# Why does Craig Ferguson flash emails the way he does? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2011, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440 "2011-01-13T11:39:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Jay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b77776/32.png) [@The\_Jay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Jay)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/1 "2011-01-13T11:39:20Z")
Whenever Craig Ferguson is reading out letters on his show, he will start with “This is from John Smith of New York” and then he will quickly flash the piece of paper that the email is written on to the camera, but only for half a second. The audience laugh when he does this. Is this just funny because it is quirky? Is it funny because it is mocking something or referring to something? ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/2 "2011-01-13T12:12:47Z")
Because it’s funny. Don’t work so hard. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/3 "2011-01-13T12:17:06Z")
The funny thing about that email flash is that I can’t remember his audience laughing at that until a few months ago. He’s just mocking the way other hosts will hold up books and emails and things so the camera can focus on them. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Jay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b77776/32.png) [@The\_Jay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Jay)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/4 "2011-01-13T12:24:21Z")
Thanks Marley, that makes more sense. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2011, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/5 "2011-01-13T14:24:06Z")
He did used to hold it up long enough to see the name of the sender, but now he does it fast so he can get to the jokes. A lot of the humour Craig utilises is his attempt to deconstruct traditional US TV. Not only was the UK TV he grew up with often self-deprecating and absurdist, but it thumbed its nose at tradition, and he’s attempting to introduce some of that into his show. Baby steps. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/6 "2011-01-13T14:35:07Z")
Because he can. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/7 "2011-01-13T14:42:31Z")
I see at as more of a nod to children’s traditional jokes. Muck like the oft used “I know you are but what am I” or “What are you eating under there… underwear??”. We did it as kid’s a lot when you would have a new toy, or book, or whatever and you friends would pester “Can I see it, can I see it!” and you’d flash it in front of their face for a split second and respond “There! Now you’ve seen it.” ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/8 "2011-01-13T15:34:47Z")
In the old days when Letterman did the Viewer Mail/CBS Mailbag segment the letter would be shown while Dave read the letter. Craig flashing the email plays against that old expectation. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/9 "2011-01-13T16:22:46Z")
I miss Craig’s sound effects machine. Cheeky little monkeys. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/10 "2011-01-13T17:33:09Z")
> [@fiddlesticks](#): > > In the old days when Letterman did the Viewer Mail/CBS Mailbag segment the letter would be shown while Dave read the letter. Craig flashing the email plays against that old expectation. I rememeber Letterman saying, “Hey, if these letters weren’t real, could I do this?” and he’d wack them over and over on his hand. I don’t remember them showing them. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/11 "2011-01-13T17:43:40Z")
Early, early Letterman showed the letter, often with the part being read circled. I think he did it on his daytime show too. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/12 "2011-01-13T18:10:03Z")
And why don’t they ever show the band… ---
**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:** [January 13, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/13 "2011-01-13T19:57:26Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > And why don’t they ever show the band… As if this dinky little show could afford a band[/CF] ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/14 "2011-01-13T20:46:30Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > i miss craig’s sound effects machine. _ **Who’s that at the door?!?!** _ ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/15 "2011-01-13T21:12:08Z")
If he really wanted to take postmodern deconstructionism to the extreme, he’d get an iPad, set it up on the stage, and then flash the e-mail on the screen. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/16 "2011-01-13T21:26:16Z")
I miss his intros to e-mail. Angels. Monkeys. His own image. Monkey angels doing a Rockette high-kick dance line. Last time I looked, he was just going straight to e-mails. It was a little thing, but it was clever, and I miss it. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/17 "2011-01-13T21:28:11Z")
> [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](#): > > _ **Who’s that at the door?!?!** _ _Balls._ **IN YOUR PANTS!** ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/18 "2011-01-13T21:59:05Z")
In \*your \*pants. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/19 "2011-01-13T22:16:27Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I rememeber Letterman saying, “Hey, if these letters weren’t real, could I do this?” and he’d wack them over and over on his hand. > > I don’t remember them showing them. [1989 Viewer Mail segment](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGJManMCFIE) (feat. Henry Mancini’s haunting Viewer Mail theme) [Undated CBS Mailbag segment](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adYpFQnrocQ) ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440/20 "2011-01-13T23:08:01Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I miss his intros to e-mail. He’s still doing them. Last night had the “e-mail and Twitter attack” one. He came back from break with at least one new one. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-craig-ferguson-flash-emails-the-way-he-does/567440.md?page=2)