kristen Bell and a wonderful moment when Craig recalled the night he met his wife Megan for the first time in New York. Friday’s “Le Late Late Show” will feature a visit with shoe designer Christian Louboutin and Craig at the Moulin Rouge. CBS has some pictures from the stage on its blog:
A Final Day of Pictures
The RSA’s @003lili and @MissGraoully have sent along some final photographs from their week in Paris seeing Craig at work. First from @003lili, it’s Sid and Craig plus views of the city:
And from @MissGraoully, the Cathedral, the team at work and Sid at the River:
Enjoying a Summer Holiday
Craig sent a tweet on Friday:
We’re not sure how much wizardry is going on but it’s good to know Craig is enjoying his time off.
Media Coverage
All this week as CBS has aired the episodes of the Late Late Show from Paris, media outlets have been paying attention, including Canada’s National Post, which calls Craig’s exploits with Kristen Bell “total cuteness”.
A Reminder for Canada, eh? As we reported here a few months ago, Canadians will now have the chance to see The Late Late Show on Global TV beginning Monday, August 22nd at 12:37pm ET/PT. Craig has been a popular figure in Canada for many years, first appearing as a stand up comedian at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival 24 years ago and performing regularly at venues across the country. Expect bacon jokes in the monologue.
Tonight’s Show
Friday on “Le Late Late Show avec Craig Ferguson”, Craig wraps up his week in Paris meeting shoe designer Christian Louboutin and performing at the famous Moulin Rouge.
Paris Day Four
Sex shops, the Louvre, strong cheese and racing model boats around a pond with Jean-Michel Cousteau: If anyone knows how to have incredible fun in Paris, it’s Craig Ferguson. And that moment on Wednesday’s show when Craig pointed out a padlock on the Pont des Arts bridge that was put there by Alice and Peter Lassally… that is simply television magic. Thursday’s “Le Late Late Show” will include a look inside the spectacular Palace of Versailles. Late Late Show Producer Michael Naidus tweeted:
Tonight from Paris: The spectacular Chateau de Versailles … a talk show on a bridge … and Kristen Bell becomes the Queen of France.
CBS even sent a preview clip:
Video courtesy: CBS
Paris Pictures
We have been spoiled this week by the great photography from the RSA’s @003lili and @MissGraoully. Today’s selection starts with @003lili who watched Craig and Jean-Michel Cousteau race their boats.
And from @MissGraoully, who spotted Lili in the last picture:
Craig Gets More Praise
An article in Thursday’s Kansas City Star about CBS News anchor Scott Pelly briefly mentions Craig and favorable comparisons to talk show host Jack Paar. Impressionist Jim Meskimen‘s video went viral, and he tells Fast Company that Craig gets part of the credit. And the Erie Times-News reprinted an article in which comedienne Paula Poundstone extols the virtues of Craig’s show among the late night competition.
Good Customer Service
Craig may be on the move again, taking to the air. After a few quiet days in Scotland he tweeted Thursday morning:
Hey @British_Airways. Michael McNab-BA customer services guy in Glasgow is the best, most helpful airline employee I’ve ever met. Well done!
British Airways replied:
@CraigyFerg Thanks for your nice comments Craig.
Ring in the Bell Kristen Bell‘s new series House of Lies will debut January 9 on Showtime, says Entertainment Weekly.
Making a Sidekick CNN’s blog had a story recently about how the MythbustersGrant Imahara built Geoff Peterson. Grant tweeted:
Who Series 6.2
And because we just can’t resist… check out the trailer for the second half of Doctor Who‘s series 6. Thanks to @doxieone1 for the link.
Paris Day Three The magic of Craig Ferguson is often apparent during the shows he hosts from his studio in Los Angeles. But on the streets of Paris, it is able to take on new and unexpected dimensions, from a whimsical version of Michael Caine “Singing in Rain” to an in-depth discussion of vegetarianism, spiritual belief and the human condition with Eddie Izzard and Kristen Bell on a quiet side street. We even got to see a properly scary vampire version of Craig exploring a wine cellar on Tuesday. TVGeekArmy.com is the latest website to say it likes the Paris shows and CNN’s Entertainment blog talks about the show. Wednesday, the whimsy continues, as Craig plays with model boats in a pond while chatting with Jean-Michel Cousteau and ponders the secrets of great cheese.  Late Late Show Producer Michael Naidus tweeted:
Tonight from Paris: Craig learns how to “Dougie” on the Pont des Artes … Jean-Michel Cousteau … and the best cheese shop on the planet.
Craig Around the City
The RSA’s @003lili was able to be relatively close to Craig and his crew as they worked, taking pictures and recording some of the moments that happen during segments and between them.
And the RSA’s @MissGraoully took a sequence of photos of Craig attempting to lead Secretariat to water… ending with a great moment of Craig laughing:
CBS Late Night Programs
At the Television Critics Association conference on Wednesday, CBS President of Entertainment Nina Tassler said there are “no updates” about the futures of David Letterman and Craig Ferguson beyond 2012. Both hosts have contracts that expire in August of 2012, leaving only the upcoming season a certainty. A few months ago when goaded by guest Howard Stern, Letterman did hint that he might be willing to sign for another “couple of years” but the veteran host turns 65 in 2012, leading some to speculate that he might wish to retire. Craig’s contract was not unintentionally set to expire at around the same time as Letterman’s but as Craig has said many times, he feels comfortable in his current time slot, so any speculation beyond that seems unproductive. Toronto.com and TheFutonCritic.com reported on Tassler’s comments and Collider.com has her more complete comment. Meanwhile, a writer for The Hollywood Reporter says Jimmy Kimmel got snubbed by the Emmys and implies that Craig could have received recognition as well.
Better than a Shamwow Commercial
Extending the funny business later at night on CBS, the comedy showcase Comics Unleashed will continue to air after the Late Late Show in several of the country’s largest markets, reports TVNewsCheck.com.
The Backson Song Have you heard the full version of ‘The Backson Song” from Winnie The Pooh? One of Disney’s European YouTube accounts has posted the song featuring Craig, in anticipation of the film’s release on DVD later this year.
The Late Late Show is featured this week on the CBS.com home page. Just look to the third item in the right-hand menu. Thanks to the RSA’s @NancyInTampa for spotting it.
Day Two in Paris
Monday’s “Le Late Late Show avec Craig Ferguson” featured a whirlwind tour of the city including an inside look at the Eiffel Tower and a bus ride with Jacques “Arthur” Essebag. Tuesday’s show promises more in-depth interviews with people we say on the first night, including actress Kristen Bell and French actor Jean Reno, plus an appearance from comedian Eddie Izzard. LLS Producer Michael Naidus tweeted:
Tonight from Paris: Craig tours Montmartre with Eddie Izzard, Michael Caine sings in the rain, and the greatest Belgian magician ever.
Part of Monday’s whirlwind tour was courtesy of Secretariat. The RSA’s @003lili was there when some of the Secretariat segments were being taped and used her camera to captured Craig dancing and walking along with our favorite horse:
Meanwhile, the RSA’s @MissGraoully sent us some new images from the day, behind the scenes at the bookstore and with Secretariat.
Kudos for Craig Entertainment Weekly’s Ken Tucker was impressed with Monday’s “Le Late Late Show”. And the Boston Herald chuckled at Craig’s mid-show book signing at the Wilbur Theatre on Sunday. In case you missed Monday’s complete interview of Craig on The Talk, we included it in our most recent post.
DVR Alert: Due to Presidential coverage during the day today, the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless is being shifted to early morning in some markets around the country for tonight only. From what we’ve heard, it will be airing after the Late Late Show but this could vary “in your region”.
Josh Says Thanks
The voice of Geoff Peterson, Josh Robert Thompson thanked Craig for saying nice things about him on Monday’s episode of The Talk on CBS:
The Opening Song
For those curious about the opening song used on Monday’s show, it was performed by the briefly popular Belgian singer Plastic Bertrand, whose real name is Rodger Jouret. The RSA’s @dorindaletitbe did some research on him and both @S_e_g_o and @SexyCraigFerg sent us links to videos. Perhaps most interesting is that when translated, the lyrics are nonsense. But it’s still a catchy tune; one that may have stuck in the head of a then 16 year-old Scot named Craig Ferguson.
Video courtesy: ntscplaybackonpaltv
Gaga Goes After Gunn After Tim Gunn (Tim Gunn) criticized her meat dress on Friday’s show, Lady Gagashot back during her appearance on ABC’s The View on Monday, disparaging Gunn’s comments about Secretary of State Hillary Clinton‘s trademark pantsuits.
Lots of Doctors
The BBC America Anglophenia blog talks about Matt Smith‘s desire to have an episode of Doctor Who featuring several previous doctors together on the screen. The article also mentions Smith and Karen Gillan‘s appearances on the Late Late Show.
Tonight’s Show Tuesday, on “Le Late Late Show†in Paris, Craig talks with actress Kristen Bell, comedian Eddie Izzard and French actor Jean Reno. CBS tweeted:
Wednesday, Craig visits the Louvre and visits with ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau.
Le Late Late Show avec Craig Ferguson All this week, the Late Late Show comes to us from the City of Lights. The result of an intense week of taping all across Paris and the surrounding area will be a fast-paced tour of its most prominent landmarks as only Craig Ferguson can show us. Earlier on Monday, Late Late Show producer Michael Naidus tweeted:
Tonight from Paris: New city, new language, new opening, new theme song, new bus, and the most delightful book shop owner in the world.
Monday’s show features the Eiffel Tower, perhaps the city’s most iconic symbol, and later moves to a famous bookshop. The RSA’s @MissGraoully was able to follow Craig & Company throughout the week and took many behind the scenes pictures:
She will be sending more pictures through the week. Our thanks to her! And the RSA’s @003lili was at the bookstore for the taping, captured two moments here and here on her video camera. She also sent us three of her favorite pictures of the day. She promises more pictures to come this week, too. Thanks to lili!
Vacation in Scotland
As Craig mentioned last week during his talk show appearances, he’ll be spending at least part of his vacation in Scotland. His sister Lynn and her husband are traveling there as well. As he prepared to take off for London on Sunday night, he tweeted a picture:
Sgt. Nicholas McGehee. US Army. Vet of 2 tours in Iraq and my seat buddy on the flight to London. // http://yfrog.com/kl8s5dj Sgt McGehee. US Army. Purple Heart recipient.
Thanks to Craig for sending the picture and our thanks to Sgt. McGehee for his service! Upon landing at London’s Heathrow Airport, Craig tweeted:
Landed. London. Been a while. Crikey, blimey guvnor better get some petrol for my lorry etc. // Changing planes at LHR is a nightmare but the next one goes to Glasgow. #worthit.
As a parting gift from Canada, the Montreal Gazette declared the Craig was “on fire” as a host and could have done an entire show on his own. They also credited him with the best joke of the week, which they include at the end of the article. Press Coverage Swells
With this week’s shows coming from Paris, media coverage has been building to a fever pitch. Monday’s New York MagazineVulture blog includes a list of eight things Craig learned in Paris. Examiner.com talks about the upcoming shows. MILD SPOILERS: Entertainment Tonight offers a preview of Craig’s travels with Kristen Bell at the palace of Versailles. We’ll see more of the palace on Thursday’s show. If we can obtain a copy of ET’s full story, we’ll post it here.
Video courtesy: Entertainment Tonight
Craig as a Doctor Who Villain? On Friday’s Late Late Show, guest Matt Smith claimed that he had the producers of Doctor Who backstage and offered to give Craig a guest starring role on a future episode. Who knows if it will happen but we think Craig would make a great villain, as do the people at Anglotopia.net. The website flickfilosopher.com also covered Smith’s appearance. And Friday’s other guest, fashion designer Tim Gunn (Tim Gunn) was mentioned by DigitalSpy.com for his comments about Lady Gaga’s meat dress.
Bone Patrol
The RSA’s @doxieone1 wondered what the promotional poster for the show Bone Patrol would look like. GP and the Fergs take the streets. Is there a battery in the sidecar to plug in Geoff?
UPDATED – Full Interview Craig on The Talk
Craig appeared in a pre-taped segment on the CBS daytime talk show The Talk on Monday. Here is the complete interview provided by CBS, including the definition of the word “Fergasm”. Does it get any better than that?
Video courtesy: CBS
Tonight’s Show
Monday on “Le Late Late Showâ€, Craig tours the Eiffel Tower, chats with bookstore owner Sylvia Beach Whitman and more. Tuesday’s show features actress Kristen Bell, comedian Eddie Izzard and French actor Jean Reno.
Paris, Here We Come! It’s been a long and interesting wait. First, Craig Ferguson learned that a French comedian was doing an “homage” to the Late Late Show for French television. He invited Jacques “Arthur” Essebag to be a guest on his show in Los Angeles and Arthur invited Craig to return the favor. Six months later, Craig did more than that… not only taping an appearance on Arthur’s show (to air in France in September) but bringing a crew to Paris to tape a week’s worth of episodes of the Late Late Show. And now, after Craig & Company’s hard work, we’ll see the fruits of their labors August 1st through the 5th on CBS. Robot skeletons have been bouncing off the walls of the hollowed out volcano in anticipation! The Paris guest list is below, along with some hints of what we’ll be seeing. The media have been buzzing all week about Craig’s show, including brief mentions Sunday in the Orlando Sentinel and the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
UPDATE:Â LLS Producer Michael Naidus tweeted:
Tonight from Paris: New city, new language, new opening, new theme song, new bus, and the most delightful book shop owner in the world.
[stextbox id=”custom”]In case you missed in over the weekend, CBS sent out a preview video for Craig’s week of shows in Paris. It contains a few spoilers about locations and guests, as well as a couple of “insider” video clips. If you’d rather wait until next week to be surprised, do not click the arrow.
For those outside the US, the clip should now work for you! SPOILER ALERT!
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Video courtesy: CBS
[/stb] Spoilers End Here
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Craig Charms Boston Craig Ferguson has made Boston a regular stand for his live comedy tour and he returned Sunday night to charm a sellout crowd at the Wilbur Theatre, along with his opening act, Boston comedian Dan Bulger. The show wraps up a fantastically busy week for the Late Late Show host, who is now on a well-deserved summer break for the next three weeks. Craig tweeted from the theater before the show:
http://yfrog.com/h378476359j Dressing room at the Wilbur theater in Boston. Notice hole in door for tall slanted voyeurs.
We have seen some wonderful pictures from fans as well, including @pibbles8‘s great look at the marquee outside the theater.
The Wilbur Theatre posted some photos of Craig on stage:
We also enjoyed @ProperAmtOfSuck‘s view from her seats before the show.  Remember, if you attended the shows in Toronto, Montreal or Boston, we’d like to hear your stories. Please use our Contact form or tweet us a link to @RSA_News. Linda from the RSA was at the show in Toronto on Friday night and sent us this story:
[stextbox id=”custom”]This was Craig’s fourth time appearing at Massey Hall (first as host of a Just For Laughs gala, and then three standup performances), and I’ve been lucky enough to be there each time. He totally made himself at home on Friday with a very Canadian-themed show, and he even made an encore appearance when his standing ovation kept going after the house lights were turned on. It ended on a perfect note with someone calling out “We love you, Craig!” and he answered “I love you, too!” We hope we’ll continue to be blessed and that he’ll come back to Toronto often in the years to come. He’s a great talent and a great person.
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Montreal Digs Craig
[pullquote] “Ferguson was on fire and could have likely done 90 minutes of stand-up all on his own.”
–Montreal Gazette [/pullquote]Check out the outstanding review of Craig’s performance at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Sunday’s Montreal Gazette. It looks like they’re learning what the robot skeleton army has known for a long time! And on laughspin.com, the editors of Punchline Magazine were blown away by Saturday’s lineup. Thanks to the RSA’s @bgrhubarb for the latter link.
Craig on The Talk
The appearance was pre-recorded late last week but we’ll get to see it Monday as Craig returns to mix things up with the ladies of the CBS daytime chat-fest The Talk. Here is a preview:
That was the tweet from the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal on Saturday night as Craig Ferguson hosted the first two shows. Craig acted as emcee, inviting comedians from around the world to strut their stuff on stage, including Randy Kagan. It must have been nice to have Craig open for him for a night! Also appearing in Montreal was the @nerdist Chris Hardwick. Craig tweeted about their adventures on Saturday and played around with the “Fatbooth” app to make Chris’ face match the day’s activities:
And guess who put his multilingual skills to work? The folks at the comedy festival tweeted:
Surprise appearance from @eddieizzard to introduce @CraigyFerg in French! #JFLcraigyferg
Next up for Craig is a solo stand up comedy show in Boston before he takes his summer break. We’re not sure who is opening for Craig on Sunday, since Randy Kagan is working in Montreal. We’ll pass along details when we find out.
Toronto Review MILD SPOILERS: The website Canoe.ca reviewed Craig’s stand up show in Toronto on Friday night. The review contains some spoilers about Craig’s topics in his stand up routine, so if you’re planning to see the show in Boston on Sunday or near Minneapolis in September, you may want to skip it.
Paris Preview Video
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CBS has sent out a preview video for Craig’s week of shows in Paris. It contains a few spoilers about locations and guests, as well as a couple of “insider” video clips. If you’d rather wait until next week to be surprised, do not click the arrow.
There aren’t many holidays for the last weekend in July that we could find but Saturday, July 30th is Independence Day for the island nation of Vanuatu in the South Pacific. It is also the birthday of sculptor Henry Moore and baseball’s Casey Stengel. Sunday, July 31st is the start of Ramadan at sundown in the Muslim faith, it is the anniversary of the US Patent Office and the birthday of Harry Potter author JK Rowling.