Craig Ferguson Retiring From the Late Late Show

[IndyJones]

I've been afraid this news was coming since Letterman announced his retirement. I'm miss his weird little show.

Link:

A few weeks after David Letterman announced he'd be retiring from the CBS late-night television lineup, Craig Ferguson did the same.

Ferguson, host of "The Late Late Show" since 2005, told his studio audience during Monday's taping that he will step down at the end of the year. Ferguson's show airs after Letterman's, at 12:35 a.m. on weekdays.

The move was no surprise after CBS announced that Stephen Colbert will replace Letterman next year. There was a time that Ferguson, whose show won a Peabody Award in 2009, was considered a strong contender for that job.

But "The Late Late Show" has faded in the ratings, particularly with the arrival of Seth Meyers in February as competition in the same time slot.

"CBS and I are not getting divorced, we are consciously uncoupling," Ferguson said. "But we will still spend holidays together and share custody of the fake horse and robot skeleton, both of whom we love very much."

He told the audience it was his decision to leave, adding, "CBS has been fine with me."

CBS Entertainment Chairwoman Nina Tassler said Ferguson "infused the broadcast with tremendous energy, unique comedy, insightful interviews and some of the most heartfelt monologues seen on television."

The Scottish-born Ferguson, 51, became a U.S. citizen during his tenure on the show.

He already has a new job lined up, as host of "Celebrity Name Game," a syndicated game show set to debut later this year.

But he joked about his plans with the audience.

After his stint ends, "I'll go and do something else. Probably, I'm thinking, carpentry. But I haven't made my mind up yet. ... I feel like doing this show for 10 years, that's enough," he said.

 

[Random_Spock]

Me too . The man is fricken talented.

 

[cardinal biggles]

Not surprised either. And now the jockeying begins to see who his replacement will be.

 

[auntiehill]

Such a shame. His show was the only late night chat show that actually made me laugh.

 

[wissaboo]

nooooo!

 

[Chris3123]

Another disappointed fan here. I fear his replacement will end up hosting a version of the show that's more like your run-of-the-mill late night show, as opposed to Ferguson's unique, wacky take on it.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Bummer. I really love the show. He has said in the past, he would go when Dave did.

 

[bigdaddy]

Another disappointed fan here. I fear his replacement will end up hosting a version of the show that's more like your run-of-the-mill late night show, as opposed to Ferguson's unique, wacky take on it.

To be fair CF show was very bleu and not as crazy in the beginning as it is now.

I think it's safe to say that talk shows are dead, or at least they are in my mind.

 

[Kronos]

Bummer.

 

[LeadHead]

I'm saddened to hear this, but not surprised. I hope he gets a new show on a basic cable network or with a streaming service. That way the censorship could be to a minimum ad he could really let loose.

 

[ManOnTheWave]

Not surprised, but not happy. Only late night talk I watch regularly. Only one that makes me laugh.

 

[JarodRussell]

His next job is game show host? That should be pretty much a waste of his talent.

 

[C.E. Evans]

His next job is game show host? That should be pretty much a waste of his talent.

But it may really be a sweeter gig. With most of these syndicated game shows, several episodes are filmed a day and they don't take long to do at all. He probably will have more free time to do other projects (movies, specials, comedy tours, maybe even some sitcom work again).

 

[AgentCoop]

A real shame. Craig is the best talk show host on television. Not surprising, once he got passed up for Letterman's time slot, but disappointing nonetheless. I'll miss him.

 

[bigdaddy]

I'm saddened to hear this, but not surprised. I hope he gets a new show on a basic cable network or with a streaming service. That way the censorship could be to a minimum ad he could really let loose.

Problem is CBS owns the horse and the robot so they wouldn't be able to come along.

 

[Amasov]

I thought I remember reading a while back when the possibility of Dave retiring was being talked about; Craig said he didn't want to be Dave's replacement. Not sure where I read that.

But, I'd hate to see Craig at 11.30 anyway -- unless it were cable. His show is perfect for the time of night that it's on.

I will say this, his show reminds me a lot of what Dave's old 12.30 show used to be.

Best host in late night.

 

[JarodRussell]

His show is perfect for the time of night that it's on.

I watch his show on the web, so I don't understand that reasoning. It's good for all times of day.

 

[Avon]

he should play the master to peter capaldis doctor.

 

[AgentCoop]

His show is perfect for the time of night that it's on.

I watch his show on the web, so I don't understand that reasoning. It's good for all times of day.

While I agree, the fact is that network television just hasn't caught up to that point of view yet. The 12:30-35 time slot is still seen as a time when it's "okay" to be more experimental. 11:30-35 is regarded as a slot where you still need to "play it safe". Hence the difference between Letterman's NBC show and his CBS show as well as the difference between Conan's old, brilliant show and his fairly lackluster turn as the host of The Tonight Show.

 

[Kirby]

Well this sucks, I can take losing Dave, but I'm going to really miss Craig.
I wonder if this thread will derail like the Letterman one did if they pick another Scottish guy to host The Late Late Show.