Craig Ferguson to leave TLLS December 19, 2014
During the April 28. 2014 episode of "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," Craig announced to his audience that he would be leaving TLLS at the end of the year. (Later confirmed to be December 19, 2014.)
Contrary to popular speculation, as Craig makes quite clear in his announcement, this decision had absolutely NOTHING to do with Letterman leaving or with Colbert getting the Letterman job. This was CRAIG's decision, and one that he'd been planning for the past two years. It has since been announced that James Corden will be the new host of The Late Late Show once Craig leaves. (Corden begins March 23, 2015. Craig Encores will air until January 2, 2015, with Guest Hosts filling the time between Jan 5 - March 6 2015.)
Below you will find:
- Craig's announcement from the opening of TLLS
- Craig's tweet, thanking peeps for the good wishes, and linking to "the truth" in the Variety article
- A transcript of above-mentioned video announcement
- The official press release from CBS
- Cynthia Littleton from Variety's exclusive interview with Craig ("I Wanted To Leave The Show Before I Stopped Enjoying It")
- An article from Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times ("Believe what Craig Ferguson Says About Leaving")
- Press Release from CBS announcing James Corden as new host of TLLS
- All of the prior speculation about Craig's "fate" post-Letterman's retirement announcement
- All of the prior articles and interviews with Craig where he expressed no interest in the Letterman slot
Craig Announces He's Leaving TLLS in December 2014
Transcript from April 28 2014 Cold Open
Craig Ferguson, The Late Late Show "Cold Open" segment, April 28, 2014
Good evening, everyone. Before we begin the show tonight, I'd like to make a special announcement:
There's been some speculation in the press recently about the state of late night television, and who does what and where they're going to be doing it. *suggestive grin* I can't help myself.
So... I want to address my position in all of that, because it's time. About two years ago, I had decided, after eight years of doing the show, that it was probably time for me to move on and do something else. And CBS came to me at that time and said, "Well, you could hang around and we'll give you a fancy new studio, and a podium for your gay robot skeleton, and a stable for your horse, and an invisible band behind a curtain. We'll give you all the trappings of late night television," and I said "okay," and so I've stayed for another two years. But, that two years is up. And at the end of this year, I will be stepping down as the host of this show -- *audience sad-noises* ...Thanks, everybody! That was quite convincing! I'll be stepping down at the end of this year in December. And then I'll go and do something else. Probably, I'm thinking, carpentry. But I haven't made my mind up yet. I don't know what I'm gonna do. But I feel like doing this show for ten years - that's enough. So, I'm letting you know: That's the way it is, and that's it.
Now, let me just add something on a personal note. Because I have noticed - both with the CBS market research, and my own experience going around the country, that this show has the *laugh* most fanatical and really passionate audience of any show in late night television. So, I would ask you to understand, that what's happening here is: This is MY decision to go. This is not "Jay and Conan" at NBC, this is not "Dave and Jay" all these years ago, it's not THAT. Now, you will read that in areas of the internet where truth is of absolutely no interest. And you will read that in the "informed" entertainment press, where the truth is of absolutely no interest, but in bigger words. So, what I have to tell you is this: It is MY decision to leave. CBS have been fine with me. You know, in fact, more than that, they've been great with me. I have a good relationship with them. I'm still in business with them on other stuff, so, please don't picket them or you know, go up to CBS with flaming torches or -- unless you're angry at me, and then, you know, get in line! But... so there's none of that. This is about time. It'll be ten years. Ten years! Me doing... I can't ask for a picture of Paul McCartney any more.... *cheeky grin* Do we have one?
So there you are. That's it. I look forward to everyone going "Oh, well. He's gone. Who do you think it's gonna be? Here's the ten people that we think it should be. Here's the eight people that it shouldn't be, but it should be if there was justice in the world." Whatever everyone's gonna do, I hope you enjoy doing it. I, on the other hand, after the commercial break that's coming up, still have about another 150 or so, is it Michael, of these? About another 150 or so of what I like to think is the strangest show on late night television. We'll be right back, everybody. We'll be right back. *cue theme*
Variety
APRIL 28, 2014 | 06:47PM PT
Craig Ferguson is relieved — he’s been wanting to let people know of his plan to move on from “The Late Late Show” for months.
The CBS latenight host also is resigned to the fact that few people will believe his assertion that he began thinking about ending his run on the show as long as two years ago, but he re-upped after CBS persuaded him to stick around a little longer. Early this year, he began laying the groundwork for his exit, before he had any idea that Letterman was preparing to announce his plan to retire in 2015.
“It wasn’t contentious. I was just like, ‘I feel like I’m done,’ ” Ferguson told Variety. “We were all fine and were tying up loose ends. And then Dave surprised everybody with the (April 3) announcement and that threw a spanner in the works. And I had to sit and keep my mouth shut while speculation raged wildly.”
Ferguson initially planned to sign off this summer, but CBS asked him to stay until December to give them more time to set a replacement. Ferguson agreed because it gives his staff and crew more time to find new gigs.
“It’s an inevitable thing when David announced his retirement, people are going to say ‘Oh he’s leaving because of that.’ 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.”
The simple fact is, Ferguson wanted to move on before the work became a chore. He’s proud of the show and how oddball it is — with a robot skeleton and stuffed horse for sidekicks. But he has “ideas” for new things and is engaged with the various projects that his Green Mountain West production banner is developing for Science Channel and Discovery. And he’s got a new gig starting in the fall as host and producer of the syndie gameshow “Celebrity Name Game.”
“Ten years is a very long time in one job — for me,” he said. “I wanted to leave the show before I stopped enjoying it. That was my goal. I didn’t want it to be a chore….The whole idea is that show business should have some adventure to it, I think. It’s not about knowing what you’re doing day in and day out, year after year.”
Another latenight talk show is highly unlikely, despite the vacancy that’s about to open up at Comedy Central when “The Colbert Report” wraps. “I don’t know if I would ever do a latenight talkshow (again). It just doesn’t feel like that’s the way I’m headed,” he said.
Ferguson reiterated, as he has in interviews over the years, that taking over the 11:35 p.m. slot from Dave was never his ambition. But again, he accepts that people will view this as a he-doth-protest-too-much situation.
“I had no desire — none — to do that job,” Ferguson said. “I could barely keep it together at 12:30, never mind 11:30. Nobody wants to hear it. It’s so bizarre. People want it to be Jay and Dave or Jay and Conan or some kind of big story. That’s not me, that’s not what I want. I think what happens is that certain people want you to want it, and they want you to not get it. If that makes ‘em happy, well…It really wasn’t what I aspired to. Doing this job wasn’t something I aspired to, either. I kind of fell into this.”
But what about the reports that Ferguson’s last contract included a clause that calls for him to see an eight-figure payout if he was not chosen as Letterman’s successor? Ferguson paused, and then cited words of advice from a seasoned Scottish comedian, Johnny Beattie, who befriended him years ago.
“He told me, ‘There’s two things we never discuss: Wages and ages.’ So I think I’m gonna stick to that.”
CBS Announces James Corden will be the new host of The Late Late Show
On September 8, 2014, CBS announced that James Corden would be the new host of TLLS, after Craig leaves.
CBS Press Release naming James Corden new host:
CBS Press Release
CBS ANNOUNCES JAMES CORDEN AS HOST OF “THE LATE LATE SHOW”
Multi-Talented and Respected Star of Broadway, UK Television, Film and Comedy to Take the Reins of CBS’s Late Night Talk Show in 2015
The CBS Television Network announced today that James Corden will be the new host of THE LATE LATE SHOW. Corden – a multi-faceted performer, host, writer and producer with accomplishments that span television, theater, film and comedy – will take the reins of the daily late night show in 2015.
The 36-year-old Corden comes to American late night television with a growing list of award-winning and critically acclaimed credits. He is a Tony Award-winning performer on Broadway, a BAFTA-winning star of a UK television series, a feature film actor with two releases this year, and an acclaimed host, writer and producer in several genres of television.
Currently, Corden is starring opposite Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo in “Begin Again,” which is in theaters now, and will star opposite Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp and Emily Blunt in the highly anticipated feature film “Into the Woods,” which hits theaters in December. Additionally, Corden hosts the BAFTA Award-winning UK sports-themed comedy game show “A League of Their Own” on Sky 1 and stars in, produces and writes the BAFTA nominated comedy thriller “The Wrong Mans,” which is available on Hulu and airs on the BBC.
“James Corden is a rare entertainment force who combines irresistible charm, warmth and originality with a diverse range of creative instincts and performance talent,” said Nina Tassler, Chairman, CBS Entertainment. “He is the ultimate multi-hyphenate – a writer, creator and performer who is loved and respected in every medium he touches, including theater, comedy, music, film and television. James is already a big star in the UK and he’s wowed American audiences on Broadway; we’re very excited to introduce his considerable and very unique talents to our network television audience on a daily basis.”
“I can’t describe how thrilled and honoured I am to be taking over from the brilliant Craig Ferguson,” said Corden. “To be asked to host such a prestigious show on America’s #1 network is hugely exciting. I can’t wait to get started, and will do my very best to make a show America will enjoy.”
Outside of his native England, James Corden attracted international attention as the lead in the hit comedic play “One Man, Two Guvnors,” performing first in the National Theatre and the West End in London and then on Broadway, which earned him the 2012 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play. His additional theater credits include the worldwide tour of “The History Boys” in the role of Timms, which he also played in the feature film adaptation.
On television, Corden starred as Smithy in the critically acclaimed BBC comedy series “Gavin and Stacey,” which he co-created and co-wrote. For his role, he earned the BAFTA Television Award for Best Male Comedy Performance in 2008 and the British Comedy Award for Best Male Comedy Performer in 2007. The series received the British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy in 2008 as well as the National Television Award for Most Popular Comedy Programme in 2010. Prior to that, Corden starred in the British television series “Fat Friends” from 2000 to 2005, which earned him a nomination for the 2000 Royal Television Society Award for Network Newcomer On Screen. He also had a recurring role in the popular BBC science fiction series “Doctor Who” as Craig Owens, the Doctor’s roommate. In addition, Corden hosted the Brit Awards, the biggest event in the British music industry, from 2010 to 2014.
Over the course of his career, Corden has been awarded the Royal Television Society Award for Comedy Writer of the Year for his work on “The Wrong Mans,” the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Award for Comedy Writer of the Year, the South Bank Show Award for Comedy, the Tric Award for Best Comedy and the National Television Award in 2010 for Best Comedy.
Corden’s additional film credits include “How to Lose Friends and Alienate People,” with Jeff Bridges; “Gulliver’s Travels,” with Jack Black; and “The Three Musketeers,” with Orlando Bloom.
THE LATE LATE SHOW with JAMES CORDEN will be produced by CBS. The creative elements, as well as the producers and the location for the Corden-hosted LATE LATE SHOW, will be determined and announced at a later date.
Corden succeeds Craig Ferguson, the critically acclaimed host of the CBS late night series for the past 10 years. Ferguson announced his intention to leave the show during his April 28 broadcast, and will sign off in December 2014.
THE LATE LATE SHOW is broadcast weeknights on the CBS Television Network from 12:37 AM-1:37 AM, ET/PT.
CBS Press Release
CRAIG FERGUSON ANNOUNCES PLANS TO STEP DOWN AS HOST OF “THE LATE LATE SHOW”
Critically Acclaimed Host of the Peabody Award-Winning Late Night Show to Sign Off in December
Craig Ferguson announced today that he has decided to step down as host of THE LATE LATE SHOW in December 2014.
Ferguson broke the news this afternoon to his studio audience during the taping of the show, which will be broadcast at 12:37-1:37 AM, ET/PT.
“During his 10 years as host, Craig has elevated CBS to new creative and competitive heights at 12:30,” said Nina Tassler, Chairman, CBS Entertainment. “He infused the broadcast with tremendous energy, unique comedy, insightful interviews and some of the most heartfelt monologues seen on television.”
Added Tassler, “Craig’s versatile talents as a writer, producer, actor and comedian speak to his great days ahead. While we’ll miss Craig and can't thank him enough for his contributions to both the show and the Network, we respect his decision to move on, and we look forward to celebrating his final broadcasts during the next eight months.”
Said Ferguson, “CBS and I are not getting divorced, we are ‘consciously uncoupling,’ but we will still spend holidays together and share custody of the fake horse and robot skeleton, both of whom we love very much.”
Ferguson has several projects in the works, including hosting “Celebrity Name Game,” a syndicated game show beginning fall 2014, as well as developing television projects via his Green Mountain West production company.
Since its debut in 2005, THE LATE LATE SHOW with CRAIG FERGUSON has won critical acclaim for its unpredictable style and its host’s versatility and charm. The Scottish-born actor, writer, director and producer brought a unique approach to late night television, earning the show a Peabody Award in 2009, and an Emmy Award nomination for himself in 2006. The program’s signatures include an extended, unscripted monologue and guest interviews noted for their free-wheeling nature.
Ferguson has also received critical praise for his more serious commentaries, notably on the passing of his father, the Boston Marathon bombing, obtaining his U.S. citizenship and dealing with his own addictions after Britney Spears’ infamous meltdown in 2007.
He has taken THE LATE LATE SHOW out of the studio with remotes from the streets of Paris and Scotland, as well as broadcasts from Miami and New Orleans in conjunction with CBS's coverage of the 2009 and 2013 Super Bowls. He also hosted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in 2008 after becoming a U.S. citizen.
THE LATE LATE SHOW with CRAIG FERGUSON is broadcast weeknights (12:37-1:37 AM, ET/PT). Peter Lassally is the executive producer; Michael Naidus is the producer.
Los Angeles Times
Believe what Craig Ferguson says about leaving
'The Late Late Show' host Craig Ferguson has stayed as honest as his punk rock roots and should be taken at his word about his exit from the CBS late-night show.
by Robert Lloyd
Los Angeles Times Television Critic
5:00 AM PDT, April 30, 2014
The moving finger writes, the little ball goes round and round, the carousel goes up and down, les jeux sont faits, and another transition in the ordinarily static world of late-night talk show television is announced.
No one has to ask for whom that bell tolls. Show business news travels fast, and everyone who remotely would care knows by now that Craig Ferguson will leave "The Late Late Show" in December, upon the expiration of his contract and after a neatly round 10 years.
I would point out that, in any other sort of television, excepting news programs, soap operas and game shows, 10 years would be considered a very long time. Still, this exit will seem to some precipitous and premature.
Ferguson's fate, to put too dreadful a word upon it, became a subject of speculation from the moment, earlier this month, that David Letterman announced his own retirement from "Late Show." It only intensified when Stephen Colbert was named as Letterman's replacement shortly thereafter.
"You know what they're going to say," Ferguson said Monday night (or early Tuesday morning, to be precise about it), addressing himself to Geoff Peterson, his robot skeleton sidekick, "they're going to say this, it's because you didn't get Dave's job … I said in the newspapers that I didn't want Dave's job and everybody's like, 'Mmm-hmmm.... You do want it.'"
Indeed, the host told Variety this week that he had effectively made this decision two years ago, before the question of who would take Letterman's place became an imminent concern — a job Ferguson will receive several million dollars for not being offered, which is a very poor definition of failure. But some will detect a push behind the jump, whatever Ferguson insists to the contrary.
"This is not Jay-Conan of NBC," he told his audience. "This is not Dave and Jay all these years ago. It's not that. Now, you will read that in areas of the Internet where truth is of absolutely no interest, and you will read that in the informed entertainment press where the truth is of absolutely no interest but in bigger words."
We live in a time of tabloid mores, in which every story is believed — hoped! — to be animated by some horrible, or more horrible, "real story" within, that will come out in time. We are old village gossips sniffing the air for blood, happy to take an opportunity as a judgment. Certainly that is the heart of much comedy, very much including what talk show hosts say in their nightly monologues.
But we should take him at his word. Ferguson is happy to play the fool, but he is an honest fool: "The deal I made with you when I started this show is that I will be as honest as I can be," he said last year on the night of the Boston Marathon bombings. (He rises to tragic occasions, whether national or personal, like no other person on television.) "This is on my mind, I can't pretend it's not there; I'm not one of those people; I'm not a valuable quality entertainer."
I, for one, never figured him as likely for the 11:30 spot. It had once been considered, obviously, as the payout indicates, and we have come to believe that there is a natural succession within networks from the 12:30 a.m. to the 11:30 p.m., chair, as in Jimmy Fallon's recent investiture as host of "The Tonight Show." Still, Conan O'Brien is the only other example, and we know how that worked out.
But Ferguson is an old punk rock drummer. One of the promises of punk is that it will not lie to you, or substitute empty technique for feeling. It will pack up and go home rather than go through the motions.
What he does on television is not meant to be everyone's, or even most people's, cup of tea, and because it trusts in the moment, it is by nature sometimes bound to fail, or offend, or confound. That's what makes it beautiful, and marginal — a late, late show.
As to what he will do next (carpentry and "a killing spree" were both mentioned Monday), well, what of it? There are certainly more things he's capable of, in or out of entertainment, than captaining a talk show.
His view of show business and its attendant glamour is too skeptical and sanguine to imagine he'd clean up after the elephants just to stay in. Even as we subscribe to the view that fame is a wormy apple, we find it tempting. My impression is that Ferguson, who has spoken movingly (and hilariously) of his struggles with drink, and life, and death, measures success by a different yardstick.
When I interviewed him for The Times, back in 2010, he had this to say.
"I don't think I'll get away with this forever," he concluded. "I try and live my life in bite-size chunks. It was a lesson I had to learn when I got sober, but then it became a way of life, a philosophy — live your life a day at a time. Especially because the temptation, especially when you're doing OK, is to think, 'In a couple of years I'm gonna get this, and then I'll have this.' And then what?"
robert.lloyd@latimes.com
Variety coverage of new host James Corden:
Variety
By Brian Steinberg
Senior TV Editor
@bristei
CBS will replace the quirky Craig Ferguson in its post-midnight “Late Late Show” with British actorJames Corden, in what looks to be the last – at least for now – of a major series of talent shifts in wee-hours programming set off in large part by David Letterman’s decision to leave his CBS roost some time next year.
In doing so, CBS is likely hoping the new host’s experience in British TV and Broadway will help expand the appeal of “The Late Late Show” despite competition. On NBC, “Late Night with Seth Meyers” gets a heady lead-in from the new “Tonight,” helmed by Jimmy Fallon, and also enjoys a wide level of recognition from the host’s years on “Saturday Night Live.” Both have helped his program win move viewers overall and more in the advertiser-coveted 18-to-49 demographic than “Late Late Show.” On ABC, “Nightline” has also often outmaneuvered its CBS counterpart in its first half hour.
“James Corden is a rare entertainment force who combines irresistible charm, warmth and originality with a diverse range of creative instincts and performance talent,” said Nina Tassler, Chairman, CBS Entertainment, in a prepared statement. “He is the ultimate multi-hyphenate – a writer, creator and performer who is loved and respected in every medium he touches, including theater, comedy, music, film and television. James is already a big star in the UK and he’s wowed American audiences on Broadway; we’re very excited to introduce his considerable and very unique talents to our network television audience on a daily basis.”
Corden will take over the program in 2015, CBS said, without offering a firm starting date. Information on the creative elements of the program, production staff and location will be determined and announced at a later time.
Corden was the co-creator of U.K. sitcom “Gavin & Stacey,” about a long-distance romantic relationship, which ran for three cycles over 20 episodes. He won a BAFTA Television Award for Best Comedy Performance for his effort as one of the show’s co-stars. Corden, whose middle name is Kimberley, was also one of the forces behind the ill-fated sketch show “Horne and Corden,” which aired for a little while in 2009.He is also one of the creators behind “The Wrong Mans,” a comedic series about two regular guys who get caught up in a web of intrigue and conspiracy, that has been available on both the BBC and Hulu.
Yet it is the theater, perhaps, that has made him better known to global audiences. In 2011 and 2012, he starred in the play “One Man, Two Guvnors” and went from the National Theatre to the West End to Broadway, winning the 2012 Tony for “Best Actor in a Play.”
He has become active on the movie screen. Corden is starring opposite Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo in “Begin Again,” which is in theaters now, and will star opposite Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp and Emily Blunt in the highly anticipated feature film “Into the Woods,” which hits theaters in December.
“I can’t describe how thrilled and honoured I am to be taking over from the brilliant Craig Ferguson,” said Corden, in a statement. “To be asked to host such a prestigious show on America’s #1 network is hugely exciting. I can’t wait to get started, and will do my very best to make a show America will enjoy.”
The 36-year-old’s move into the CBS program looks to cap off a series of late-night checker jumps made in the wake of David Letterman’s announcement in April that he would step down from CBS’ “Late Show” in 2015, ending a late-night career that has lasted 33 years across two shows at two different networks.
To fill Letterman’s shows, CBS tapped Stephen Colbert, leaving his 11:30 p.m. “Colbert Report” slot open on Comedy Central. The Viacom cabler has named Larry Wilmore, a comedian and showrunner long associated with “The Daily Show” to replace Colbert with a new program, “The Minority Report.” Craig Ferguson announced in April that he would step down from “The Late Late Show” in December when his contract expires after nearly a decade as David Letterman’s companion in the 12:35 a.m. slot. In an unrelated move, +Chelsea Handler recently wrapped her “Chelsea Lately” show on NBCUniversal’s E! after holding forth there for seven years.
CBS is sticking with a strategy that has worked well in late-night TV’s “second shift,” or the hour that comes after the better-watched programs that run just after 11:30 p.m. Conan O’Brien was largely unknown to the general public when he took over NBC’s “Late Night” from Letterman in 1993, but grew quickly into the role.
Corden will be the fourth person to sit in the “Late Late Show” chair. The show was originally hosted by Tom Snyder when Letterman’s Worlwide Pants production company launched the program in 1998. Craig Kilborn replaced him in 1999, and Ferguson took the seat in 2005. Ownership of the program is transferring to CBS with Corden’s debut.
Letterman Announces he will retire from Late Show; Stephen Colbert named as new host of Late Show
Post-Letterman announcement / Pre-Craig announcement discussion, for completeness' sake:
As has been well-publicized, CBS announced on 10-April-2014 that Stephen Colbert will be taking over The Late Show once Letterman retires in 2015, finally putting that particular line of speculation to rest. Congratulations, Stephen! Hopefully Craig will remain for a while in The Late Late Show position, so we can all enjoy back-to-back weirdness. Craig also quickly congratulated Stephen on his new gig:
That said, no sooner were the “Who Will Succeed Letterman” rumors and speculation soundly put to rest, than the media gossip machine ratcheted right back up with more gossip and speculation about Craig’s future on TLLS. These rumors range from “Craig will surely want to leave, now that he didn’t get the Letterman job” to “Craig is definitely OUT, because CBS had talks with John Oliver and Chelsea Handler and CBS believes Craig's focus is too narrow (huh??), et cetera.” All of these rumors were credited to unnamed "executives at CBS" or "sources close to Ferguson" or some equally unreliable and unverified or out-of-context source. Publicly, CBS has expressed satisfaction with Craig and his role on TLLS. (And Handler has since said she's not interested in the job.) Granted, some of these rumors may be true! But before everything gets completely out of hand, and people start marching with pitchforks and torches at CBS's door, let’s look at a few facts, shall we?
1. Craig has said – often – that he had had no aspirations or desires to occupy the 11:30 Letterman slot. (See the entire Speculation details below!) Thinking that Craig MUST be upset that he didn’t get the job is most likely an incorrect assumption. Why?
- Craig did not grow up in America and, therefore, does not have the same kind of “relationship” with late night television that someone who grew up watching Johnny or Letterman might have.
- He believes “There’s a world of pain that comes with 11:30 that doesn’t exist at 12:30.”
- Craig does not consider himself a “late night talk show host.” He does a show, that’s on late at night. That’s it.
- Craig is aware of the changing face of television, and has noted that it doesn’t really matter when his show airs. People watch what they want to watch, when they want to watch it. They DVR and watch the next day, or they watch clips on youtube.
- Craig's opinion of late night television? “This is not my world – this is my job.”
- Craig has said – often – that he does not see himself doing TLLS as a “lifer.” He fell into the job, he’s having fun doing it, but at some point it will end. As it should. Either he’ll get tired of it, or the people who are in charge will get tired of it. Either way, it will end.
2. According to Bill Carter (a reporter for the NY Times covering the television industry; author of four books, including The Late Shift, Desperate Networks, and The War for Late Night; and widely regarded as the foremost source of information in the world of Late Night TV), Craig had a “Prince of Wales” clause in his contract that guaranteed him the Letterman spot. Should he not take it, or should CBS not want him to have it, then he gets paid quite handsomely. Sure, it’s possible that CBS didn’t offer the job to him. It’s also just as likely (more so, give the evidence above/below) that CBS have known for some time that Craig would turn down the job. In either case, from a business standpoint, CBS would have been foolish to waste time counting on Craig to take over, when they could be out recruiting other talent who actually WANT the job, and/or would be willing to sign on for a long-term commitment.
3. Letterman’s retirement had been anticipated for several years. Meanwhile, Craig has been dropping hints for months that he is in negotiations with CBS. It’s of no surprise to me that CBS might have hedged their bets and decided to have some talks of their own with other people whom they think would be suitable for the job, (a) should negotiations with Craig fall through, (b) should Craig also decide to retire along with Letterman, or (c) should CBS decide to completely reboot their late night lineup. CBS certainly wouldn't want to be caught unprepared, should they find out they suddenly have two seats to fill. (After all, it’s still show BUSINESS.)
4. Craig has been actively expanding his creative horizons, whether it's working on a new novel, his "Last Man Out" movie, taking guest-starring acting gigs here and there, doing voice-over work in several animated movies, recording the audiobook for his first novel, developing and Exec Producing several shows for Discovery and Science Channels, and getting ready to host his new game show, Celebrity Name Game, as well as keeping a regular schedule of stand-up appearances throughout North America.
Bottom line? Craig is a smart man. He’s also extremely talented and creative. And, like most artists of his type, he gets bored easily. He may feel that it's time to move on from the late night gig. and the occasion of Letterman's retirement could give him the perfect opportunity. Personally and selfishly, I'd like for him to stay a while longer. And I hope that when he does leave, it will be on his own terms. However, whatever happens, I'm confident that Craig will be just fine.
Prior Letterman Speculation, for completeness' sake:
With Letterman's 4/3/2014 announcement of his retirement (sometime in 2015), speculation has begun again about whether or not Craig will take over the 11:30 time-slot. A better question that people should be asking is:
"Does Craig have any *desire* to take over for Letterman?"
As can be seen below, from everything that Craig has said thus far, he does not appear to have any aspirations for the Letterman show/timeslot. He's perfectly happy doing the show that he does. What time that show airs is up to CBS, but whenever it's on, he's still just going to be doing the show that he wants to do. It's reasonable to assume he'd like to be ASKED, once that time comes (and rumor is his contract includes a "Prince of Wales" first-right-of-refusal clause), but whether or not he would accept such a position is not a certainty. If given the choice, he'll do what he thinks is right for HIM (and, more importantly, for his family) at the time, which is no light decision to make. To quote Craig, "There's a world of pain that comes with 11:30 that doesn't exist at 12:30."
Late night television is not the same world as it was when Johnny ruled the airwaves. Audiences are fragmented like never before, with all three broadcast networks airing late night talk shows, and with the addition of Cable and DVR and the digital "New Media." People can now watch what they want to watch when they want to watch it. Therefore, the "esteem" of having that previously-coveted time slot no longer exists as it once did. Craig would also have to consider the more intensive demands of ratings and demographics and sponsorship, and a higher public profile (ie: lower PRIVATE profile), that are inherent in the 11:30 timeslot. This is show BUSINESS, after all. (At least to the people paying the bills, anyway).
But we must remember: Craig zigs when we zag, so expect the unexpected.
The many times Craig Ferguson Has Said He's Not Interested In Late Show
Craig has spoken on the subject of Late Show many times since he took over Late Late Show in 2005. Below are as many of those instances as I could find, starting with the most recent (as of Feb 11, 2016).
Feb 11, 2016 - Interview with The LA Times
While doing promo for "Join or Die," Craig spoke with Robert Lloyd of The LA Times.
From LA Times
Still, there were those who pegged Ferguson's retirement to his not being offered, in what has come to seem the rules of succession, David Letterman's job on the earlier "The Late Show," when Letterman retired. He rejects that notion.
"That's one of the odd things about that particular genre of television," he said. "The minute I started at 12:30 the question became when and do you want and how are you going to get 11:30? But I never wanted 12:30, never mind 11:30. Why is that a thing?"
Sept 30, 2015 - Interview with The Hamilton Spectator
Craig did a phoner with Graham Rockingham of The Hamilton Spectator, prior to his gigs in that area, and once again the subject of Late Show came up. And once again, Craig reminds you to look at every interview he's given since 2005 where he emphatically states NO, he didn't/doesn't/never has wanted that job. Graham thoughtfully included the audio clip of his interview as part of the article, which includes the discussion about Late Show.
Transcript of The Spec's audio clip
Graham: How is life after Late Late Show treating you?
Craig: You know, if I'd have known it would be like this, I might have left a couple of years earlier. It's better. It's good. I don't want to give you the impression that I didn't love doing that show. I did love doing it, but... you know, I was done. I was done for quite a long time before I stopped. Once I knew I was going - which was about 2 years / 18 months before I left, I started to kind of enjoy it again because I felt it was on the home stretch. But there was a time in the middle there where I thought "Oh, my goodness... another one? Another one??" So, it's nice to be out. I'm glad I did it. I'm happy I did it. I'm proud I did it. And I'm glad it's over.
Graham: Was it becoming just too much routine?
Craig: I think for ME it was. I think, for some people, they can do that and keep it fresh for themselves. I felt like I'd moved into all the areas of the house I could think of and I couldn't think of anything else to do with it. I was done with it. And all I would be doing is repeating the same thing over and over and over again, variations of the same thing, and... I just didn't want it.
Graham: Did you ever have hopes or dreams of taking the Late Show spot?
Craig: You know, it's funny that you should ask, because everybody else asks that as well, and I refer you to every interview I've ever given on that subject since I took over The Late Late Show in 2005, which was NO. I never ever EVER wanted to do that. And I've always been very public about it. And so it was a source of some mystery to me, that when I heard I'd, you know, that 'sadly I didn't get what I wanted,' and I'm like, "Well, I've *always*... what's WRONG with you people??" I think what happens is, that people are sometimes, I think - maybe in the press, or just maybe in life - it's difficult to understand someone who doesn't think the way you want them to think. But, that's all right. I guess it is what it is.
Sept 25, 2015 - Interview with The Roundtable on WAMC
Craig did a phoner with Joe Donahue of The Roundtable on WAMC, prior to a standup gig, in which he states once again that he had no desire for the Letterman spot, has been saying that since he started TLLS, and reiterates that "late night" isn't his "world."
Joe: Did you have any thought... that when David Letterman retired, that that would be something you would want to take over?
Craig: No. It's interesting - that's been the constant refrain - from the moment I started doing a late night show at 1230 - that was the constant refrain in the press, using words like "succession" and "moving up" and all that stuff. And, look - I'm quite happy to defend myself - you can look back at ANY quote I've given FROM DAY ONE on doing the late night show, I've said: I don't want it, I'm not interested in it, I don't want it. And then when I didn't do it, they were like, "Oh he didn't get it, and he was passed over for it." I'm like: "You didn't LOOK at it. You haven't listend to a word that I've said!" I don't think like that. It's not how my mind works. And it really makes people mad, or they just flat out don't believe me, but I don't care. That's the way it is. I didn't think of it like that, and I DON'T think of it like that.
Joe: Maybe it wouldn't have even been an issue had David Letterman not been passed over for The Tonight Show.
Craig: I think that's probably what it was - it goes back to all that Dave and Jay stuff. And it became that kind of legend in show business, but I... don't care about that... you know... that's not... that's not my world. I don't want to be that. It's somebody else's problem now.
Sept 10, 2015 - Interview with The Daily Beast
Craig talks with Kevin Fallon of The Daily Beast ahead of the launch of his most recent stand-up special, Just Being Honest.
Excerpt from Daily Beast article:
Contrary to reports, Ferguson’s exit from The Late Late Show had nothing to do with David Letterman announcing his retirement and Ferguson not being asked to be his successor.
“It used to enrage me when I was doing the show that people would assume I was trying to get the 11:30 p.m. show that came on before it,” he says. “Why the fuck would I want do that? To this day people believe that I left because I didn’t get the show. It’s horseshit.”
When I point out that the reason so many people harp on that is because of a clause rumored to be in his contract that stipulated he would get a $5 million payout if he was passed over for Letterman’s gig, he politely cuts me off. “Yeah… that was never reported accurately.” Does he want to clear it up? “No, no, no. I don’t want to get into all that shit.”
“It’s a little frightening in the way that change can sometimes be, but there’s relief,” he says of life now. “You see one of the major things that I got weary of in late-night was being part of a gang I didn’t want to be a part of. They’re all a great group of guys—nothing against them!—I just didn’t join that band. I felt… pigeonholed is too strong a word. But I felt that I wanted to do something different.”
Thinking back at his lengthy run in late-night, Ferguson can’t help but laugh. When he was considering taking the job in the first place, his friend Eddie Izzard advised him to do it but warned that if he did it for more than two years, people will think that’s all that he does: host. “So I said I’ll do it for two years, but then did it for 10.” ... He’s proud of those 10 years. He’s glad he did it. He’s glad it’s over, and, if he’s being honest, thinks we should all be glad, too.
September 6, 2015 - Interview with Maclean's
Craig spoke with Adrian Lee of Maclean's, and was asked about seeking the Letterman show. Check out the entire article, but here's the snippet regarding Late Show:
Q: What people don’t understand about your decision to quit, to not seek the Letterman show job, is that late-night is this prestigious thing, and the sort of human, natural thing is to seek a promotion, to keep doing the prestigious thing.
A: I think you hit the nail on the head with “the natural thing.” I don’t know how much of a natural human I am. Y’know, the truth is, I never set out to do that, and I don’t think of myself like that. I don’t think like that. It’s not really about promotion—I don’t really understand the idea of promotion, talking to a camera for more money. That’s just money. And I like money, don’t get me wrong. I don’t know. I don’t get it. I don’t understand it as much as you don’t understand me, I think.
May 12, 2015 - Interview with WGN Radio
Craig did a phoner with WGN Radio, in which he spoke about his "relationship" with Letterman (it's good), and the idea of him stepping into the Dave slot (where he states AGAIN that he didn't want it, and that he had his TLLS-exit plans already made and in action before Dave announced he was retiring).
Transcript of WGN interview
WGN: What is your relationship like with David Letterman? His company, World Wide Pants, produced your show, The Late Late Show. There was some talk that after Letterman announced his retirement, that you had something in your contract that would have allowed you to step up to that. What's the story on that and your relationship with Letterman?
Craig: My relationship with Letterman is very good. I mean, you know, he was my boss for ten years, and he didn't fire me, and in that regard, it's the best employee-employer relationship I've ever had. To the idea that I was gonna take over for Dave, that was never my plan. It was something which I feel that - late night in particular - people love to invent a kind of dynastic problem or some kind of intrigue there. I think because of what happened with Dave and Jay and Johnny, when the Tonight Show thing happened. But it was nothing like that with me. I had... my exit deal, if you like, was done before Dave's retirement announcement was made. So I knew I was leaving - and so did Dave. That wasn't really anything that was going on.
October 6, 2014 - Short interview with Lynette Rice of People Magazine, where Craig asserts - once again - that he didn't want the Letterman gig.
From People:
BY LYNETTE RICE @lynetterice
09/29/2014 AT 09:30 AM EDT
Hosting a late night talk show was never a career goal for Craig Ferguson.
As the comedian prepares to exitThe Late Late Show in December, Ferguson, 52, tells PEOPLE he held the gig a lot longer than he expected – and never held out hope that he would replace David Letterman.
"I didn't want it," said Ferguson. "I know it is very hard to get people to believe it. It was never my inclination. I never wanted to be a late night host. I did it because it was fun, entertaining and engaging."
September 17, 2014 - Craig continues to explain that he did not want the Letterman job. One such occurrence happened during a segment on Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live" show.
Transcript of the question in question, as it were:
Andy Cohen: On a scale from 1 to 10 - How pissed were you that you didn't get Letterman's show?
Craig Ferguson: One being not pissed, 10 being very pissed?
Andy: Yes
Craig: I would say about.... zero point five.
Andy: Really?
Craig: Yeah, yeah.
Andy: You did not want it?
Craig: No. I've been saying it for years. The only thing that pisses me off is that nobody ever ever believes me.
Andy: Guess what?
Craig: What?
Andy: I believe you.
Craig: Thank you. Yes! It's because you do this kind of job.
Andy: Yes.
June 14, 2013 - Interview with Marsha Lederman of Globe and Mail (Video from 6/11/13) (Article based on the video interview)
VIDEO:
Marsha: I wanted to talk to you about upcoming changes? Do you adjust what you do when you're up against somebody else in the time slot?
Craig: No, absolutely not. It's not a competition. What I want to do is make you laugh. That's what I want to do. What time I make you laugh is your business. I don't care. Do I keep raising the bar on myself for some imaginary thing that somebody says I SHOULD want? That just makes you unhappy. I'm not saying I never fell victim to that, but I think I'm over it.
ARTICLE:
Ferguson says his interest lies in only one thing: doing his job.
“It’s not a competition. I don’t view it that way. I’m not a television executive. I don’t care about that. What I want to do is make you laugh. That’s what I want to do. What time I make you laugh is your business. I don’t care,” Ferguson told The Globe and Mail in an interview, referring to suggestions that have been made for years that he must be eyeing an earlier time slot.
“People have a hard time believing that too. But I've already made more money out of this than I ever thought was possible. What should I care about? Do I keep raising the bar on myself for some imaginary thing that somebody says I should want? That just makes you unhappy. I’m not saying that I never fell victim to that, but I think I’m over it.”
In the late-night battle, Ferguson casts himself as the friendly outsider...
“I don’t emotionally invest myself in anything that’s going on. I keep an eye on it, but for no real reason. I have no ambitions there. I’m perfectly happy with what I have at CBS at the moment.”
He says he just does his thing, and leaves any cutthroat business dealings to the executives.
“I care if enough people are watching me so that I don’t get cancelled. But that being said, the guy who has been getting the most viewers consistently for years has been fired twice in the last couple of years, so that doesn’t seem to make any … sense either. I don’t know. I’m just trying not to get myself into too much trouble, that’s all.”
June 11, 2013 - Interview with Michael Schneider at Banff World Media Festival
Michael: One of the things that you've also said is that you find the whole idea of the late night wars pretty ridiculous.
Craig: Don't you?
Michael: You know, it's what pays my bills... You've managed to stay clear of all that, though.
Craig: Well, I am aware of it. Look, I don't see myself kind of as part of that... I don't see that as being my thing. I do a late night show because it's on late at night. But you know what you ... what other people decide to call it... it's out of my control anyway. So I do what I do in the space that I have. Do I have ambitions for another time slot? Because you can ask me that if you want. I don't care, is the answer.
Michael: Do you have ambitions for another time slot?
Craig: No, I don't. I don't care. I personally think that the business of television is changing so much and so rapidly that time slots will become a ludicrous idea, will become like remembering a telephone number. Who the fuck remembers a telephone number? You program it in, you forget it.
That's, I think, where television is going to go, at some point. It doesn't matter to me, personally. Because I'll do what I do, no matter what time you watch it. Like, you know, like when you watched all that youtube stuff -- which is probably illegal -- you watched it all through the night, which is not when I'm broadcast, so you were watching me a time that was not... you know when I do stand-up shows, anyone in my audience under the age of 40 doesn't watch the show when it goes out. They watch it at another time.
Michael: Are you fine with that? ["That" = people watching videos on youtube.]
Craig: I think for legal reasons I'm probably outraged by it... I don't really care. It's not my job. I'm not a policeman. I'm the dancing clown. I don't decide.... I have my own things I care about. The infrastructure of television is not one of them.
June 11, 2013 - Interview with Erin Cebula of ET Canada
Erin: Are you still loving your Late Late spot?
Craig: Yeah, most of the time. It's a job that I love, so most of the time I love doing it. Every now and again, I'm like "Oh, come on."
[cut chat about baby owls]
Erin: Moving on from owls... You love your job still, you're enjoying that position. If a new position opened up for you...
Craig: Like... what?
Erin: Perhaps... Letterman's comfy seat, at some point in your career, would you want it?
Craig: Nah, I don't care about any of that. I don't care about aaaaaaaany of that.
Erin: So you don't get caught up in all of that fuss and all of that talk. Do you just ignore it? Because all we've heard about in the media over the last couple months is late night host talk.
Craig: Yeah, I don't care.
Erin: No?
Craig: No.
Erin: You just do your thing?
Craig: Yeah, I think so. I think that's kind of what you have to do. None of that's really my business, I don't think. I'm kind of very singular. I do my job, and I play with my owls, and I go on my hikes with my flashlight on my head. And that's what I do. I stay in my own little area of show business.
January 31, 2013 - Interview/Review from Dave Walker of The Times-Picayune on NOLA.com:
“I still don't think I'm a late-night talk show host,” Ferguson said. “I don't think what we do here is really a late-night talk show. I know that it is, but I like to think that I don't exist in that world. And I don't. I don't feel like I do. It's a rare thing when they include me in the discussion of late night. I'm talking about the press. Our audience is significantly large, and, of course, that's what the network likes as well.”
Ferguson cares about his position in the late-night horse race “less now than I ever did, actually,” he said. “It gets less and less important as I get older and my hip hurts more and I want to get youngsters off my lawn more. I give a (bleep) less and less and less. It's funny. I never thought I was one of those guys.
“I came to this game late. I was 42 when I started doing the show. I already had a house. I’d been through a divorce. I also don't feel like this is what I'll do forever. I don't intend to be doing this in my 60s. I don't want to do 30 years of late-night television. I don't care for that. I don't have ambitions in that department.”
“We’re coming off eight hours of football,” Ferguson said. “So it’ll have to be a really good football joke in order to survive. Not that we’ll not do football, but it’ll have to be right. In that sense, I’m cognizant of the day. But I really hope I never become one of those people that worry about, ‘Oh god, what will appeal?’ (or) to get that needy nature of worrying about the audience too much. I know that it would make a lot of executives happy, but I can’t (bleeping) do it. I tried me (bleeping) best.”
October 4, 2012 - Interview with Linda Tuccio-Koonz of the Connecticut Post:
Q: Your show is already very successful, but what are you doing to bring it to the next level?
A: I don't understand the question.
Q: Is there anything you can do, or are doing, to make the show better? Would you like to be on earlier in the evening?
A: Make it funnier? It's funny enough. I do my best every night; that's all I do. Bring it to the next level? I don't think like that. I don't live in a mad world of endless ambition. F... that. I try to be joyful, funny, silly and engaging. There's no levels of that. I don't care about being on earlier. That's an old idea ... people watch on computers.
May 10, 2012 - Interview at The Paley Center, where he was holding a special screening of the first Scotland Week episode. Here is the question/answer, from NBC Los Angeles:
Do you envision a day when you bring what you do to an earlier hour? David Letterman will be around at 11:35 for a few more years at least, but do you see eventually bringing what you do to an earlier audience?
I get asked this quite a lot, and it's a kind of, I think, old fashion and sensational idea, that 'Late Night' has this lineage. I'm not entirely sure that what I do is late night television. I don't care when it's on. I don't care what time they broadcast it. I only care about doing stuff that I'm remotely proud of. Not every night. There are some nights that I go, 'Jesus, really? That's one.' But most nights I leave going, 'Yeah, that wasn't bad.' And the Scottish shows, actually I'm proud of those. That's a good feeling, a powerful feeling. So, I think if I adapted too much to fit…they have a saying in show business: ‘Don't move an actor to work for a light – move the f**king light.’ That's kind of how I feel about it on a set: move the light. That's how I feel about the show. I do what I do, and if they want to put that at a different time then that's all right. But I'll be doing what I do, and then I think everyone will be happy – except them, and that's all right.
February 7, 2012 interview with Marc Maron for Episode 278 of the WTF Podcast. About 25 minutes into the interview, the subject of Letterman comes up:
Marc: Do you feel like you're next in line, or what?
Craig: No. No, I don't wanna get into that. That's... see, I think when I watched what happened to Conan, and all of that stuff, you think "be careful of what you try and get, and what you wish for." You know, I mean it led to such unhappiness for EVERYBODY. You know? I think the desire for -- I mean, they pay me pretty good to do this show, and I get to do what I want, and I think having ambitions for Dave's crown is not really a way to happiness for me.
Marc: Well no, but not necessarily ambitions, but obviously the conversations are had. I'm just saying, whether it's an ambition or not, is the conversation there?
Craig: Um.... no... really. I think the conversations are had, but not with me in the room. I'm guessing they've been had, but they've not been had with me.
Marc: Would you do the job?
Craig: No. No. I don't think I would.
Marc: Too much pressure?
Craig: I don't... I would do it if they'd let me do what I do, but I would never do it if, like, if what... I wouldn't want to have happen to me what happened to Conan and The Tonight Show. I wouldn't want that. You know, where he got... he tried to make a different show, and it made him unhappy, and ultimately unsuccessful. I wouldn't want to do that.
About an hour into the interview, Craig and Marc discuss the style of the show, and Craig says:
Craig: I also don’t have a plan. Not just for the show, but for after the show. Like, I don’t have a plan. I don’t have a plan for The Tonight Show. I don’t want The Tonight Show...
November 2011 - Interview with Playboy Magazine:
PLAYBOY: There was a time when getting The Tonight Show was every talk show host’s dream. Is that still the ideal?
FERGUSON: I can’t speak for anybody else, but it definitely isn’t for me. I don’t want it. I don’t understand why anyone would want it. Clearly it’s not a route to happiness. I think I have the advantage over other guys who do late-night shows in that I didn’t grow up with Johnny Carson. I respect and admire him, but I didn’t grow up watching him on The Tonight Show. I can appreciate his genius, but I don’t want, and I never wanted, to become him. It just comes with too many compromises.
PLAYBOY: That could be true. When Conan O’Brien got The Tonight Show, some of his more salacious characters, such as the Masturbating Bear, disappeared.
FERGUSON: I know it would alarm me if I got an earlier time slot and some executive said, “You can’t have the robot sidekick anymore.” I’d be like, “What the fuck are you talking about?”
PLAYBOY: “We need you to get rid of the puppets.”
FERGUSON: No puppets? Fuck you. No puppets, no me. I don’t like it when people tell me how to do my job or think they know what works and what doesn’t. I’m always amazed when a writer pitches a joke and says, “This will get a big laugh.” Oh really? How the fuck do you know? Anybody who’s worked in comedy for any length of time will tell you that the best-case scenario is every joke has a shot. That’s all. You get no guarantees beyond that.
February 18, 2011 - Interview with Joel Keller at AOLTV:
Craig Ferguson has said it before, and he's sticking with his story: He is definitely not interested in starting or participating in another Late Night War....
Q: Your style of interviewing people on 'Late Late' is very off the cuff and improvisational, like your monologue. How did that develop?
It's about degrees of comfort. The more constraints that were put on me at the beginning, as "This is the format, this is the way these shows are done," the more uncomfortable I felt. Because I didn't feel that I had a position in late night television. I wasn't fascinated by the form.I didn't grow up wanting to be Johnny Carson, as legendary and as good as he is and was, it wasn't something that I aspired to. So I didn't feel the call of the format the way that many of my contemporaries do. And the more that I deconstructed it, for myself, not because I felt any kind of animosity towards the way it was done, but just for myself, the more I did that, the more comfortable I became.
Q: So no chance of a Late Night War part three?
I don't know. In order for there to be a war there would have to be something here that I was desirous of capturing. And there isn't. You know, I do what I want to do here. A war, by its very nature, the oxygen of a war, for me to participate in a late night war, is that I would actually have to be trying to achieve or get some kind of plunder for myself, whether it's another time slot or another show. And I don't have that ambition. I don't care. You know, and that maybe, if nothing else makes me not a late night host, then maybe it's that. I genuinely, actually I'm not lying to you, I don't f*cking care. You know, I'm amazed I'm still on the air now.
Q: You couldn't even do what you do now at 11:30 because it just wouldn't work there, I would imagine.
Well, you know, who's to say? I don't know. When I started at 12:30 it wasn't going to work either. Everybody said, "Oh the accent, oh it's the wrong guy." And Rick Ludwin at NBC said "He's too old to start a 12:30 show." I was the f*cking same age as Conan at the same time he was their guy. But it was kind of like people just f*cking tell you you can't do it. And you know, that's of no real interest. You know, could I do it at 11:30? I don't know. No one's asked me.
Q: Well, you know, Letterman keeps saying he's going to retire, so you never know, right?
Well, we'll see. I mean, the thing is, I think Dave does a great job, and I swear, I think he should do it as long as he wants to do it.
June 20, 2010 - Interview with Kevin Pollak:
I'm aware of how lucky I am. I'm lucky that I get to do something like this. I try not to pander, but I want the job. And I really care about the show being the best it can be. I really give a shit about that, and anybody who works on the show will tell you that. It really matters to me. So I don't want to feel like I'm dismissive of it - I'm not. I'm aware that this is a moment in time, and that if I nurture it and take care of it, it might last a little longer. It won't last forever. Either they'll get tired - either you'll get tired - or I'll get tired, or the people that facilitate, or give me the ability to do it, they'll get t-- somebody-- it will come to an end. And as it should!
[snip]
I don't aspire for... look, I don't - in the same way we talked earlier on about I don't need politicians to tell me how to think? I don't need journalists or anyone to tell me what I want. You know, people say, "You must want the big time slot!" And I go, "Why must I? Why must I fucking want that?" You know, why must I want it? You've worked in this town for a long time, right? You've met a lot of very very rich successful people. Ratio to rich successful and happy? Not so good!
[What they're really saying is] "Make it more interesting for us. Make us more money." How bout you, fuckin', make me an omelet, mother fucker, no! You know? I mean, no! Everything has to be a stepping stone to something else. Why can't it be today? Today's today!
March 22, 2010 - Interview with Reuters:
"Don't ever rope me in as a late-night talk show host. I don't want to be one."
[Craig] has been discussed as a possible replacement for "The Late Show" host David Letterman, 63, if he ever retires, but Ferguson has no intention of doing so.
"I neither care nor have any ambition about that," Ferguson said. "The thing is, Dave's doing a great job and he does what he does. I don't do what David Letterman does."
"Look at the terrible thing that happened to Conan when Conan tried to do what Jay Leno does," Ferguson said. "Conan shouldn't do that. He doesn't do what Jay Leno does. Jay Leno does what Jay Leno does. And then when (Conan) started doing what Conan does, it was too late."
"I do a show. It comes on late at night on TV. And if that means I'm a late-night talk show host, then I guess I am, but in every other regard I resign my commission, I don't care for it," he said.
December 21, 2009 - Interview with Mitch Albom
Mitch: There’s so much talk about people… their hours. You see what happened with Jay Leno. You know, Jay Leno was this here, and now Jay Leno at 10 o’clock is this whole different animal. Now they’re using negative words with Jay Leno. It was always positive. But now they’re “failure,” “bad ratings.” But he’s the same guy, it’s kind of the same show, but 10 o’clock. And you have this thing that goes on at 12 or 12:30 – depending on where it airs, and where it markets to, to 1:30. If it’s 11:30, does that change you?
Craig: No, but it might change them. It might change the perception. I don’t think Jay’s changed. I think the perception has changed. Undoubtedly, the perception has changed.
Mitch: But that’s the weird part of your world, isn’t it? That you can do the exact same thing, and an hour one way or the other can make a huge difference.
Craig: Ah, but that’s only if it’s your world, Mitch. This is not my world – this is my job.
August 3, 2009 - Interview with The Star-Ledger:
On possible aspirations to make more money, inherit Letterman's timeslot, etc.:
I don't want to be poor. I don't want to be rich to the extent that all I care about is keeping my job. I don't care enough about keeping my job right now. That's good. That makes me effective at what I do. I don't want to be frightened of getting fired. So, to that end, I suppose my ambitions are that I spend less than I earn.
Look, the truth is we are all in a precarious business... I don't want to be frightened. As writers, to be frightened, you will become ineffective. So I don't want to have the ambition of a timeslot or a number of dollars frighten me. Do I want to make a lot of money? F--k yeah! But I've met a lot of rich people who are d-bags. I don't want to be that -- or any more of that than is necessary. I hope to in some way be able to maintain some kind of integrity.
February 17, 2009 - Interview with Michael Eisner:
MICHAEL: So let me ask you. Are you the "Joe Biden" to David Letterman? Are you sitting there, in case David Letterman cannot operate due to--
CRAIG: Are you suggesting that perhaps I think I'm a heartbeat away from 11:30?
MICHAEL: Well, more important than that, does CBS think you're a heartbeat away from 11:30?
CRAIG: I don't know. I don't know, and I don't know that I... I don't know that I care.
MICHAEL: Oh, come on, please.
CRAIG: No, I swear. I swear. Now let me explain. I thought... I did for a long time. When I took the job at first, I thought, "When Dave retires, I really want to do 11:30." And I really did, and I really did, and I really did. But what happens is -- now you'll know this, because you're doing a show like this. You don't HAVE to do this. You're starting to do what you LIKE, right? Because you got a little dough now. And that's kind of how I really feel. I don't know if I want to be any more famous than I am now. There's a world of pain that comes with 11:30 that doesn't exist at 12:30.
MICHAEL: Yes, but you've had.... if you said this three years ago...
CRAIG: I'd have just said I was full of shit, yeah, but...
MICHAEL: No, no, I would say the opposite. I would say three years ago, you were just starting. That time period was in… the worst in the dog house, it had no audience, and you have a style of your own, that's nowhere else on television, beyond your own accent, so I gotta believe Les Moonves - who runs CBS – has gotta be saying: “If David ever decided to go to ABC –“ which of course, I tried to get him to do at one time...
CRAIG: Oh, yeah. Yeah.
MICHAEL: ... and completely screwed it up -- but that would be the natural place. And you'd be competitive.
CRAIG: Yeah, I think I could do it. I just don't know. I mean, I swear, it's not entirely political I'm saying it. I swear, I don't actually know if I want to do it. There are two things about it: One, is my admiration and respect for David. Like, David should decide when David wants to leave. That I absolutely agree with.
MICHAEL: Well, of course. That I agree with.
CRAIG: So if Dave wants to sit for another five years, do I want to be at 11:30-- er, 12:30 for another five years? I don't know.
MICHAEL: Do you think what you do, which sometimes is a 15-minute monologue about something that happened in your life, it may be completely off the wall, ends up being the definition of your show? People love it, that… how honest you are?
CRAIG: It's weird, yeah.
MICHAEL: Do you think they would let you do that at 11:30?
CRAIG: Well, that's a problem, yeah.
MICHAEL: Or, because it's so late, nobody watches it? At the network.
CRAIG: That, I think, is part of what happens, is that: The reason why I got able to do that monologue is because the timeslot was protected, because nobody cared. Dave owned it. And the, you know, they had put… the guy before me, he was doing whatever he was doing. And before that, it was... it was Tom. And so it was... it was kind of like a very different type of show. The time slot was protected, and nobody cared, and so I just started to ramble. If the time slot is NOT protected, I don't know how much freedom I would get. 11:30 is not a protected area. You know, you move into... it's back into the... into the capitalist world. I'm in this very kind of "government-protected" area. Subsidized.
MICHAEL: But it lets you be yourself. Your voice is completely unique from your own background.
June 16, 2006 - Interview w/ Guy MacPherson of The Comedy Couch:
GM: Are you that driven?
CF: No. Actually not. I don't know what it is. I mean, the standup I do because I love doing it. It's fun. The novel that I wrote [Between the Bridge and the River, Chronicle Books, 2006] was something that I worked on really before I started doing this show. I wrote most of it before I started here. It comes out anyway. I mean, if I wasn't doing this show I'd be writing another novel, I'm sure. You know what I mean? It's something that you do because you can't not do it. It's the reason why anyone should be in show business, by the way. You shouldn't be in show business unless you think, "I can't not be in show business."
GM: That sounds driven to me.
CF: I suppose so.
GM: It's something that's in you that's gotta come out.
CF: I suppose I'm looking at the word 'driven' as meaning the word 'ambitious', and I don't know if I'm that ambitious. But driven, yes. Yeah, in a way because I think that ambition would be like... Actually, you know what? I was talking to someone the other day who asked me if I had my eyes on the 11:30 slot at any point. And I actually don't. You know what I mean? I like the slot that I'm in. I'm fine here. I can do what I want here. I like coming after David Letterman and all of that stuff. But driven is probably slightly different from ambitious.
GM: But if Letterman were to leave, you wouldn't want to see someone else step in instead of you.
CF: It depends. I don't know. I would quite happily see Jon Stewart in there I think. So I'm not... There's not a career plan. Maybe that's what it is.
GM: And there never has been?
CF: Never has been.
GM: Then you're just the luckiest guy in show business. Or most talented, I guess. You get all these breaks.
CF: I work hard at what I do when I'm doing it. But I don't do it with an eye to what I'm going to do after that.