# Craig Ferguson's experiment tonight(Stephen Fry) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 23, 2010, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184 "2010-02-23T22:30:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/41 "2010-02-24T23:40:31Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Ha! The man just does a little of everything, doesn’t he? If you can arrange to watch QI through some methods that I won’t mention it is fantastic. I think it’s a safe bet that it’ll never be licensed in the U.S. since it’s a very British panel show but things like this have surprised me before. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/42 "2010-02-24T23:41:36Z")
Could be good. I like Ferguson as an interviewer and I think he’s intelligent enough that if it doesn’t work he’ll change it back. The only bad thing from a marketing standpoint is that if your show is all one interview then people aren’t going to tune in if they have no interest in the guest. I’ll watch Fry but even though I like Ferguson I’d channel surf right past a 30 minute one on one with Taylor Swift or some actor from LOST (a show I don’t watch) or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/43 "2010-02-25T01:51:56Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Could be good. I like Ferguson as an interviewer and I think he’s intelligent enough that if it doesn’t work he’ll change it back. > > The only bad thing from a marketing standpoint is that if your show is all one interview then people aren’t going to tune in if they have no interest in the guest. I’ll watch Fry but even though I like Ferguson I’d channel surf right past a 30 minute one on one with Taylor Swift or some actor from LOST (a show I don’t watch) or whatever. However, if he sat there and required Paris Hilton to hold an intelligent conversation for an entire hour, I’d watch for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/44 "2010-02-25T01:59:39Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > However, if he sat there and required Paris Hilton to hold an intelligent conversation for an entire hour, I’d watch for sure. If only because you had money on exactly what minute her head would explode during. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/45 "2010-02-25T18:49:52Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I got the sense that it was just the wrong medium for him. Chuck Jones could create characters, he could tell a perfect story in pictures, and he could marshal the talent of people around him to bring them to light. Sitting and talking wasn’t where his talents lay. For all the love he got, Jones wasn’t my favorite WB cartoon director - Clampett and Freleng consistently produced more funny cartoons, and Avery was a genre unto himself. The person I would most like to have seen interviewed was Michael Maltese, the “story man” of many of the classic cartoons. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/46 "2010-02-25T19:11:03Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > If only because you had money on exactly what minute her head would explode during. I just think that Craig could find hilarious ways to draw out Paris’ ignorance and ditziness, while keeping it interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/47 "2010-02-25T19:38:03Z")
I watched it last night, and thoroughly enjoyed it. My only complaint was that I’ve heard Fry talk about most of that stuff before, but I doubt that’s a common situation amongst viewers. I thought it was great, but I can’t think of very many celebrities, especially Americans, that I would want to listen to for that long. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/48 "2010-02-25T20:34:47Z")
If you’re interested in hearing Fry talking about stuff, there’s a bunch of [podcasts at his site](http://www.stephenfry.com/category/media/audio/). I like this one about language: [Series 2 Episode 3, Language - Official site of Stephen Fry](http://www.stephenfry.com/2008/12/22/series-2-episode-3-language/) If the above doesn’t work because you don’t have iTunes, check the below feed: [http://www.stephenfry.com/?feed=podcast&format=audio](http://www.stephenfry.com/?feed=podcast&format=audio) - contains direct mp3 downloads. Open in your RSS reader (or Firefox or other RSS-capable browser). ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/49 "2010-02-25T21:13:02Z")
Fry was briefly famous in Alabama for featuring the Iron Bowl (the Auburn U. v. U. of Alabama football game) on his “Stephen Fry in America” show. He was absolutely amazed at how huge it was and was telling his British audience “believe it or not these aren’t professional teams, they’re middle sized universities!” For those not familiar with the role of college football in the South, Auburn-Bama is bigger than the Super Bowl. I actually do my Christmas shopping on that day because even if it’s the weekend after Thanksgiving the stores are almost empty. People were amazed that anybody would be amazed at the size of this event much like a horse racing fan would be shocked at somebody surprised the Kentucky Derby is so big. ETA: Link. The football game begins at 5:05 mark. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/50 "2010-02-25T21:25:07Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Fry was briefly famous in Alabama for featuring the Iron Bowl (the Auburn U. v. U. of Alabama football game) on his “Stephen Fry in America” show. He was absolutely amazed at how huge it was and was telling his British audience “believe it or not these aren’t professional teams, they’re middle sized universities!” > For those not familiar with the role of college football in the South, Auburn-Bama is bigger than the Super Bowl. I actually do my Christmas shopping on that day because even if it’s the weekend after Thanksgiving the stores are almost empty. People were amazed that anybody would be amazed at the size of this event much like a horse racing fan would be shocked at somebody surprised the Kentucky Derby is so big. > > ETA: Link. The football game begins at 5:05 mark. No link 😉 ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wU8edUO7eFM/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/wU8edUO7eFM?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque 🙂 I love his face when the fighters fly over and also when he is moved tp tears by the singing of “God bless America”. It is a spectacular show put on. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/51 "2010-02-25T21:44:56Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > No link 😉 > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU8edUO7eFM&NR=1](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU8edUO7eFM&NR=1) Tell the truth- don’t you feel more connected to it having found it yourself? If so, my job is done Grasshopper. or :smack: ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/52 "2010-02-25T21:52:39Z")
Here is a excellent programme. “Who do you think you are” were Fry traces his family. Some very moving parts about his family in Austria during the war and thier treatment under the nazies. All parts are there. Part I [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_Qh\_gzXPleI&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qh_gzXPleI&feature=related) Well worth a watch. I love Stephen. He’s such a mench. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/53 "2010-02-25T22:07:43Z")
Why he didn’t win at least an Oscar _nomination_ for WILDE is beyond me. He could not have done any more perfect a job if he WAS Wilde and in fact I honestly believe he was more like Oscar Wilde than Oscar Wilde was. Plus the role had everything: humor, tragedy, deception, everything in between, and he nailed it all around. One of the greatest performances every not to be honored by the Academy. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/54 "2010-02-25T22:30:05Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > Here is a excellent programme. “Who do you think you are” were Fry traces his family. Soon to [be a show on NBC](http://www.hitfix.com/articles/2009-1-27-lisa-kudrow-returns-to-nbc) with host Lisa Kudrow. I like Lisa Kudrow and I like genealogy so I’m looking forward to it, but I’m guessing it won’t be quite the same anyway.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/55 "2010-02-25T23:31:10Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Soon to [be a show on NBC](http://www.hitfix.com/articles/2009-1-27-lisa-kudrow-returns-to-nbc) with host Lisa Kudrow. I like Lisa Kudrow and I like genealogy so I’m looking forward to it, but I’m guessing it won’t be quite the same anyway.😉 The BBC version doesn’t really have a host. Pretty much the occasional voice over with the guest (one different person every episode) reading things and talking to people and the camera. ETA: talk about something that works a lot better than it sounds! 🙂 ---
**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:** [February 27, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/56 "2010-02-27T17:51:28Z")
Finally saw the taped show last night - I really enjoyed that. I wouldn’t like him to change the whole format of the show to that (I’d miss the monologues and Chris the Leather Boy and the musical opening numbers and Craig yelling at his director too much), but I’d like to see him do this again with guests of Stephen Fry’s calibre. Stephen was a fantastic choice for this - he’s obviously brilliant, well-educated, and extremely funny (you had to pay attention or you’d miss his little throwaway lines, like Hugh Laurie being a janitor at Fox now since he hasn’t had much success in America), and it showed just how good at this Craig is (also being brilliant and extremely funny - being a high school drop-out I can’t call him well-educated, but he’s obviously extremely well-read). Some future candidates for a show in this format - Hugh Laurie, John Cleese (or any members of Monty Python), Madeline Albright, Jon Stewart. ETA: Rowan Atkinson. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/57 "2010-02-27T21:12:32Z")
It’s on YouTube in 3 parts if anyone’s interested. [Part 1](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOHdhOTzI1o). ---
**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:** [February 27, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/58 "2010-02-27T22:34:29Z")
Just saw this and I was disappointed. Nothing wrong with the show. Perfectly pleasant and erudite and thoughtful and all that. But I don’t watch Craig Ferguson for those virtues. He’s best when he interrupts guests with wild digressions that take them both into fits of weirdness and giggling. That’s what he’s better than anybody else at. Why watch him do something he’s 37th best at? ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/59 "2010-02-27T22:40:48Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Just saw this and I was disappointed. Nothing wrong with the show. Perfectly pleasant and erudite and thoughtful and all that. But I don’t watch Craig Ferguson for those virtues. He’s best when he interrupts guests with wild digressions that take them both into fits of weirdness and giggling. That’s a good idea if Craig is interviewing someone who is nowhere near as funny as Stephen Fry. Personally, I loved this format, and think it might be a good idea to use it one day a week, carefully choosing guests who warrant it. ---
**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:** [February 27, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184/60 "2010-02-27T23:01:28Z")
Stephen Fry not only would be a better guest in Craig’s usual format, but he has been in the past. This is at least his third appearance. So I know from memory that this was a letdown over what could have been. Doesn’t mean I’m going to stop watching him if he does this again occasionally. If he does it once a week, I will stop watching him, but that’s because he’ll be taken off the air after about a month. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craig-fergusons-experiment-tonight-stephen-fry/530184.md?page=2)