Who is Craig Ferguson

Craig Ferguson made a surprise announcement on his CBS Late Late Show Monday night: He got married over the holidays.

Ferguson, 46, wed his longtime girlfriend Megan Wallace Cunningham, an art dealer. - People Magazine

Comedian and talk show host Craig Ferguson's secret Christmas wedding almost ended in disaster when a snow storm forced nearly all the guests to miss the ceremony. - IMDB

For more photos of Megan Wallace Cunningham, visit here.

Watch his announcement to his studio audience.

That wicked Scots accent. How can you resist?

Please - the man even looks good in a kilt with a cowboy hat.

Intelligent, funny, sexy, and ::gasp:: Eur... I mean, an honorary... er, a real naturalized American citizen!

CBS has added a page of highlights from Craig's shows, and some favorable reviews and snippets from various critics. I'm still trying to figure out how calling him a "former punk drunk" would be considered flattering. And, uh... don't they mean "salvation", rather than "salvage"?

Late Late Show Highlights

"The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson"
CBS, late night

Upcoming schedule.

CBS isn't bothering to show his list of live appearances anymore, so it makes it harder to find.

His MySpace page doesn't exist anymore, so that's out too.

If anyone knows of a source where you can get a list of his upcoming live comedy appearances, please let me know.

The following is a schedule of his upcoming book tour, promoting "American on Purpose."

Tuesday, September 15, 2009
BARNES AND NOBLE - THE GROVE/store #2089
189 Grove Drive Suite K 30 Los Angeles, CA 9003

Thursday, September 17, 2009
BARNES & NOBLE/Union Square
33 E 17th ST New York, NY 10003

Friday, September 18, 2009
HARVARD BOOKSTORE
Brattle Theatre 40 Brattle ST Cambridge, MA 0213

Wednesday, September 23, 2009
VROMAN'S BOOKSTORE
695 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91101

Friday, September 25, 2009
CITY ARTS & LECTURES
Palace of Fine Arts 3301 Lyon St San Francisco,

Saturday, September 26, 2009
BOOK PASSAGE
51 Tamal Vista Blvd Corte Madera, CA 94925

(from Harper Collins)

Here's one I haven't seen before - from Scotland on TV, broadcast in 1993, Craig Ferguson in a series of interviews with archaeologists and historians, showcasing Scots heritage sites.

The Scots accent is extremely heavy, so you'll have to pay close attention.

The Dirt Detectives

Great find for Ferguson fans!

Craig Ferguson: Do you do therapy?

Hugh Laurie: I see a gentleman once a week.

Craig Ferguson: I love it, I'm a great convert.

Hugh Laurie: Therapy?

Craig Ferguson: No, just seeing a gentleman once a week.

Update: See the clips below, of Craig taking the citizenship test in late January (he got 100% on the test,) and the swearing in ceremony in February 2008.

"Ferguson is in the process of becoming a US citizen.

On the Tuesday, January 22, 2008 airing of The Late Late Show, Ferguson announced that he was scheduled to take his citizenship test on Friday, January 25, 2008." - Wikipedia

"CHESTER - "Late, Late Show" host Craig Ferguson is expected to soon become a citizen of the United States and a voting resident of the small town of Chester.

The talk-show host, who reportedly owns a farm in Chester, thinks so much of his new home-away-from-L.A.-home that he has named his production company Green Mountain West Inc.

According to a 2006 story in the show business publication Variety, Ferguson named his production company after Vermont because he spends most of his free time here." - Rutland Herald

In a Scottish opera, it ain't over 'till the fat lady bitchslaps you.

I'm a vulgar lounge entertainer, I don't need to wear a tie.

Get well soon, Castro... [pause] Actually, no, don't - die you bastard!

I don't like my politicians entertaining me and I don't like my entertainers politicianing [sic] me.

He's German so he's Herr Ball. Herr Ball. His movies are so bad, cats choke when they hear his name.

That's here on CBS, where the 'C' stands for 'Classy' and the 'BS' speaks for itself.

I enjoy bathing, as many Europeans don't.

[Referring to Smokey the Bear] Kids: If a bear is wearing a ranger hat, it's because he ate the ranger!

Oh, this isn't a talk show; it's more just filling time, really, 'till the infomercials start.

I haven't had a drink in thirteen years, but occasionally I'm tempted to have one beer. The problem is that if I have that one beer, I wake up in Tijuana four days later with a tattoo and a sore ass.

Relax, you're among friends now. The long hard day is over and the roly-poly funny man is before you.

Just a warning: If you're a bunch of sexy teenagers at a lake where other sexy teenagers were killed 30 years ago, leave! The guy in the forest with a hockey mask... maybe doesn't play hockey.

I'm TV's Craig Ferguson, please sit down relax and: "take off your pants"; "dip your hand into a bowl of warm water and fall fast asleep"

The 2008 White House Correspondents' Association dinner will take place on April 26 at the Washington Hilton Hotel. White House Correspondents Association President and ABC News White House Correspondent Ann Compton announced that Craig Ferguson is the act for 2008 dinner.

"Craig Ferguson is a fresh take on late night TV. As a new citizen, a first time uncommitted voter, and someone who has looked at American politics from the outside, I am looking forward to his unique take on
our system," Ann said.

Mr. Ferguson announced it like this, "But I thought as soon as I become an American you know what is going to happen, I am going to get jury duty or the C.I.A. will get in touch and have me assassinate a foreign head of state. Anyway my first job as an American citizen I can exclusively reveal tonight is performing at the White House Correspondents Dinner weekend. I am doing it. I am doing it. I know! We can get that fixed. Anyway, I am not hosting it. President Bush was. It is a big fancy party in D.C. it is like the Oscars for politicians. There are 2,800 journalists in attendance, congress, military brass, cabinet. I sit at the top table with the President and First Lady right there. I am thinking does he know I can't be kicked out now? Like it would be the big thing have the dinner and my last act at President, you go home Ferguson. I am like I am home."

Ferguson, who is playing the Uptown Theater Jan. 4, claimed not to know too much about his immediate future in late night TV. "I'm just a vulgar lounge entertainer," he protested. "I really don't know. I've got a feeling I'm going back in January like everyone else."

Of course, all he had to do was read Variety to know that. It reported Tuesday that the future of both Worldwide Pants-owned shows was being hashed out on the East Coast by Worldwide Pants exec (and WGA-East member) Rob Burnett.

"If Dave's going back, then I'm going back," said Ferguson. "Dave's my boss, I don't know if you know that. The day Dave goes back is the day I go back."

You can read more of his recent interview at TV Barn

This funny column appeared in the Washington Post. Pictured, Craig Ferguson as Tom Cruise.

Don't miss the original video - hosted (for now anyway) on Gawker.com.

"Mom! Tom Cruise is scaring people again!

It's on the Internet, this promotional video he did for the Church of Scientology. I guess it's out there because of this new book by Andrew Morton, "Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography." It was on several sites, but then disappeared on some and reappeared on others. Gawker.com posted a cease-and-desist letter it said was sent by attorneys representing the church. The letter, according to the site, says the "copyrighted" video was stolen from the church, and demands that it be taken down.

In the video, still posted yesterday on Gawker, The Tom is wearing a black turtleneck and talking to an interviewer just off camera -- for nine minutes! -- about how he wants to help and how he's met with "leaders" all over the world and how they want his help, and how Scientology is "wild and woolly" and how he doesn't like people sitting on the sidelines of life, and how he's "canceled that in my area." And he keeps laughing really LOUD and it really doesn't make any sense and he keeps showing all his teeth and barely blinking and I got really scared but I watched the whole thing even if I didn't want to, and now I can't sleep without the light on..."

See more at Washington Post

Interview with the St. Petersberg Times, in which Craig hints he might leave The Late Late Show at the end of his six year contract:

"Turns out, the Glasgow-born entertainer has figured out one thing he doesn't like about his job. He can't stand being famous.

"I just don't know if I like being that visible," he said. "I don't know if I would want to ramp that up any more, you know. And people here find that, I think, quite difficult to (understand)."

The article goes on....

"Clearly, the industry is watching. Last year, Ferguson earned an Emmy nomination - which became a well-worn gag when he lost to Barry Manilow* - and stars such as Rescue Me creator Denis Leary admit recording the show just to watch his opening patter.

Let others trade gossip on whether Saturday Night Live alum Jimmy Fallon will get Conan O'Brien's 12:30 a.m. gig (Conan's scheduled to take the 11:30 p.m. slot when Leno retires in 2009.) Ferguson is quietly setting his own standard, building a loyal audience along the way."

*Note that Barry Manilow is scheduled to be on the show this Thursday night, 11/1.

On that stupid format change that broke his monolog into two parts, and luckily only lasted 4 days:

"The only time Ferguson nearly lost his audience's devotion: when he went along with a test to divide his precious monologue with a commercial break, helping the program's ratings but incensing longtime fans.

"We lasted four days. . . . The reaction was resounding," said Ferguson, who saw e-mails and telephone calls pile up the morning after the experiment started. "When people get p---- at something I say, I pay very little attention to that because, you know, you can't do a show like this every night and not offend somebody. But with something like a format change, I think that belongs as much to the audience as it does to me.""

What a great quote in this article:

"Even when the guest is shambling along, Ferguson is furiously digging around them for comic material with the joy and accuracy of a truffle pig.

... Somehow, Ferguson has got around the "tell a joke" model and creates the impression that everyone in the studio is already party to a joke in progress. In the process he creates an irresistible bonhomie. No need to get the party started. It is already well under way the moment Ferguson starts talking. He insinuates a co-conspiracy and we the audience, go, "well, ok, fine, you're on." The on-air relationship is, in the words of our favorite linguist, Michael Silverstein, maximally presupposing. It assumes what other comedians must labor to create."

6/09 via TV By The Numbers:

THE LATE LATE SHOW with CRAIG FERGUSON posted a 1.3/05 in households with 1.72m viewers in the week ending June 12, 2009, up +2% in viewers (from 1.69m) and even in households compared to the same week last year.

THE LATE LATE SHOW was even in adults 25-54 (0.7/04), adults 18-49 (0.5/03) and adults 18-34 (0.4/02) compared to the same week last year.

Television year-to-date, LATE LATE SHOW is up +8% in households (1.4/05 from 1.3/05), +9% in viewers (1.88m from 1.72m) and even in adults 25-54 (0.7/04), adults 18-49 (0.6/03) and adults 18-34 (0.4/02) compared to the 2007-08 television year.

1/23/09 via CBS press release:
THE LATE LATE SHOW with CRAIG FERGUSON out delivered "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" in viewers and households and continues to narrow the season-to-date gap in key measures, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the week ending Jan. 16.

LATE LATE SHOW posted a 1.5/05 in households with 2.08m viewers, up +7% in households (from 1.4/05) and +8% in viewers (from 1.92m) compared to the same week last year. LATE LATE SHOW was up +25% in adults 18-34 (0.5/03 from 0.4/02) and even in both adults 25-54 (0.8/05) and adults 18-49 (0.6/04) compared to the same week last year. Note: LATE LATE SHOW was delayed until 12:53 AM Thursday due to the Bush Farewell Speech.

THE LATE LATE SHOW with CRAIG FERGUSON beat "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" in households (1.5/05 from 1.4/05, +7%), viewers (2.08m vs. 1.85m, +12%) and tied in adults 25-54 (0.8/05 vs. 0.8/04). Note: "Late Night" was a rebroadcast on Friday.

Season-to-date, LATE LATE SHOW is up +8% in households (1.4/05 from 1.3/05), +9% in viewers (1.91m from 1.75m), +14% in adults 25-54 (0.8/04 from 0.7/04) and even in both adults 18-49 (0.6/03) and adults 18-34 (0.4/02) compared to last year.
LATE LATE SHOW has improved its season-to-date competitive position with "Late Night" in viewers (-60,000 viewers in 2008-09 from -120,000 viewers in 2007-08), adults 25-54 (tied in 2008-09 from -0.1 in 2007-08) and adults 18-34 (-0.3 in 2008-08 from -0.4 in 2007-08).

4/10/08 - NEW YORK - Recently sworn-in U.S. citizen Craig Ferguson is being embraced by his new countrymen: The late-night comic hit a ratings milestone last week with his first victory over NBC's Conan O'Brien.

USA Today

10/18/07 - In late night, NBC's "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" finished first for the week yet again, averaging 5.0 million total viewers and a 1.5 rating among adults 18-49. "The Late Show with David Letterman" on CBS had 3.6 million viewers and a 1.1 rating in the demo, with ABC's "Nightline" bringing in 3.6 million viewers and a 1.1 18-49 rating. In late-late night, NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" had 2.1 million total viewers and a 0.9 in 18-49s, with ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" averaging 1.9 million viewers and a 0.7, CBS's "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" at 1.7 million viewers and a 0.6, and NBC's "Last Call with Carson Daly" bringing in 1.2 million viewers and a 0.5 among 18-49s.
Source: Media Life Magazine

From KnoxNews.com:

"Knoxville native Henry Cho's attempt to get his own situation comedy is getting a boost from CBS late-night talk-show host Craig Ferguson.

In a recent issue of Entertainment Weekly, Ferguson mentions the series, for which he would be executive producer. The pilot idea was recently sold to CBS/Paramount, but a script is just now getting done.

According to reports, Cho and his writing partner, Jim Hope, started on the script this past week.

Cho will be the star, co-creator, producer and a writer on the series. Ferguson will be executive producer."

12/29/07 - David Letterman has secured a deal with the striking Writers Guild of America that will allow him to resume his late-night show on CBS next Wednesday with his team of writers on board, executives of several late-night shows said today.

Most of television's late-night shows are scheduled to return to the air that night after being off for two months due to the strike, but it is likely that only Mr. Letterman, and the show that follows him on CBS hosted by Craig Ferguson, will be supported by material from writers. - New York Times

12/20/07 - Worldwide Pants and the WGA will meet Friday to discuss an interim agreement that would get "Late Show With David Letterman" and "The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson" back on the air when its rivals return Jan. 2.

Worldwide Pants owns both shows, which air on CBS. It was the first company to jump at the chance to negotiate a separate deal with the WGA when it said it would turn to that strategy after talks with the AMPTP collapsed Dec. 7. But it took almost a week, and a very public appeal from Worldwide Pants through the media, to get the writers to sit down.

The guild's negotiating committee met Wednesday, approving the meeting with Worldwide Pants. - Hollywood Reporter

12/18/07 - After being off the air for two months in support of their union and their writers, NBC's late-night hosts are going back to work in 2008.
The network announced Monday that both "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" will return with new episodes on Jan. 2. Both shows have been dark since the writers strike began in early November as Leno and O'Brien supported the Writers Guild of America (both are members of the union).

Both men made it clear that they continue to support the WGA, but in statements they expressed concern for the rest of their shows' staffs. O'Brien and Leno have been paying staff salaries for several weeks, but continuing that indefinitely wouldn't have been possible. - Mercury News

12/13/07 - LOS ANGELES, Dec. 13 -- Union officials representing striking Hollywood writers said Thursday they have filed an unfair labor practices complaint claiming studios violated federal law by breaking off negotiations.

The Writers Guild of America demanded in a statement that the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers return to the bargaining table so the six-week strike can be resolved. - Washington Post

12/8/07 - LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Talks to end Hollywood's writers' strike abruptly ended Friday evening as studio negotiators walked out, accusing Writers Guild of America leaders of putting personal political agendas above the interests of writers. - CNN

11/26/07 - LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Striking screenwriters resumed contract talks with the major studios on Monday for the first time since trading pens for picket signs three weeks ago in the worst Hollywood labor dispute in two decades.

Imposing a media blackout on negotiations for the first time since talks began in July, the parties returned to the bargaining table at about 10 a.m. at an undisclosed, neutral location in Los Angeles, a studio spokesman confirmed. - Reuters

NEW YORK -- Strike or not, employees of "The Late Show with David Letterman" and the "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" will be paid through the end of the year.

The programs' production company, Worldwide Pants Inc., notified its employees in New York and Los Angeles on Tuesday that they would be paid regardless of whether the show returned or not. It would make Worldwide Pants, which is owned by "Late Show" host David Letterman, the first known company to guarantee its staff a paycheck during the writers' strike." - Hollywood Reporter

"The late night shows were the first victims of the strike, going dark on its first day, Monday, November 5. Since then, there has been much speculation about which show would be the first to return. In '88 it was Johnny Carson who led the way, reluctantly returning to his seat sans writers after a month. Some have said that Letterman, having been on the air the longest will set the tone, while others have said that it will be one of the newer shows that will try to capitalize on the reduced amount of competition. Well, if MySpace is to be believed, Craig Ferguson could be the first host to resume his place at the desk." - Source: Cinema Blend

::sigh:: Or not. Could just be the rantings of an uninformed, confused actress.