MovieChat Forums > The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015) Discussion > Making Judgments

Making Judgments

posted 10 years ago by dpm-5
6 replies | jump to latest

Having watched "The Late Late Show" on CBS since its original incarnation with Tom Snyder, I was disappointed to learn that Craig Ferguson was leaving. And like most Americans, upon learning that James Corden was being considered to take the helm at 12:35 I responded first with a "Who?," followed by a "WTF is Les Moonves thinking?"

I admit almost a resentment, not toward James Corden, but toward CBS for (a) not giving Craig Ferguson greater consideration to take over for David Letterman and the "Late Show" chair, and (b) opting to go with an unknown (to Americans) commodity, rather than a "name" that would be at least marginally recognized.

But the more I think about it, the more that attitude fades, and as we approach the debut of "Late Late Show with James Corden," I think I'm prepared to do as I did with Craig Kilborn and Craig Ferguson before him: judge the show on its own merit, rather than make comparisons to the hosts that preceded them. And I encourage you to do the same.

James Corden has said his version of the "Late Late Show" will be *beep* That may very well prove true. Or it could be groundbreaking, bringing across the Atlantic comedic concepts that haven't been seen here before. Time will tell. But rather than jump on him from the outset and say, "He's no Craig Ferguson," let's try to be objective in any criticism of James Corden.

[–] sweiland75 10 years ago

not giving Craig Ferguson greater consideration to take over for David Letterman and the "Late Show" chair

Craig never wanted the Late Show.

[–] potsi-1 10 years ago

I think Craig never chased the Late Show spot or wanted to take the job from Letterman, but that doesn't mean he didn't want the job. He really has been the best recent late night talk show host I can think of.

He really deserved that Letterman spot over anyone else. Oh well...

[–] bgrhu 10 years ago

No, sweiland75's right - Craig never wanted it. He'd said as much time and again for at least the past 8 years. Almost nobody ever believes him, though, because it's such an unheard-of concept. But it's not a job he wanted or would ever be happy with.

As for Corden, he's no Craig, nor could he ever hope to be, but I think he'll do fine. I do plan to judge him on his own merits, as the original poster suggested. And I plan to give him plenty of time to settle in. After all, it took Craig the better part of a year to finally figure things out. I don't think CBS is looking for him to "hit it out of the park" right away, either, and that's okay.

[–] ftremblay379 10 years ago

I rewatch some old episodes sometimes and the laid-back Craig took time to arrive to CBS. At the beginning, for well over a year, you could see he was nervous and took his job more like a normal talk-show than the free-for-all it eventually became.

[–] dpm-5 10 years ago

FWIW, I didn't state that Ferguson wanted it - merely that CBS should have given him greater consideration for it than they apparently did.

From what information's publicly available, CBS never came close to offering it to him. What went on behind the scenes, who really knows?

[–] sedativchunk 10 years ago

I'd like to add in on the Craig Ferguson argument here. I've seen Craig live (in his stand up routines) three times. I love the man, he was a family name, and I considered him the best of the late night talk shows behind Jay Leno. He was honest and told it like it was. He held nothing back about the truth of Hollywood and the people in it. He also had a very compelling life story about how he came to America and eventually hosted the LLS. With that being said, I think it's bullcrap when he says he "didn't want Letterman's job"...

Craig, is he humble? Yes. Did he bring a more human side to late night? Yes. HOWEVER... Craig is only human, and like the rest of us, he needs income to live and take care of his family. You're telling me there wasn't the slightest bit of angst towards CBS when they decided to give Colbert the job over him? I mean, it sounds like they didn't even consider him for the position... even if you were humble, you're telling me you wouldn't be upset if you got picked over someone else for a huge promotion for your job? Especially when you've been working there as a loyal employee for a decade that's helped build a new brand for the company?

The fact of the matter is the timing as well. Literally the day we heard Letterman was leaving, Craig said he was also leaving LLS. And then Craig got questioned about it many times, "why are you leaving?" all his favorite guest asked. He gave the answer that he was tired of doing the LLS and it was 10 years, and that was a long time to do a show. To be honest, I've watched Craig for a long time, and everytime he talked about why he was leaving I heard some dishonesty in his voice.

Something else was going on. I think there was politics with CBS, and I also think he has family issues going on. The man has had a VERY troubled past, and I wonder if his new wife forced him to leave the show against his will. I suppose we'll never know the truth, but I think there was more to it than Craig just not wanting to do talk shows anymore.