Craig Ferguson Quits CBS' Late Late Show

[mac56]

Source: Yahoo

The Late Late Show is over for Craig Ferguson.

Ferguson announced to his studio audience at a taping for Monday’s program that he will step down as host of The Late Late Show in Dec. 2014. The news follows CBS’ decision to tap Stephen Colbert — and not Ferguson — to succeed David Letterman as host of The Late Show.

“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.”

(clip)

Read more: https://tv.yahoo.com/news/craig-ferguson-quits-cbs-show-002102952.html

[Roland99]

1. "No one could have anticipated..."

he didn't get the nod, though. His monologue/stand-up humor is hilarious!

[mac56]

2. It's kind of Carson-Leno-Letterman all over again, isn't it?

[LynneSin]

3. I feel bad he didn't get the Letterman show but I didn't think he would be a good replacement

I've seen his show and his humor is good but not for everyone. I just don't think he would have been a good fit for the 11:30 crowd.

Colbert has a much bigger name recognition and I think will have a better appeal to the Letterman viewers and was the right choice!

[MADem]

8. He is, sadly, too bright a bulb for the average audience.

He will make literary and historical references that will just hit the floor with a clunk if you've not had a decent education. If you have had one, though, he just zings.

His stuff is smart, and sadly, late night audiences aren't always thus.

I hope they find something for CF. He really does have a great wit.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

10. Oh man,...imagine him as Doctor Who.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

21. I keep hoping for another of those cheezy Saturday Night horror movie hosts....

He and Geoff could do that easily.

[lunasun]

15. +1

[progressoid]

26. He said he didn't want Dave's show.

He liked the freedom he was given at a later hour.

Colbert was definitely the right choice.

[Boomerproud]

4. If he's doing it because CBS brass lied to him than shame on them.

I thought he had the perfect vibe for late, late night. I hope we still him on regular basis.

[Mr_Rogers]

36. Word is that he has the "Prince Charles" clause in his contract...

... and that he will receive around $12 million for not getting the nod.

He isn't hurting...

[otohara]

5. The Robot & Horse

so stupid.

[MADem]

9. The horse is just for hijinks. The "robot" is a 2nd banana that, because he is not human, can get

away with saying things that a human sidekick wouldn't get away with.

I like the show, I'll be sad to see him go. I don't watch it every night but when I do I always find it enjoyable.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

7. I was putting XP on an older system in the other room and saw this on MSN when I opened the browser.

He would appreciate that as to how I found out.

[mockmonkey]

11. I get the feeling...

people commenting here didn't bother to read the the story at the link.

"Ferguson announced during the taping of Monday’s program that he will step down as host of The Late Late Show in December 2014. The news follows CBS’ decision to tap Stephen Colbert — and not Ferguson — to succeed David Letterman as host of The Late Show. Ferguson, however, says he was already laying out his exit plan at the time Letterman broke his own news. He then agreed to push his exit date back from summer to December, at CBS’ request.

Regardless, because of the timing, Ferguson tells Variety, “People are going to say ‘Oh he’s leaving because of Colbert getting Late Show.’ No matter what I say or what I do, they’re gonna say that. Well they can say what they like. It’s America. I understand.”

[mac56]

12. The "however" bit wasn't there when I posted it.

[Rod Beauvex]

13. I'm sure it is becasue of letterman stepping down.

I could be totally wrong (I knnnoowwww!!!) but I think Letterman had a lot of sway at CBS, and being friends with Letterman, Craig was able to get a lot of creative freedom for his own show. I suspect that without Letterman backing him, CBS would clamp down on Craig. Craig knows this.

[ErikJ]

14. I didnt like his accent.

When channel surfing I would hear that Brogue or whatever it is and like nails on a chalkbord to me. I like many accents but not that.

[Bombero1956]

19. it's not a brogue it's a burr

A brogue is a reference to an Irish (occasionally Scottish) dialect of English, with a number of sounds changed that make it distinctive. A burr refers more to the trilling of the r (sometimes in the back of the mouth) that seems to be mostly a Scottish characteristic.

[Akoto]

18. Aw, man. I've watched his show for years. Never failed to make me laugh. n/t

[Spitfire of ATJ]

22. Have at it....

[glinda]

34. Still hot....

[Spitfire of ATJ]

39. That look isn't for just anyone.

[glinda]

42. Oh that's right....he is married.

[snot]

20. Ferguson is one of the most creative, funny, intelligent people on tv.

Night after nite, with no apparent budget, he's made hilarity out of nothing, aided only by a cheesy skeleton robot (operated by another, very skillful comedian) and two interns in a horse costume.

I'll mention that, to the extent Ferguson mentioned politics, I didn't care for the bent of them. That's why I was surprised he didn't get picked to replace Leno (Colbert's politics seem way too liberal for that slot; but then, a surprising number of people seem to have taken Colbert's mockery literally). But Craig is wildly creative, even if his politics aren't; maybe that's what did him in.

I'll also say, I think Colbert is the one comedian on the air who does actually blow Craig out of the water . . . but I find it hard to imagine how he'll top his performance as Bill O'Reilly parody/paragon, in a straight-er, talk-show-host role. (That said, I do also love Louis CK.)

I'm very sad Ferguson is leaving his show, and hope he AND his robot and horse quickly find a new, better home elsewhere.

[jtuck004]

23. "his performance as Bill O'Reilly parody/paragon, in a straight-er, talk-show-host role" < What

happens when he invites O'what's his name on to the show?

[snot]

40. O'Reilly went on The Colbert Report --

-- see

for a horrible copy, but the audio's clear -- and O'Reilly regretted it.

[CreekDog]

25. well, as for his politics, i don't know but he did call Dick Cheney "evil" in one of his books

i'll miss him. he's hilarious, his interviews are much more fun and spontaneous than most late nighters.

i saw his show live, he was charming and crazy, and smart, oh so smart. kind of Steve Martin smart. the humor is so dumb, but you know it took brains to create it.

i heard somewhere that he is due a big payout if he doesn't get the Dave's slot...he may have been planning retirement based on that.

as for Craig and Dave, he was picked by Letterman's own company. i'm sure Letterman liked him a lot.

[Demit]

31. He said once he doesn't like to discuss politics. He just prefers to stay away from the topic.

He seems to honestly, fervently love being American, and he isn't comfortable with divisiveness. I love watching those interviews. His brain is lightning quick, and if the guest is on the same wavelength, the interview is one big riff and it's brilliant. There's one with Robin Williams that had me in tears I was laughing so much. I'm in awe of that kind of creativity.

He would joke how little he was being paid, I don't know if it's true or not. But if he did get a big payoff, he's free now to create his own projects, and get away from the grind of a nightly show. I look forward to what he does next.

[glinda]

35. Me too. I will follow him no matter what the project. He is too

brilliant to not land interesting jobs and interests and now he has the money and connections to do so.

[tblue37]

27. It is Letterman, not Leno, that CBS has to replace. Letterman is pretty liberal. nt

[progressoid]

24. Aw damn.

[cvoogt]

28. Sad to see him go

But now he can spend time in West Hollywood with the robot and horse. I also think there should be a movie made about the adventures of his rabbit Sid.

[Hekate]

29. Aw, I'm sorry! Don't get to watch him much, but I really like the guy.

Hey Craig! Best of luck, and hope to see you on the tube again!

[davidpdx]

30. I like Ferguson, but he wasn't the guy to replace Letterman

It is probably a good time for him to leave as CBS will try to find someone who is going to want to be around awhile, maybe someone younger.

My guess is Letterman stays through sweeps week (there are four, but my bet would be on May) in 2015 and then exits.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2004/02/how_does_sweeps_week_work.html

[Bluenorthwest]

32. God I'm going to miss his show. The only person in late night I'm actually comfortable

with. An actual liberal person, not just politically but an open minded person with affection for humanity, as opposed to the various snark bots in chairs, now we get more Colbert and I'll probably watch one or two but Stephen without his character to hide behind is a very religious guy who is very comfortable with extreme bigotry and hangs out with hate mongers and anti gay clerics. I do not want the guy unadorned in my living room.

[sybylla]

33. I have loved watching Craig Ferguson for a long time.

I used to DVR his show. But then my life changed and I ran out of time to watch all the shows I recorded. His was one of the ones I stopped watching.

Fast forward to last week when I recorded Eddie Izzard's appearance on the show. I was very disappointed. I've always enjoyed his stand-up. It seems pretty obvious tgat he isn't putting much effort or thought into the show any more. The Letterman thing could explain that.

I wish him all the best and think a fresh endeavor will be the best thing for him.

[Amaril]

37. That surprises me

I didn't see the show last week with Eddie, but his past appearances literally had me rolling on the floor. I love Eddie. I love Craig. The two of them together was almost more than I could take without injuring myself from laughing too hard.

[sybylla]

41. Surprised me too.

Everyone is entitled to a bad night. Maybe that was Ferguson's.

[penultimate]

38. I have always liked his interviews with guests

I know some say they are awkward, but I think that's what makes them so great.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

44. Same here,

he has a quirky and spontaneous style. If his guest is on the same wavelength, the result is very entertaining.

[madville]

43. Has a game show in the works

Probably working with Drew Carey in the production in some way, kind of like Wayne Brady and Lets Make a Deal in daytime TV as well.