8 Apr 2015
(L-R) James Corden grills Bob Odenkirk, Claire Danes & David Beckham about cell phone content
James Corden has been host of the Late, Late Night show on CBS for a little over a week now and I feel that I now have enough episodes to put together a review on the show. I must first qualify by staying I was a total Craig Ferguson fanatic and fan so was a bit concerned that it would jade my opinion of anyone replacing Ferguson. However, I have been pleasantly surprised.
Corden started off a bit shaky in his first couple of episodes, which can be expected. Hosting a show was a new experience for him and he was a new experience for viewers. But even with his shaky beginning, he was warm, personable and endearing. He managed to somehow find a way to keep me tuning in each night and I am glad that I did.
Late, Late Night has always been a lot of monologue with some guest appearances, but what it has transitioned into has shown that you can change a format and bring in a wet-behind-the-ears host that was fairly unknown in the US and turn what was a treasured show into something that is just as fun and entertaining. Corden has clearly made it his own show, yet still managed to respect his predecessor.
Corden still starts out Late, Late Night with a monologue, just as Ferguson did, but it is a brief monologue in which he also banters with his entertaining band-leader, Reggie Watts. After commercial break, he transition into some skits which leads to introducing his guests for the evening where lively conversation continues.
Each skit is unique and creative. In last night’s episode his team performed “Crosswalk Grease” stopping traffic, yet no one seemed to mind. He has had his celebrity guests (Jordana Brewster, David Grohl and Rainn Wilson) sketch from a live nude model. On another night he gave away a pair of rare air Jordans via a challenge; and there are many more fun skits and activities the show has presented.
Bottom line, Corden is quickly transitioning Late, Late Night with Craig Ferguson into Late, Late Night with James Corden and while change is often resisted and this Craig Ferguson fan came to the game very skeptical, I am happy to say that I have been won over. I think that is definitely due to Corden respecting Ferguson and not trying to mimic him, but instead to treasure what Craig brought to the show and yet change it enough to show of Corden’s strengths while making the show his own. Kudos to CBS for finding Corden and giving him this opportunity and kudos to Corden for the way he has handled the transition.
Crosswalk Grease
Nude Sketching
Air Jordans Challenge