It started out as a standard talk-show incident. Jason Ritter was booked as a guest on Tuesday night’s The Late Late Show, but Craig Ferguson (now in high-def and bracingly bitter about it!) got to yakking too long with Quentin Tarantino. Certainly, if there’s a guest who’ll keep you yakking — or being yakked at — it’s the Inglourious Basterd himself.
So Ferguson promised Ritter would be on the next night, Wednesday. Wednesday night: oops, nope. So enthralled by the Betty-Boop charms of Mila Kunis, Craig didn’t have time for Ritter.
By now he was making jokes about having to wear the same tie again, and we talk-show faithful know that what really happened is that Ferguson taped the Ritter interview earlier in the week, and he and his producers were waiting for the proper length segment to shoehorn it in.
But last night: Whoops! Got talking to Carrie Fisher too long about electro-shock therapy and such, and even though Craig had by now dubbed this “Jason Ritter Week”… no Jason. Check out Carrie Fisher’s segment, by the way; quite hilarious:
So tonight’s the last night to get Jason Ritter on the air this week. Will it happen? Personally, and I like Ritter, I think this dandy joke could go on for quite a while. And I like that thin black tie Ferguson has to wear to maintain the amusement.
Have you been watching Craig, with his new opening credits and his high-definition haircut?
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It’s a confusing thing when you’ve DVR’d the episode and watch the monologue where he talks about Ritter and then fast-forward to see only Carrie Fisher. But I’ll keep watching, obviously, because Ferguson is consistently hilarious, and Ritter would be a fun interview to catch.
The new opening credits are wonderfully entertaining. Insomniac that I am, the debut of Craig II was highly anticipated and on that first night upon hearing the theme song I had to leap out of bed and dance around the room. When some authority figure chose to abbreviate it in later seasons I thought it was a huge mistake. When my children were small I would be the one glued to the TV on Saturday mornings so as not to miss a minute of PEE WEE’S PLAYHOUSE. Ferguson has compared his tenure at THE LATE LATE SHOW as more like PWP than other shows of the genre. The new opening illustrates that through the lack of slick choreography and by allowing the natural awkwardness of the street performance. I don’t know which element I like best, but what makes me giggle just thinking about it is the puppets in the back of the convertable. His rant at the start of every show is about the only real monologue, or is it a soliloquy? He can’t play by their rules…….I know……..me either.
There are strong MUPPET SHOW influences as well …..Gonzo as drummer…… who among us hasn’t been influenced by The Muppets…..certainly, Moi has.
Crap!!! I thought he was on vacation all this week, so I hadn’t been watching! What a cheeky monkey…
Can’t wait to see the new credits.
I think his new credits are great (like a real show hahaha)! He’s actually in them singing! (And the song’s extended
)
I think I love Craig Ferguson.
I liked this bit better when Kimmel was doing it with Matt Damon.
(now in high-def and bracingly bitter about it!) Ken, he’s not “bitter” about HD. He’s sarcastic about the fact that it’s a super-low budget show on which nearly no money is spent, yet is now in HD because of a new set of cameras and a couple of new lights. It’s a source of humor for him. He knows a fancier show might garner more fans, but he also knows that people who do watch his show are there for his particular humor and sincerity, despite the crappy skits and lack of a band. His pig’s not dressed up.
Carrie Fisher is a national treasure. Pure comedy gold.
Clear!!!
i thought you were going to say he wasn’t on b/c craig dated his step-mom
haha! hannah, you’re comment made me giggle.
Is Ken Tucker unaware Jimmy Kimmel has been famously doing this to Matt Damon for years. Spawning viral videos “I’m F’ing Matt Damon’ and the follow up with Ben Affleck? How can someone this out of the loop comment on late night Television?
Who’s Jimmy Kimmel?
craig ferguson is is so much funnier than david letterman, in my opinion he should host the earlier more elaborate show. he is more in tune and comicaly more relevant, especialy compared with the rapidly aging no longer funny david letterman. late nite with craig ferguson would get my vote
I love the new opening, I liked Craig from the beginning and it has been interestings seeing the show evolve over his tenure. I love seeing him behind the set if drums. Once live on the show he played with the Authors’ band, he said he wrote a book so he could play with the band.
Jason’s Mom and Dad were friends with Craig, so during those difficult periods after John’s death I think he grew fond of Jason’s mom. She is a beautiful woman and I always thought she would make a lovely wife for him but that didn’t happen.
Craig in my humble opinion is the greatest late night host since Johnny Carson, Jay is great too, but depends on a telepromter and card to do his interviews and even to announce his guest. I do hope he leaves out that stupid bunch of street interviews with college students that don’t know nothing about their country’s own history. When I was young that taught students the important subjects and not just how to pass the FCAT test. The schools are turning out dumb-a**es that couldn’t think their way out of wet paper sack.
Hey folks David Letterman isn’t the entertainer of Craig’s type. He is owned almost literarly by Worldwide Pants. David is his bosses and the reason we have him on the LLS. Dave is okay, I turn to him since Jay has been off the air. That stupid Conan doesn’t do it for me. Once in a while I Tivo him when he has one of my favorite stars.
Craig couldn’t get away with all his nonsense IF he was on a earlier time so let’s let the chip fall where they may.
As mentioned on the show Craig contract is us and they are in negotiation for a new contract. With the least to work with than any of his opponents studio wise he does the best job. So keep supporting Craig, even you folks older than 50, even though the idiots who count the beans (watchers)have some sort of crazy ideas of who should be counted.
INHO, we older folks can stay up and watch and sleep in the next morning we are retired and have more money to spend than those pen head younger folks in college or starting families in this economy. I say we older folks revolt against the bean counters and let them know that we old folk COUNT TOO.