I loved Craig Ferguson right from the beginning and have been missing him since he kept it classy til Christmas.
But some of the things Corden's saying about his take on the show make me feel optimistic. From a Vulture interview today:
"We’re gonna bring all our guests out at the same time, so all of our guests will sit together for all of the chat segments of the show."
I love this idea, primarily because it's a throwback to how chat shows used to be in the US, before celebrities all became too big to spend and entire hour sharing the spotlight with others. Suddenly they all had someplace important they had to be.
Either way, somebody should have brought it back to these shores ages ago. I want the young Gene Simmons and the old Totie Fields trading Yiddish insults on Mike Douglas's couch. That's what I want.
I thought the same thing, Namo, when I read your 7:32 post. I immediately thought of the Mike Douglas Show and especially Totie Fields. Then I did a search on Totie, and didn't realize she was only 48 when she died. She always seemed older than that.
Carson did it for years. The second chair could be counted on for some off-topic irreverence, and it consistently kept the show from being what all chat shows are now: a forum for selling the product du jour (movie, book). Now, I'm always startled to see line-ups that must include some damned pithy green room chatter, none of which are we privy to, because people in the same building on the same day never speak to one another in front of us. I miss those left-field comments, the sometimes fascinating contretemps and chemistry that would result. People flirted, fought, took sides against Johnny. It was, you know, spontaneous. Now, not so much. Good for Corden.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
I thought the Willy Wonka themed vidoe was a hoot, although I wish they had brought in JK Simmons rather than having Leno run the Whiplash gag. Overall, it was a great debut show. Love the idea of having all guests together on the couch, although I'm not so sure about them running the gauntlet through the audience to get there.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
"I love this idea, primarily because it's a throwback to how chat shows used to be in the US, before celebrities all became too big"
It's also an interesting dynamic when celebrity egos clash. Shelley Winters pouring water over Oliver Reed's head comes to mind.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
"If anyone has NOT seen his 3-season British sitcom, Gavin & Stacey, you will love it!"
Gavin & Stacey is must-see tv! The only problem with it is that Corden and the excellent Ruth Jones wrote such great characters for themselves that you sort of wish Gavin & Stacey would go somewhere else so we could watch Smithy and Nessa.
But the cast, including the very funny Alison Steadman, is top notch.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
I thought the section with Patricia Arquette and Chris Pine proved the value of the multi-guest approach. It was conversation among peers, something missing on late night. And it mostly feels effortless.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
He is cute. He was so funny in Guvnors. I loved that show. He was funny but the music was incredible. Wish it lasted longer. Updated On: 3/29/15 at 12:33 AM
"Carson did it for years. The second chair could be counted on for some off-topic irreverence, and it consistently kept the show from being what all chat shows are now: a forum for selling the product du jour (movie, book)."