A couple of months ago, while promoting her superb TV-movie Temple Grandin on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, star Claire Danes happened to mention that her father-in-law is a professor of philosophy specializing in moral particularism.
Well, Ferguson’s reaction was as though he’d just discovered a new world he wanted to explore immediately. He asked Danes if she thought this man, Jonathan Dancy, would appear on his show. She said she’d ask.
True to his desire, Ferguson hosted a segment with Dancy last night. May I say that I not only found it a more entertaining segment than the one that had preceded it — someone named Robin Williams was the first guest — but that I want to take a class with Professor Darcy right now?
Dancy is a very big cheese in his field. A Brit who teaches at the University of Texas at Austin (yet another reason I want to take his class — love Austin!), Dancy (Hugh Dancy’s father, obviously) came very close to making a dunderhead like me understand what he was getting at in making distinctions between right and wrong and the context in which such terms have meaning.
If, say, PBS still stood for what it used to (that is, educational programming for the good of the nation rather than a few good shows sprinkled into a schedule of antiquing and repair series), Jonathan Dancy would be doing for moral particularism what Robert Hughes once did for modern art in The Shock of the New: teaching us via vivid language and examples.
I found Prof. Dancy exhilarating. How about you?
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I also thought this segment was very interesting. Craig could easily do an hour show with him like the Stephen Fry show a few weeks back.
caryn,
I think Craig was thinking the same thing. There might be a method to his madness, have Robin Williams on first to get more viewers for the show, and then bring on Jonathan Dancy to give him exposure. It certainly piqued my interest. I’m hoping he just set us up to ask for more…Craig is so good at teasing us, in a good way of course. ♥
I agree. Then, in a perfect world, Craigyferg would get an Emmy to go with his new Peabody award! Craig’s show is genius.
Peabody….Emmy….Nobel Peace Prize, in that order.
I have to admit I missed Craig last night, but I remember when Claire Danes was on, talking about her Dad. Most talk show hosts would probably say something like, “Wow, that’s interesting — do you think he’d come on our show?” but seemingly only Ferguson would actually MEAN it and follow up on it. Kudos to Fergy — the true innovator of late night. If Carson was the template for the classic late-night host, and Letterman was the second generation (ironic deconstruction of the classic host), then Craig is the third generation, with perhaps Jon Stewart — he doesn’t CARE about following in Johnny’s footsteps; he doesn’t particularly care about the late night wars; and his indifference is turning the form on its head.
Jon Stewart has become a pompous jerk. Ferguson is a genius.
stewart’s imitation of glenn beck was genius.
Agreed. Stewart was GOD as Glenn Beck. But, I can see what you’re saying, Jessica, at least a little bit. I wouldn’t really call him a pompous jerk, but I would say that with the direction his show has taken over the years (I’m an old school Daily Show viewer from the Craig Kilborn days, and this is definitely not the same show I started watching 12 years ago), and his obviously snowballing interest in politics, he has definitely become the angriest man on television. I keep waiting for him to break down one day, look at the camera, and say, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!”. And then he’ll run for office. *crosses fingers*
“Snowballing interest in politics?” lol lol You are too funny mary q. I watched the old Craig Kilborn show too, and enjoyed it. But thinking back on it now, after years of brilliance with Jon Stewart? Yes, definitely a different show – a lesser show, too. And every Glenn Beck fan should be required to see Jon’s Glenn Beck. Glenn Beck is the definition of the emperor has no clothes in modern society, or the wizard of Oz – pay no attn to that man behind the curtain.
I was so confounded during that interview and at the same time, I didn’t want it to end. It was very interesting. I felt like I was back in my philosophy classes at school.
Very interesting and Craig held his own with the questions that he asked. This show is a constant surprise.
I loved the segment. I know nothing about philosophy, but this made me want to learn more about it, especially moral particularism.
Does anyone else find it odd (and a little sad) that he is “Claire Daines’ father-in-law” with no mention that he is Hugh Dancy’s father?
i agree. i saw the headline and i said, “right…so, hugh dancy’s father then?” and no mention at all. very odd.
Not if Hugh Dancy has never been on the Ferguson show!
Given that the interview arose from Claire Danes’ appearance on the show, no, I don’t find it sad or odd.
Never watched Craig before-I’m usually asleep for late night tv, but this clip made me want to see more.
Is it me or was Mr. Darcy a bit argumentative, and snobbish? However, I did find the convo interesting and Craig clever as ever.
Yes, I did as well, but I think it’s part of his profession and the fact that he’s a university professor. So I wasn’t surprised by it. Very interesting segment, and Craig held his own.
If by argumentative you mean committed to explaining moral particularism and by snobbish you mean bloody smart, then yes, you are correct.
Mr. Darcy is a bit argumentative and snobbish. However, I think this article is about Professor Dancy, not Pride and Prejudice.
Holly has the best reply in this blog entry.
Holly wins.
Yes, it’s DaNcy, not Darcy!
Well said, Holly!!!
it’s you
Went to UT and love Austin, too! I recall his class being one of the most popular and sought-after, though I never got to take it myself.
Hugh Dancy will be real jealous if he daddy gets more popular than him!
Our PBS stations have slowly become a wasteland of what seems to be a new kind of infomercial. I would love antiquing and repair shows rather than these people selling their books.
definately would like ashow on PBS! I rather fancy a discussion rather than just a lecture. the back and forth is what made this fascinating.
This was an incredible interview. I would love to take a class with Prof. Dancy since you could never cover all his thoughts in many, many interviews. This shows what the best of TV interviewing could be, and not the worst like interviewing a dunderhead like Sarah Palin.
This was, quite possibly, one of Craig’s most interesting interviews to date. Craig’s curiosity and thirst for knowledge knows no bounds, and I consider it a privilege to be allowed to share in that experience, even if only through the TV screen. Delightfully thought-provoking… I’m looking forward to seeing Mr Dancy appear on the show again soon.
Ditto. I felt as if I had been invited to sit in on a conversation rather than being “performed” to. Craig didn’t dumb it down but moved the conversation to a level where we understood this world-class Philosopher.
Someone didn’t trust a Philosopher could keep us engaged for an hour so they had Williams on. Bad move, Craig could have gone on much longer. Next time.
I agree with others here that Craig should do an audience-free one-on-one with Professor Dancy. Nobody else could do what Craig did…hold his own (nearly) with a man such as Dancy. Excellence, indeed.