# Craig Ferguson's 1,000th show **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 16, 2009, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-1-000th-show/521546 "2009-12-16T23:06:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-1-000th-show/521546/21 "2009-12-18T16:22:57Z")
I missed it but I did pick up Craig’s book, American On Purpose, in hardcover at Barnes & Noble for 50% off plus an additional 10% for being a member. So if you were thinking about getting it but can’t really afford hardcovers, now you can get it for the price of a paperback. Should I ever get the opportunity to get it signed I just won’t tell him that. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-1-000th-show/521546/22 "2009-12-18T16:34:54Z")
Ha! I pre-ordered _American On Purpose_ from [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) and have already read it – engrossing, amusing, and eye-opening. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-1-000th-show/521546/23 "2009-12-18T17:20:07Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > I missed it but I did pick up Craig’s book, American On Purpose, in hardcover at Barnes & Noble for 50% off plus an additional 10% for being a member. So if you were thinking about getting it but can’t really afford hardcovers, now you can get it for the price of a paperback. > > Should I ever get the opportunity to get it signed I just won’t tell him that. I saw that. Then I looked at the top book in the pile. Third edition. Hmm, I thought. I checked the bottom book in the pile. First edition. Grabbed it. It’s good but his novel is better. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-1-000th-show/521546/24 "2009-12-18T17:47:41Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Another thing, for you Late Late Show aficionados: Didja see the episode when he smacked the camera and its glass cover [popped out and shattered](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duyRrhFAhOw)? > > “That was awesome!” 😃 > > One of the delights of his show is the spontaneity, the feeling that, say, an interview could carom in almost any direction, but even for Ferguson that was awesome. No, but we saw the episode where he got his snake mug, and got all excited and smashed his “Late Late Show” mug right away. That too was awesome. (And then had to clean up the mess from when he got all carried away with showing off for the pretty actress. 😃 ) I’m living for the day when one of my emails gets read on air. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-1-000th-show/521546/25 "2009-12-18T17:53:36Z")
ETA: I like his new opening, but I miss the old one that had him skipping along as James Bond in the aperture - for some reason, even after seeing that five hundred times, it still makes me laugh. (Cause I started watching Craig and forgot to post my edit.) ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-1-000th-show/521546/26 "2009-12-18T21:31:32Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > We’re off searching for Jason Segel’s “Dracula” song now - that was pretty awesome. [It’s up on YouTube now!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-H5XG5x1Fc) ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-1-000th-show/521546/27 "2009-12-19T04:41:06Z")
> [@PRNYouth](#): > > Just an additional detail: the platform with the desk and chairs separates into two pieces, one holding the desk, one holding the chairs. Craig’s studio is upstairs at CBS’s Television City, and it’s very small. A friend and I were in the audience a couple of years ago, in the second row, and we were surprised how close we were to the main area. > > What was also interesting was that though most of what we saw was for that night’s (Monday, I think it was) show, he also taped two comedy bits for later in the week, and the GooGoo Dolls performed but that didn’t air until Friday. The musical guest for our episode was Avril Lavigne, but she had taped her performance earlier in the day. We also saw a standup comic perform but that didn’t air at all during the next two weeks. > > Probably more detail than you wanted. But it was a fun show to visit, and we just got tickets while I was showing my friend around Hollywood. It’s one of the shows > that’s easy to get last-minute tickets for, and well worth it. The audience uses the same outdoor waiting area as The Price is Right. Can you confirm that there is no canned laughter added? ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-1-000th-show/521546/28 "2009-12-19T04:51:00Z")
> [@PRNYouth](#): > > Just an additional detail: the platform with the desk and chairs separates into two pieces, one holding the desk, one holding the chairs. Craig’s studio is upstairs at CBS’s Television City, and it’s very small. A friend and I were in the audience a couple of years ago, in the second row, and we were surprised how close we were to the main area. > > What was also interesting was that though most of what we saw was for that night’s (Monday, I think it was) show, he also taped two comedy bits for later in the week, and the GooGoo Dolls performed but that didn’t air until Friday. The musical guest for our episode was Avril Lavigne, but she had taped her performance earlier in the day. We also saw a standup comic perform but that didn’t air at all during the next two weeks. > > Probably more detail than you wanted. But it was a fun show to visit, and we just got tickets while I was showing my friend around Hollywood. It’s one of the shows > that’s easy to get last-minute tickets for, and well worth it. The audience uses the same outdoor waiting area as The Price is Right. Can you confirm that there is no canned laughter added? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-1-000th-show/521546/29 "2009-12-19T05:32:17Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > [It’s up on YouTube now!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-H5XG5x1Fc) I’m listening to that Youtube video every day - I’d like to find a copy of that version of the song to purchase, but I don’t know how realistic that is. Jim found the movie version, but it’s not as good, unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-1-000th-show/521546/30 "2009-12-19T06:33:20Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Yeah, the musical numbers were good but Craig trying to play a character through the puppet meant that all his timing was off. If you weren’t already a fan I doubt you’d walk away one. I’ll second that. There were some funny moments in there with the Aquaman shark, and it was an interesting idea, but a lot of it was no better than a regular episode- that stuff works better in smaller doses. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-1-000th-show/521546/31 "2009-12-19T07:35:47Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > You missed it? Bummer! But you can watch that show at [CBS’s Late Late Show site](http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_late_show/) – at least the opening, the monologue, and the close. > [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > [It’s up on YouTube now!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-H5XG5x1Fc) Actually, YouTube is probably the best place to try and find the show. The CBS player isn’t as good. And, ofttimes you can find clips that are not on the official website, although their legality may be questionable. (But you’d think, if CBS cared, they’d stop it, seeing as they have a deal with YouTube. It’s pretty blatant.) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-1-000th-show/521546/32 "2009-12-19T07:41:39Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > (But you’d think, if CBS cared, they’d stop it, seeing as they have a deal with YouTube. It’s pretty blatant.) As long as they cut out the clips to the films and TV shows, CBS seem cool about it. For a while the unauthorised clips were blocked to US viewers, who had to get them through the CBS channel (whose clips were in turn blocked to foreign viewers), but I think they’ve abandoned that shamozzle. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-1-000th-show/521546/33 "2009-12-19T22:22:47Z")
> [@vislor](#): > > This is the case for us as well. We usually skip monologues but will watch one every once in a while. However, we find him great with the guests. I think Craig’s the best. > > We saw him when we came to Des Moines and it was a good show! Glad we saw him! > > vislor You skip the monologues?!? Yes, he is good with the guests, but the monologue is the best part of the show. Always funny, and frequently brilliant, it is easily the best thing going right now in late night television. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-1-000th-show/521546/34 "2009-12-19T22:28:26Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > You skip the monologues?!? Yes, he is good with the guests, but the monologue is the best part of the show. Definitely. With guests, he sometimes flirts and talks about his tattoos too much. In the monologues, he’s a terrific rambler. ---
**Author:** ![PRNYouth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PRNYouth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PRNYouth)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-1-000th-show/521546/35 "2009-12-20T23:44:33Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > Can you confirm that there is no canned laughter added? I can’t be 100% certain, but the audience definitely laughed heartily at pretty much everything, so I don’t believe they added any laughter. Craig is very responsive to the studio audience. In fact, he did this little spontaneous dance bit leading in from commercial, but something went wrong technically, and they had to redo the lead-in. He made some comment about not doing the stupid dance, but we had all loved it so after off-camera encouragement from the audience, he did the dance bit with even more energy on the retake. For people who’ve never been in the audience at something like that, it’s a little hard to imagine that people really laugh out loud that way. I used to feel the same way. But having been to tapings of several different shows, I’ve found that there’s an energy that builds and makes it really easy to respond audibly. His warm-up guy helped (I can’t remember his name, unfortunately), by keeping up the energy. And they really make you feel like you’re not just an audience – you’re an essential part of the show. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-1-000th-show/521546/36 "2009-12-20T23:47:37Z")
> [@PRNYouth](#): > > His warm-up guy helped (I can’t remember his name, unfortunately), by keeping up the energy. Chunky B. Though he has recently lost a lot of weight, so he’s not so chunky anymore. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-1-000th-show/521546.md?page=1)