Craig Books Maine Gig
When Craig Ferguson returns to Canada in March to continue his Hot and Grumpy Tour, he’ll also slip across the border for a show in Maine. Craig will appear at the State Theatre in Maine on March 23rd. Tickets for the show go on sale Friday at 10am ET. You can find details and a link for tickets on our Live Comedy Tour page.

Josh’s New Desk

Josh Robert Thompson, the voice of robot skeleton sidekick Geoff Peterson, tweeted a picture of his new desk backstage at The Late Late Show. It features a bulletin board filled with memorabilia, including some of the RSA’s @HoboRobot‘s work and other gifts from fans.


Sunbathing with Ms. Jackson
In this monologue from 2005, Craig talks about sunbathing, naughty bits and censorship.

Video courtesy: FrankGerbertson

The Price Is Right
As we’ve reported, Craig Ferguson will be guest hosting the CBS daytime game show The Price Is Right for its April Fools Day episode. If you’re planning to be in the greater Los Angeles area on February 10th, tickets for the taping are available, and as the RSA’s @Colleen_Byrne discovered, you can also get tickets from 1iota.com, and using the promo code “ROBOT,” you can get them right away without being put on a waiting list. Book early to avoid disappointment!

It’s How You Use It
The RSA’s @HoboRobot was searching the interwebs and found one of the biggest mouth organs we’ve ever seen. It might be difficult to play but we’re guessing it sounds great.

@craigyferg Found this on FacePlant – An “Orchestral Harmonica” It’s 3x longer than yours. OUCH! @RSA_News #golden pic.twitter.com/oxjcWl54LU

Snakes on a Plane
In this monologue, Craig survives a trip to Denver, avoiding snakes on planes.

Video courtesy: FrankGerbertson

Craig Tempts Texas
Craig Ferguson resumes his Hot and Grumpy Tour in Texas on Valentine’s Day, appearing in Austin and in Dallas the following night before moving on to Atlanta, Georgia to wrap up a three-day weekend stint. The website CultureMap.com has a preview of Craig’s show. To see full details of Craig’s upcoming shows, visit our Live Comedy Tour page any time.

‘Dragon’ Soothes Snow Leopard
The Center for Animal Research and Education in Texas recently tweeted that the animated feature film How To Train Your Dragon is having some unexpected beneficial effects. According to the Center’s website, a resident snow leopard that has been sick, has been aided in his recovery by watching the film. They say at times when he must be left alone, they have found that playing the movie on a TV helps keep him soothed.

Sweeps Time
Since February is one of the designated “sweeps” periods for measuring television ratings, we look back at this monologue from 2006 where Craig talks about life during sweeps, and his short-lived MySpace page.

Video courtesy: FrankGerbertson

Casting About
Josh Robert Thompson has been recording new podcasts in recent weeks, and says he wants to come up with a new title for his solo podcasting efforts. He has set up a poll on Facebook, asking for votes on some possible titles, as well as other suggestions. In the meantime, he has posted a pair of new podcasts featuring geek love and an annoying neighbor.

The Rhino Returns
After a long period of silence, the rhinoceros head above the mantlepiece on the Late Late Show set has begin to speak again. Josh is now providing the voice, although we’re not sure if the rhino has a new name. It was first named Sandra, and was voiced by actress Dana DeLorenzo, with whom Josh has collaborated on other projects. Back when the rhino first appeared, the RSA’s @HoboRobot created a clay version, as part of her LLS collection of characters.

LLS Review
Back in the early days of the show, television critic Frazier Moore did a review of The Late Late Show, featuring some early clips. The review recently resurfaced on YouTube, so we can enjoy it again:

Video courtesy: worldnews333

Craig Stays ‘Hot’
Craig Ferguson is due to reprise his role on TVLand’s Hot In Cleveland as a love interest for Jane Leeves‘ character. Most of the episodes will be taped in advance, but when the show begins its fifth season on March 26th, The Hollywood Reporter says the episode will broadcast live. It will be the second time the show kicks off a season with a live episode. Be sure to check out the video preview below. The show has already picked up one Emmy Award, and if they are nominated again, they’ll be in the audience for the awards ceremony this fall, which will be broadcast on NBC on a Monday instead of the usual Sunday. As Variety explains, the move will avoid a conflict with a Sunday preseason football game on August 24th.

Meanwhile, Craig will not have a chance to return to the Sean Hayes sitcom Sean Saves the World. NBC has canceled the series and plans to air two remaining episodes that have already been recorded, sometime after the Olympics, according to TVLine.com.

UK Buzz in US
The new world is buzzing with news from the old this week, staring with Doctor Who. The twelfth doctor, Peter Capaldi, showed off the doctor’s new suit this week, with a nod to the classic, reports BBCNews.com. Comedian Eddie Izzard will be bringing his madcap stage show to the U.S. Details are on his website. We’re hoping for another visit to The Late Late Show will be on his calendar. And another British import will be reaching U.S. shores soon. A production of MacBeth, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh, is coming to New York after a successful run in the UK. Branagh’s Lady MacBeth is none other than Alex Kingston, of Doctor Who fame, reports the New York Times. Thanks to the RSA’s @NancyInTampa for spotting the news of the Scottish play, and to @bgrhubarb for the tip about Izzard.

Getting Hotter
The folks at TVLand have posted a preview of the upcoming season, including a sultry scene with Craig and Jane!

Video courtesy: TVLand

New Shows Resume Thursday Night
New episodes of the Late Late Show are back on Thursday and Friday night this week. The shows were taped earlier in anticipation of Craig’s comedy tour, but have not been aired until now. Craig will be back in the studio on Monday, taping new episodes.

Craig’s Game Show
During Craig Ferguson‘s unplanned break this week, he took the opportunity to visit a convention of television programming executives in Florida, to help promote his new game show Celebrity Name Game. The trade publication Variety covered Craig’s efforts. The show debuts this fall, and as the publications Broadcasting and Cable and TVNewsCheck.com reported, it will be seen in at least 90 percent of the markets around the country. The convention tweeted a photo:

Spotted at #NATPE: @CraigyFerg promoting his new show, Celebrity Name Game pic.twitter.com/gWdLnsvqAG

Craig to Host TPIR
Craig is already getting in the game show mood. On February 10th, Craig will be taping an episode as host of The Price Is Right at CBS Television City. It will be the show’s annual April Fool’s Day episode, airing on April 1. You can visit the show’s audience wranglers’ website to be in the studio that day.

Griffin Wins Grammy
As you probably saw on Sunday night, Kathy Griffin won this year’s Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album, besting four competitors including Bob Saget, Tig Notaro, Ron White and Craig. The comedy website TheLaughButton.com says even though Kathy won, Craig did win their readers poll.

Address to the Haggis
Fulfilling a Burns Night tradition on January 25th, Craig’s sister Lynn Ferguson was invited to address the haggis at a Los Angeles-area gathering, and she did a cracking good job.

Video courtesy: TodayThisLive

JoJo’s ‘Who’ Moment
The RSA’s @iknowjojo, famed for her Doctor Who-themed web comic featuring Peter Capaldi as the doctor and Craig Ferguson as his companion, had a chance to meet Capaldi in person this week, and handed him a copy of her artwork with portraits of all twelve doctors.

My mission to give Peter my Who print is now complete. He was lovely. pic.twitter.com/Px4sMBdjJ9

Josh Casts Pods

Josh Robert Thompson is on a roll this week, sending out another podcast from his car with memories from his past and a recent stand up comedy appearance in California.



Craig and the Internet
In this two-part monologue from 2005, Craig talks about the Internet and makes an appeal about certain email ads.

Video courtesy: FrankGerbertson

Back Soon

With the re-run fairy arriving for a visit and Craig’s Canadian tour being postponed until March, we’re going to step away for a few days. Watch for encore presentations of the LLS on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by two fresh (pre-taped) shows on Thursday and Friday. Craig returns, hopefully healthy, to tape new shows on Monday, February 3rd. We’ll return when new episodes resume. Until then, thank you for your support!