Craig Ferguson
 | This article needs to be updated. |
Craig Ferguson | |
|---|---|
| File:Craig ferguson.jpg Ferguson as the host of The Late Late Show | |
| Born | May 17, 1962 |
| Occupation(s) | Late night talk show host (The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson), comedian, writer |
| Website | http://www.cbs.com/latenight/latelate |
Craig Ferguson (born 17 May 1962) is a Scottish comedian, actor, writer and talk show host. He is the current host of CBS's The Late Late Show, a role which earned him an Emmy nomination in 2006.[1]
Early career
Ferguson's experience in entertainment was as a drummer in a little-known punk band[2] called Bastards from Hell.[citation needed] The band, later known as Dreamboys[citation needed], performed regularly in Glasgow in 1980-1982.[3]
Ferguson's earliest comedy experience was as a comic in the United Kingdom, appearing on the alternative comedy circuit under the stage-name "Bing Hitler"[4]). Ferguson toured the UK during the late 80's under his own name as a support act to Harry Enfield.
After enjoying success at the Edinburgh Festival and breaking into television with appearances on Red Dwarf and his own show 2000 Not Out, Ferguson moved to Los Angeles in 1994. His first U.S. role was as baker Logan McDonough on the short-lived 1995 ABC comedy Maybe This Time, which starred Betty White and Marie Osmond and was also the first screen credit of a then-unknown Dane Cook.
His US breakthrough came when he was cast as Nigel Wick, Drew Carey's boss on The Drew Carey Show, from 1996 to 2003. Of his over-the-top English accent on the series, Ferguson noted[citation needed] that plenty of English actors had used bad Scottish accents in the past, so it was time for a Scottish actor to use a bad English accent.
Late Late Show
In December 2004, it was announced that Ferguson would be the successor to Craig Kilborn on CBS's The Late Late Show. Ferguson's first show aired on 4 January 2005. As of May 2007, Ferguson has averaged about 2.0 million viewers in its most recent season, compared with 2.5 million for Late Night with Conan O'Brien.[5] Ferguson himself claimed in an interview[citation needed] that the show "breaks records every week" ratings-wise.
Initially, Ferguson opened each show with a scripted monologue and prepared jokes, as done on most late night talk shows. However, as the show progressed, Ferguson (who introduces himself to his audiences as "TV's Craig Ferguson") began improvising. One year later[citation needed], he was using only an outline.
Ferguson's monologues often include self-deprecating remarks about his past experience with alcoholism, smoking, and his two divorces, in a light-hearted manner. Some material he has for his monologues also involves poking fun at CBS and his late night time slot. He also calls his audience, in studio and at home, various odd nicknames such as his "frisky little badgers" or Ferguson's favourite "cheeky monkeys" (accompanied by a whip-crack from his sound effects machine). Once it's over, and the show starts to get going, Ferguson goes about doing odd-job tasks at his desk, such as checking his voice mail or writing a letter. He also reads viewer e-mail on the air, usually answering them out-loud with his usual humour.
The Late Late Show often includes a segment in which he impersonates celebrities such as Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Larry King, Mick Jagger, Dr. Phil, and Prince Charles. Some of the other sketches involve various other characters played by Ferguson, including celebrity news hawk "Barney Slash" and former British sports star "Dirk Weems." He has added an imitation of "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell recently, to the delight of his audiences.
Unusual episodes
On 3 May 2005, "Late Late Show" guest Bill Maher (whose Real Time with Bill Maher is also produced at CBS Television City), in a riff on the Michael Jackson trial, made a controversial remark about child molestation, causing Ferguson to cut off the interview early.[6]
In October 2005, Ferguson greatly played up his small role as "Fisherman #1" in the CBS made-for-TV movie Vampire Bats. Ferguson, and his single line of dialogue, became a running joke on the show. CBS even ran advertisements for his appearance in the upcoming movie, also greatly emphasising Ferguson's largely unimportant role. He even went as far as to have "Fisherman #2" as a guest on the show (who mentioned how Ferguson had taken the "#1" role from him).
On 30 January 2006, Ferguson dedicated an entire episode as a "eulogy" to his father, who had died the day before. He discussed his childhood memories and talked about his loss with his two guests, both of whom were friends: Drew Pinsky, a doctor; and actress Amy Yasbeck, whose husband, actor John Ritter, had died suddenly. The monologue of this episode[7], during which Ferguson remembers his father and shares some anecdotes about their relationship, is considered by some to have contributed greatly to his 2006 Emmy nomination.[8]
Bob Barker
Ferguson's show is taped in the same building as The Price Is Right, formerly hosted by Bob Barker.[9] For several weeks in 2006, Craig expressed an obsession with vampires and contended that Barker was a vampire who would "kick his ass" one day.
On 14 July 2006, Barker, announcer Rich Fields, and some of Barker's Beauties came to the Late Late Show for a visit. During the visit, Barker claimed he'd heard that Craig said very nice things about him, and went on to make fun of the value of Craig's "solid mahogany" desk, pricing it at $9 before breaking it in two with a single karate chop from his left hand. The Price Is Right beauties then proceeded to "finish it off" with claw hammers. For the rest of the show, Craig used a small card table covered with a tablecloth until his musical guest Family Force Five proceeded to help him tear up the rest of the set at the end. After a week off, Craig came back with a brand new set.
The Barker "vampire" joke paid off this month[citation needed] when Barker made a guest appearance on The Late Late show and presented Ferguson with a portrait of himself, complete with vampire fangs for the new set. Barker appeared on Ferguson's show to talk about his retirement this year after 35 years as host of The Price Is Right.
Other projects
Ferguson is the writer/co-writer and actor of movies including The Big Tease, Saving Grace, and I’ll Be There, which he also directed.
Ferguson hosted the 32nd annual People's Choice Awards on 10 January 2006. TV Guide magazine printed a "Cheers" (Cheers and Jeers section) for appearing on his own show that same evening.
Ferguson's novel Between the Bridge and the River (ISBN 0-8118-5375-6) was published on 10 April 2006. Ferguson appeared at the Los Angeles Festival of Books, as well as other author literary events. "This book could scare them", Ferguson said. "The sex, the violence, the dream sequences and the iconoclasm. I think a lot of people are uncomfortable with that. I understand that. It was very uncomfortable to write some of it."[citation needed] Publishers Weekly called it "a tour de force of cynical humor and poignant reverie, a caustic yet ebullient picaresque that approaches the sacred by way of the profane".[citation needed]
Ferguson played Ted Truman in indie film Trust Me and "Confidence" in the Red Dwarf episode Confidence and Paranoia.
He continues to make standup appearances in Las Vegas and New York City even while his show continues. He will headline soon in Toronto comedy festival, along with Howie Mandel and others.
Personal life
Ferguson was born in Glasgow to Robert and Janet Ferguson, and raised in nearby Cumbernauld.
His first visit to the United States was as a teen; later, he lived in New York City, where he worked in construction in Harlem and according to Ferguson "used to be a bouncer at a cool club in New York called “Save the Robots”. That was the name of the club. I was the bouncer the first couple of weeks. I got fired. I was power crazed. I was acting like a gatekeeper from the Lord of the Rings"[10].
Ferguson has two sisters (one older and one younger) and one older brother.[11][12] His sister Lynn is a successful comedian, presenter and actress, perhaps most widely known as the voice of Mac in Chicken Run. His brother Scott worked for STV and is married to actress Teri Lally. His elder sister Janice is a successful businesswoman and fellowship member of IOSH.
He is twice-divorced with a son, Milo (born 2001) from his second marriage, and shares custody with his ex-wife, who lives nearby in Los Angeles. His first book, Between the Bridge and the River is dedicated to Milo.
A recovering alcoholic, Ferguson has been sober since 1992.[13]
Citizenship
Ferguson is in the process of becoming a US citizen, and has commented in various venues, including the David Letterman show and his own show, on his intentions[14][15]. Sometimes, after making a joke about President Bush, he will make a comment along the lines of "They will never let me be a citizen now."[citation needed]
He has recently started to try and get an Honorary Citizenship from every State in America. So far, he has received honorary citizen status from; Arkansas, Kentucky, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nevada, Alaska, Texas, and honorary Indiana Hoosier, and various towns in the US. He has as well been named "The Honorary Celebrity of South Dakota"!
- Ferguson is an honorary citizen of Ozark, Arkansas, and the entire state of Arkansas, as mentioned several times on his show.
- Ferguson is also an Honorary Citizen of the entire states of Kentucky, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Alaska, and Nevada. Respective governors Ernie Fletcher, John Hoeven, Mike Rounds, Rick Perry, Sarah Palin, and Jim Gibbons sent letters to him that made him an Honorary Citizen of each state.
- Gov. Mike Rounds also appointed Craig as the official "state celebrity" of South Dakota.
- Ferguson was also named a "Duke of Hazard, KY" along with receiving a key to the city.
- The locality in the US that has refused such an honor to Craig Ferguson is Portland, Oregon. Because the city does not practice such, and if they did it would be only for those who do humanitarian work and not for entertaining people.
Trivia
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. (June 2007) |
- Ferguson had a chalazion surgically removed from his eyelid.
- Ferguson is a fan of the NCAA Texas Longhorns and Scottish football club Partick Thistle.
- Ferguson played rugby union at secondary school.
- Ferguson often jokes about his self-proclaimed fame for predicting the winners of such big sporting games as the Rose Bowl, World Series, Super Bowl, NBA Finals, etc., just by looking at the team's logos.
- A recording of his stage act as Bing Hitler was made at Glasgow's Tron Theatre and released in the 1980s. In addition, a Bing Hitler monologue ('A Lecture for Burns Night') appears on the compilation cassette Honey at the Core.
- Ferguson will always slap the side of the camera at the end of his monologue.
References and footnotes
- ^ "ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS AND SCIENCES: 58TH PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-04-07.
- ^ "Craig's Bio". The Late Late Show. Retrieved 2007-04-07.
- ^ Other members of Ferguson's band included vocalist Peter Capaldi (later a successful screen actor and an Oscar winner for an animated short), Temple Clark on bass guitar and Roddy Murray on guitar.[citation needed]
- ^ "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!". National Public Radio. 2006-06-03. Retrieved 2007-04-07.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Jay and Conan Rule The Late-Night Week, Stretching Their Year-Ago Leads". NBC Universal. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
- ^ Jonah Goldberg. "Wednesday, May 04, 2005". The Corner, National Review Online. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
- ^ Craig's Tribute To His Father (CBS.com video). 2006-01-30.
{{cite AV media}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "2006 Primetime Emmy Nominations" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-04-07.
- ^ "Host With the Most: The Cult of Bob Barker". Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
- ^ Craig Ferguson on "The Late Late Show", October 10, 2006
- ^ "Craig Ferguson Biography". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Craig Ferguson". NNDB. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
- ^ "Craig Ferguson interview".
- ^ "YouTube: Money money money 6.21".
- ^ "Scotsman.com interview".