Clubs

Asked if he has any pre-show rituals, “Late Late Show” host Craig Ferguson says, “My plan is to just try and not make a complete ass of myself on any given day. I’m not saying that always works; I’m just saying that I try.”

Celebrity Theatre

With strike on, Craig Ferguson heads to Valley

By Kelly Wilson, Get Out

November 15, 2007

Comments

E-Mail

Save

License

Related Links

Local Entertainment News
Clubs

While his show is in the midst of reruns due to the Writers Guild of America strike, Craig Ferguson — the magnetic host of CBS’ “The Late Late Show” — is getting in some stand-up on the side.

“I love doing it,” Ferguson, who typically performs twice a month, says in his Scottish brogue. “It’s kind of my thing. It’s how I started in show business. ... There’s no sensors. There’s no sponsors. There’s no FCC. You can just do whatever the hell you want. I love that.”

When asked how his stand-up differs from the monologues he delivers nightly, Ferguson says he’s more loose.

“I’m the same guy,” says the former punk-rock musician. “It’s just like you unbuckle your pants a bit, I guess.”

Ferguson says he admires peers such as Dave Letterman and Regis Philbin. “Dave and Regis are the best guys doing it right now,” he says of the talk show hosts. “They’re naturals. They’re very different in many ways, but they’re both very natural broadcasters. Dave carries the mantle from Johnny Carson, and Regis is the only guy I know that can talk about anything for any length of time. He can do anything.”

So who are the late-night talk-show host’s favorite guests?

“Michael Caine,” he says without skipping a beat. “He’s so funny and he doesn’t care and he says anything he wants. And I kind of love that.”

Ferguson says he also enjoys chatting with British actor/comedian Billy Connolly and actor Samuel L. Jackson. And as for the more difficult guests, Ferguson won’t dish.

“That would be like giving away personal medical records,” he says, laughing.

And dream guest?

“I can’t think of any,” he says. “I don’t have a wish list in that regard. I’m just happy that people turn up when they turn up.”

Craig Ferguson

When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17
Where: Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix
Cost: $35
Information: (602) 267-1600 or celebritytheatre.com

Contact Kelly Wilson by email, or phone (480) 898-5691

Rate this article

Currently 5.00/5
1
2
3
4
5

Rating: 5.0/5.0 (2 votes cast)

Reader comments (0)

This site does not necessarily agree with comments posted below. Responsibility lies solely with the comment author.

Add your comment