The Best TV Show You're Not Watching

You have to love a guy who successfully worked stand-up in Europe billing himself as Bing Hitler.

Scottish wackjob Craig Ferguson, after a brief career as a punk rock drummer, did just that.  He got away with it because he's FUNNY, maybe too funny for network TV.   CBS figured that out about ten years ago and gave him a shot as host of their Late Late Show which follows Dave Letterman on affiliated stations each weeknight. The show is produced by Letterman's World Wide Pants company and it was long thought by many that Ferguson was the natural  "go to" for Dave's chair when the grouchy Hoosier decided to call it a career.  Naturally, show business being the snake pit that it is, CBS honchos decided that Craig was, in his early 50's, too old for the demographic they were seeking in late night programming.  One more stupid decision made by humorless vice presidents and typical management drones that will prove idiotic in hindsight.

Neil Patrick Harris and Craig Ferguson

Little did the CBS suits know that they would be doing viewers a favor as they allowed "the Fergster" to work out the final few months of his contract after giving him $5 million "we're sorry" bucks for their slight.  The man is having a blast at their expense.  Seldom--damn near never--does anyone in broadcasting get to go out in this sort of all flags flying glory. Most often talent is dispatched with little notice or fanfare.  The general method of disposal is to invite a performer in for "a chat" after he or she is off the air.  Within roughly five minutes the subject of "the chat" is being escorted to the parking lot clutching a box containing their personal possessions and a final check.  No goodbye to the audience; no see ya later on another station or in a different city, just…GONE.

Ferguson is taking full advantage of having a couple of months to run his show ANY WAY HE WANTS and it is a scream.  He already offered the best monologue in late night television--never using cue cards--and presided over some of the most bizarre interviews of celebrities ever seen on TV.  But now, without fear of being fired or locked down by management, he is balls out, damn straight hilarious.  I know the show airs late but do yourself a favor and record it for playback at a time more to your liking.  I promise The Late Late Show will be better than 90% of other fare in prime time.  Where else can you find a show with a gay robot skeleton as co-host,  or an invisible band conducted by the "shyest band leader in television" and two guys with degrees from bigtme colleges sharing a horse costume?

Robot skeleton sidekick Geoff Peterson

It might be a good idea to save a few of Ferguson's shows for posterity as the continual unrelenting cancer that is political correctness insinuates its foul stench on what's left of the beautifully creative concept of comedy.  The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, featuring truly outrageous and courageous no holds barred, no sacred cows laughter runs only until December and then, like much of American creativity, it's gone.