When that other Craig left the late late show talk scene, I was a happy camper. I didn’t like the guy so much that I’ve obviously blocked his last name from my mind in some sort of post traumatic stress reaction. Oh, wait. I now remember his last name. But I won’t post it. I won’t because this is all about Craig Ferguson. You see, David Letterman (who owns The Late Late Show) had a week or so of folks trying out their mad skillz as late night talk show hosts. Out of the several who “auditioned” for the show, I enjoyed David Allen Grier and Craig Ferguson.
At the time, I thought Grier seemed more creative and funny than Ferguson. I was so wrong. From ending the show with the “Cow of Time” to today’s yodeling puppets intro, Ferguson oozes with creativity and seems to have a rapport with the guests, too.
Just when I fuss and moan that Craig’s Prince Charles skits are growing tired with me, he starts yodeling. And, yes … the man can yodel. I know Conan had his dog which he appropriated from commercials and then used to his own nefarious ways. But Craig has been recently opening shows with various hand puppets (no, not cigar-smoking dogs) and now the puppets are yodeling.
Keep in mind that the yodeling and the puppets are just the intro for the show lately. Craig tends to change his ways a lot. He’s gone through not wearing a tie, starting with a traditional kind of monologue, prancing about … you name it. I’m not sure how long the yodeling puppets will last. He already had an intro without one this week. But you never know. Last week he had puppets singing “Fire” by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown as well as a version of “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head.”
Puppetry aside, the man has a certain impish boyish charm about him — a twinkle in his eye, a quick wit, and there’s something darn sexy about him. My only real complaint (other than the Prince Charles skits) is that the show is on way too late for me on a regular basis. I can usually catch the intro as I’m a Letterman fan, but I always regret getting drawn in for the whole show as the Cow of Time kicks me out of bed in the morning with its nasty hooves.
Clacked by Jackie Schnoop 
on Feb 06, 2009 @ 11:30 EST5EDT
“It’s the return of Michael Cane in space”
*snicker*
You can catch full episodes of the Late Late Show on https://www.cbs.com – the last two weeks are online and there are ad breaks but I can live with that.
And it’s Magic Week! Complete with introductions by Neil Patrick Harris who’s a magician himself! Who knew!
It’s a funny thing, I remember back when Tom Snyder was the host, and Jon Stewart subbed for him for a little while, and I really enjoyed it. Then I found out that the other Craig was taking over Late Late Show and Jon Stewart was going to The Daily Show and I thought, Noooooooooooooo! But it all turned out okay (I never watched Late Late Show with the first Craig) because now The Daily Show kicks more ass than it ever could have with its first host, who has seemingly dropped off the face of the planet.
Another funny thing is when they said 10 year anniversary on TDS they kind of omitted the fact that there was the other Craig before Jon :-)
You know I would’ve written something like you did here this week but I’m so swamped with work I don’t have any time so mad props to you for writing this, my thoughts exactly :-)
I love this week’s two minute skits, him breaking up with the puppets and the shark last night was the cause for the roof leaking! haha
Best talk show on TV by far!
Love Craig Ferguson! He just makes me laugh.
Love Dave, love Craig. I am CBS all the way for late night entertainment.