Craig Ferguson Reveals David Letterman Protected Him During His Late Night Stint On CBS

Craig Ferguson recounts his time on ‘The Late Late Show’ on CBS and reveals that David Letterman protected him from CBS executives.
Larry King Asks Craig Ferguson About The Possibility Of Another Late Night Talk Show: • Craig Ferguson Closes ...
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Craig Ferguson Reveals David Letterman Protected Him During His Late Night Stint On CBS
• Craig Ferguson Reveals...

[@sweiland75]

"It'll never happen again." Careful, Icarus.

[@BlueHooloovoo]

Yes Herman, I am Claus.

[@murrethmedia]

But Father! I want to fly into the Sun!

[@ejflor1313]

So I have Letterman to thank for Craig, Geoff, and Secretariat. Just another reason to love Dave.

[@captainnice9698]

Based on this interview, I now understand WHY Craig left when he did. When Letterman announced his departure, Craig knew his days were numbered without the protection of Letterman et al. CBS made a big mistake in letting this happen, because Craig was one of the best host of late night t.v. ever.

[@CelticAngloPress2nd]

Craig announced retirement 2 years prior to Dave leaving, CBS paid him more and asked him to stay for another 2 more years. Its well known publicly, he got bored of the job basically.

[@enriquesinghjr]

Maybe what Craig is referring to was earlier when his show began, first couple of years, but since it was doing good they probably recognized that he was the right choice.

[@RandyRyanCandy]

@@enriquesinghjr The best choice! To a point where they had paid him $15 mil just to stay away from David Letterman's job (That he never really wanted) LOL He basically got paid to stay away from a job he didn't want, MAN! What a free gig he had lol

[@billbaxter3800]

Agreed. Huge mistake. CF has such a "presence".

[@SomeGuyInNevada24]

Actually Craig said that he already told CBS that he was leaving and the ink dried on the seperation the same day (or around) as when Letterman made his announcement.

[@SpaceForceCommander]

Craig Ferguson’s Late Late Show is still my favorite talk show of all time - because Craig was very naughty.

[@davebartholome2924]

I liked when he called me his filthy pigeon.

[@peisenxu952]

I remember Conan saying how Dave appearing on his show when it was failing saved his career. Now we learn that Craig has this sort of connection.

[@fe5018]

They're not really comparable connections tbh and its not exactly news. Letterman's production company ident was at the end of every episode of Craig's show, he made numerous jokes about Letterman being his boss, and he's talked for years about how Dave's clout at CBS shielded him to have the show he had. Conan, on the otherhand, took over Letterman's old show, ostensibly replacing him on NBC after the Tonight Show debacle and feud with Leno. Like you said, Conan was floundering somewhat until Letterman appeared on the show, which gave him a massive boost because of the scandal. But it's not anywhere the same as Craig being hired by Letterman's people to replace Craig Kilborn, who replaced Tom Snyder. Like it's a totally different lineage and scenario. The Letterman/Kimmel connection is alot more interesting imo.

[@peisenxu952]

Yeah it was never really my intention to say they were comparable. Realised after writing that I should have kept has "also" in my comment but couldn't be stuffed editing it. Meant to say "had this connection".

[@DragonMasterSubo]

I'll always miss Carson, Letterman and Ferguson. Peter Lassally sure knew how to produce these shows.

[@moaningpheromones]

Craig to CBS . . . 'kiss my Pants'. Well played sir.

[@actownsend7288]

I’m shocked to learn CBS did not like Craig after all he did for them. Thank God For David Letterman and Worldwide Pants

[@johnsjohnson448]

Larry was Terrific! Craig became an Icon. Two great entertaining conversationalists having a sit down. Thanks for sharing.

[@RetroHabit82]

RIP King

[@MagicAl5F4781]

Letterman used his power to its fullest to get Tom Snyder as the first host, over CBS's objection to the lack of appeal to young viewers. CBS only tolerated the low ratings for so long. Producer Peter Lassally revealed in his Television Academy interview in 2019 that replacing Snyder before his contract ended was CBS's decision, not voluntary as it was portrayed at the time.

[@billbaxter3800]

I nominate Craig Ferguson as the next James Bond! Can u imagine? He would be phenomenal!

[@QueenBee-pb6bt]

Bond is a very boring character for Craig

[@billbaxter3800]

@@QueenBee-pb6bt and that's exactly why he should do it.

[@austintaciousness9619]

@@billbaxter3800 I think he would make a phenomenal doctor who

[@BilgePump]

@@austintaciousness9619 thumbs up

[@jessica5497]

Please, upload the full interview

[@fe5018]

Yes! This, please.

[@rickrick5041]

And hurry

[@canigettawhatwhat]

Next to Conan, Craig is the best talk show host there ever was. Larry voicing Geoff is still one of the funniest things I've ever seen

[@Danimal77]

I couldn't agree more. Craig and Conan are by far, my two favorite late night talk show hosts of all time.

[@DragonMasterSubo]

Eh, I still say Carson and Letterman were the best. Nothing will ever top Carson, he literally changed TV forever.

[@radhalote3827]

@sfairraid 13 What are you talking about? When? Could you please elaborate?

[@amrith4641]

@sfairraid 13 i think you are wrong, u misunderstood jimmy Fallon's tonight show situation with conan.

[@sujalgautam9761]

@sfairraid 13 you are sad bro

[@jessica5497]

I love craig 💙

[@NewageM4214]

Imagine the circumstances and stars in the sky lining up to make your dreams come true like that.

[@carlsanderson4062]

Carson was King, Letterman should've been given the throne and Craig would've made a very admiral court Jester in Dave's shoes... But now look at all the very unfunny/phoney "comedians" that call themselves "talk-show hosts"

[@rebeccahopkins9522]

When they left, there were no more real late night hosts. They all became insufferable, smiley, gentle as kittens, pandering, pseudo game show hosts. Ferguson and Dave were the last of a dying breed. One that’s now, sadly, extinct. 😢when Craig said it will never happen again, he was spot on. I miss his show so much.

[@joshua.snyder]

CBS Cares. 😂 Craig and Josh Robert Thompson were the best!

[@ImpartiallySpeaking]

So CBS didn’t like Craig Fergusson! Took over a decade for that to come out, but explains a lot!

[@murrethmedia]

And that's the difference between Dave and Jay.

[@hakim6158]

CBS are so happy Dave is gone even without the ratings' boost. Just for owning that time slot agakn and putting an employee in that spot instead of someone who owns his show. Colbert and Corden will never get so big their production companies will own part of the show. CBS won't let it happen again.

[@fe5018]

Yeah. The Ovitz orchestrated bidding war for Letterman following the Tonight Show debacle led to some crazy choices, which I can't see CBS ever repeating. The 90s were a weird time for entertainment. The insane bidding wars for spec scripts by promising screenwriters was just as bizarre, although without the far reaching consequences that the Letterman situation had.

[@jamesmarshall1905]

CBS did what it had to do to get Dave, it created a franchise opening for them that finally got them into the Late Night game. Well worth it into today.

[@fe5018]

@@jamesmarshall1905, absolutely. Tonight/Late Night and LateShow/LateLate Show are each institutions and of comparable/ equal stature at this point. I actually feel like the whole thing is maybe even more cohesive now under the current hosts. Not better, or even as good, because I miss Ferguson, and Letterman was a class unto himself and even though I rather dislike Leno as a host, I still feel he had more stature than Fallon, but still, they feel like more consistent entities than under Leno and Letterman.

[@markjackson6431]

@@jamesmarshall1905 exactly. if anything CBS should be thanking Letterman for his presence. The Late Show is now the number one late night show, not The Tonight Show (which it had been since it’s start). CBS should be grateful they got him and not Leno. i’m not the biggest Leno fan but he was still a great host. very good at the monologues. white bread enough for the folks to get behind him. but he wouldn’t been able to help CBS if Letterman for The Tonight Show. Letterman came to CBS with 11 years of experience and viewed by many as Carson’s true successor. Leno just had what? 330 guest hosting episodes…

[@zlinedavid]

And this is why Craig could never do another late night show.

[@robcat2075]

I doubt "CBS" hated Ferguson. He mostly did well in the ratings, But by the end of his run he was typically coming in third in his slot instead of being competitive for #1. When that happens there will certainly be an executive somewhere who wants to try someone else.

[@JackieFrankieful]

Johhny Carson, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien and Craig Ferguson legends. I still enjoy Graham Norton

[@lucrativelyrics2004]

>best late late show hosts were always named craig #ferguson #kilborn

[@BlueHooloovoo]

I hate CBS for forcing Ferguson out.

[@davebartholome2924]

Ferguson was happy to go-he wanted to leave two years before he did, and was offered more money to stay on for two more years. His goal, he said, from the beginning was to leave the show before he got tired of doing it. “I never wanted it to become a chore,” he said. www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/04/reasons-why-craig-ferguson-leaving-cbs

[@Max25670]

@@davebartholome2924 I wish Craig would have done 2 more years, his last year was a lot of fun because of all the gags and inside jokes they were doing at that time, or maybe that's why he got so burnt out.

[@fredparker1734]

I still say that CBS made a huge mistake,in not giving Ferfuson"Late Night",after Letterman retired...no disrespect to Colbert,but,I think that they should have,at least,given Craig a CHANCE,at the 11:35 time slot. Instead,they threw him away,and,stuck the world with the completely useless James Corden,who couldn't be funny if his life depended on it.

[@BlackBarney]

that's a lot of makeup on Craig

[@Daniea3]

Letterman was a Major Creep.

[@Danimal77]

No he wasn't.

[@sujalgautam9761]

@@Danimal77 yes he was

[@shmookins]

And he squandered it. Yes, the show had its moments, but I attended the taping of a couple or so episodes and it was so boring and so much down time. All the other shows I went to were so much more professional and and managed their time and audience much better.

[@marktantorelli3446]

ferguson or letterman? i agree that both shows kept you waiting a bit too much for a relative euphoria

[@Chertoff88]

Rob Burnett actually did not want Ferguson it was Peter Lassally that picked and protected him