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The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

12/20/2014

25 Comments

 
While we said goodbye to the wonderful and hilarious Colbert Report this week, which was an outstanding farewell and worth the watch, even if you're not a nightly Colbert viewer; what hit me the most emotionally, and what I knew was going to be a bittersweet goodbye to an old friend in television was watching the final episode of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.  My nightly tradition for the past several several years is, I curl up on the couch, I smoke a little something, I watch The Late Late Show, then I watch some infomercials or whatever the hell else is on, and I go to sleep.  I was a viewer Craig's Late Late Show for long enough to remember what they're talking about when they bring up the ill-fated Audience Donut Jenga, which I believe may have been the first year the show was on.

I grew up watching late night television, namely David Letterman, and the late night talk shows that always spoke to me the most were the ones who took things in a different direction and did things not unlike any other regular late night talk show.  It's fitting that Craig's tagline was "not like any other late night show," because it truly wasn't.  Here was a show that gave us the brilliant Craig Ferguson on a nightly basis, but also the incredible talents of Josh Robert Thompson, a phenomenally gifted actor, as Geoff Peterson, Sandra the Rhino, the offscreen band Alfredo Sauce and the Shy Guys, not to mention Josh's 100s of phone call voices including Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, Miriam, Jerry from Room Service, plus the Jay Leno fly, and countless others that could fill this entire page.  Craig and Josh have chemistry like none other on televison.  It's a man behind a desk, unscripted, talking to his robot skeleton sidekick and absolutely anything they want to talk about, whether it's tweets and emails, or 1-5 dings on a bell.  This show was so unlike any other before it, that people who have never seen this show probably don't know what in the fuck I'm talking about.  "1-5 dings? Room service? A rhino?  What?!?"

Here, this will make you more confused.  I'll talk about Secretariat, the best horse in television since Mr. Ed.  When he's not catching frisbies, learning Japanese, threatening to kick Craig's ass, or snorting cocaine, Secretariat the horse should always come dancing into a room whenever a doorbell is heard and someone screams "Who's that at the door???"  But even beyond Craig, Geoff, and Secretariat, Craig's interviews were also unlike any you'd see on network television, which also made the show worth tuning into every night.  Many celebrities have insane handlers, stick to a strict set of pre-interview questions, which can make many late night talk show interviews feel fake and shallow, but not with Craig's show.  Ripping up the note card at the beginning of every interview symbolizes that they're going to talk about whatever they want to talk about, and if that ends with an awkward pause, a big cash prize, meditation, a piece of fruit, or smashing a coconut, then even better!  Interviews could be a funny assortment of randomness, very serious and touching, or get very personal, such as Craig's openness to not only talk about but joke about his rather wild past; something that's even inspired myself to joke about my own embarrassing way younger days.

Last night's show had many great moments, from the opening musical number, to the incredibly personal monologue addressing the fans and makers of the show, to the Jay Leno interview, and to the ending which manages to combine The Drew Carey Show with the finales of Newhart, St. Elsewhere, and The Sopranos all into one ending sketch.  **Spoilers** So if The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson has all been in the mind of Mr. Wick this entire time, does that mean all the movies that the celebrities have been on to promote in the past 10 years are also in the mind of Mr. Wick?  The last 10 years have just been Westphall'd.  It was a great finale, but also sad in knowing that this is the last new episode of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson that I'll ever see.  At the same time, Craig has said that this is not retirement (he currently hosts the syndicated game show Celebrity Name Game), it's simply an opportunity to move on to new shows and tours.  I can't wait to see what those will be, and I also hope we'll be seeing more of Geoff Peterson, Secretariat, and the rest of the group in the future.  So until then, enjoy these moments of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, not like any other late night show.
25 Comments
death2boredom
12/20/2014 08:11:25 am

Robot Skeleton Army for LIFE!! But seriously, though I've switched to podcasts I will always love Craig and The Late Late Show for the genuine feel and honesty that was hard to find anywhere else on tv at the time.

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L
12/20/2014 08:52:28 am

Love this. So glad I saw a taping of his show last January. CF was funny as hell, but I also loved when he talked about a serious topic from the gut, such his alcoholism.

I'll also miss him having Don Rickles as a guest.

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Lameerkat
12/20/2014 09:07:39 am

Nice post! Loved that you included the Stephen Fry episode as that was one of my favorites, being a huge fan of both those men.

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Weiss
12/20/2014 09:18:56 am

I watched Craig sign off last night and was hoping you'd something Brad. Adios to another great and truly unique talk show host. :)

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Joel Kazoo link
12/20/2014 09:41:56 am

Gonna miss his show SO much, but look forward to him doing more stand-up.

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Dizzy
12/20/2014 11:16:33 am

I'm going to miss Craig. The interviews he did were always impressive, especially when a regular like Larry King or Morgan Freeman would show up. I can still remember the talk he gave after the Boston marathon bombings.

Just remember, two rings? We're still Germans.

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Sherlock Hamlet
12/20/2014 04:08:10 pm

Last night's episode brought back so many memories...Robot Skeleton Army Forever indeed!

And I agree--part of what set Craig apart was just how open and personal he could be...I've watched him perform "Istanbul" and "Oops I Did it Again" with Wavy and the rest of the puppets many times...

But many MORE times have I YouTubed his monologue on why he *wasn't* going to pile on Britney Spears, and instead opened up about his own past as an alcoholic, or his half-eulogy, half-roast monologues when his mother and father passed on.

If I had to sum up his show in one sentence, I'd say the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson was a late night talk show just insane and crazy enough to be honest and open about itself.

I'd type more, but someone's ringing the doorbell over hear...huh...

WHO'S THAT AT THE DOOR? ;)

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Fishbulb
12/20/2014 07:53:06 pm

Have you ever seen his movie The Big Tease? I haven't seen it in about 10 years, but I watched it more than once and remember it being funny stuff

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Matthias
12/20/2014 08:49:54 pm

It's saddening really.
the late night business feels so tocix but man he kept it real. I remember when i first time saw the episodes for his mom and dad on youtube...those episodes were hauntingly beautiful. Sadly the show is not regularly on over here so have to rely on youtube for it. Still i alway enjoyed his monologues, especially when he got ranty. I thought he was the most thoughtful and interested talk host. Especially when the great robin willliams and the great michael clrak duncan came around (may they rest in peace both heavily missed). I loved the scotland and paris trips.

Yeah Craig i salut you. You were awesome

Also his audiobook is great,especially read by himself :D

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angelique_sp
12/21/2014 01:14:04 am

Yeah .... the millisecond when they started that Newhart/Sopranos/Snowglobe bit, I was thinking "Now THAT'S all for Brad!" Hehe

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SamJ
12/21/2014 01:59:14 am

Sadly never watched the show. I apparently missed a lot.

Oh well, I hope James Corden does well. I think he's funny.

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Jack
12/21/2014 03:02:12 am

He will be missed. I always favored Craig over all other late night hosts with his silly antics and his fearless "ask no pre-written questions" attitude.

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DrunkenPunk800
12/21/2014 03:45:14 am

Turd Ferguson was terrible, as was Colbert. Thank god they're off the air.

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MTRodaba2468 link
12/21/2014 02:30:26 pm

We'll have to agree to disagree, although just so you know, Colbert isn't going off the air; he's replacing Letterman.

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The hand of Onan
12/22/2014 10:26:14 am

Turd is not a good replacement name for Craig, If you're going troll at least come up with something with .some sort of comic value.
Seriously Turd Ferguson is that best you good do!

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LloydFan
12/22/2014 12:19:39 pm

Actually that was the only funny thing about his post.
Turd Ferguson, it's a funny name. (and reference)

DrunkenPunk800
12/23/2014 11:37:20 am

"Turd Ferguson" is an SNL reference. And I wasn't trolling nor trying to be funny. I genuinely hate both of them. Trolling implies that it isn't my actual opinion, and that I was merely trying to annoy.

Not a big fan of late night talk shows as it is, but I liked Craig Kilborn, Dennis Miller, Arsenio Hall, and Letterman.

The Hand of Onan
12/26/2014 03:00:35 am

No trolling in my understanding is going on a tribute site to pointlessly annoy us fanboys with unsolicited criticism of our heroes. Most people who do it genuinely hate their targets. In this case it isn't a review, It's Brads celebration of Craig Fergusson. Mind you we've all done it at some point or another.
I didn't get the Turd Fergusson reference coz I don't watch SNL So my apologies on that score.

Dorothy
12/21/2014 11:38:27 pm

Great send-off, Brad! I love these posts where you just talk about your relationship with shows or entertainers.

It always just weirds me out when a man and his robot (skeleton) read viewer mail without putting it up on Still-Store, though.

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fake josh hadley
12/22/2014 07:09:05 am

so here is the story:
1i found out about him after a loong while,maybe 2012?
2. he was suuuuuuuper funny,i watched 10s of shows in a row.
3.but then i started realizing that he kissed every young actress that he could,and hmm he is a bit of a sleazeball,and not in that funny way.
4. apparently hes married to a 20yo or something like that
5. i dont know..there is something off about him,like conan o brien he soooooooo wants attention.
so i dont know,im not so much for him anymore,but sure,he is funny,but the sleaziness i can be without.

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Gaz
12/22/2014 12:27:33 pm

Apparently, America is getting our James Corden as a replacement. As such, I fully expect your next two British imports to be the words "twat" and "wanker".

I'm... not a fan. He's a decent enough comedic writer and actor, but his ad-libs and attempts at more traditional comedy are laughable. And not in a good way. As a host? Irritating as hell. Tries way to hard to befriend his guests. Rather than come across as warm, it seems desperate. He just doesn't come across as likeable. At all.

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panjakes
12/23/2014 01:43:02 am

Does this guy even make videos anymore??
It's been FOREVER since the last one

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Joel Kazoo link
12/23/2014 03:18:27 am

It's the holidays, and he's a workoholic, putting out videos on an almost daily basis. Let him have some time off, ferfucksakes!

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lia
12/28/2014 11:48:47 pm

I loved that show. He was or is rather funny will miss that guy and i really felt sad when colbert left T_T this year sucked hard

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game poker link
4/26/2017 03:15:28 am

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