Craig Ferguson Signs Off as Host of “The Late Late Show”
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Monty Brinton/CBS(LOS ANGELES) — Craig Ferguson said goodbye to late-night TV Friday with the help of Jay Leno and various surprise guest stars.
In his last opening monologue on CBS’ The Late Late Show, the 52-year-old Scotsman talked about becoming a U.S. citizen during his time as host. He called it the most “astonishing” thing that happened to him while working on the show.
He also stressed that he’s not retiring. “I wanted to do this show, and now we’ve done this show, and if you will indulge me in whatever I am doing now and come to whatever I do next, I’d be very grateful, because my kids are still young,” Ferguson, who currently hosts the syndicated game show Celebrity Name Game, said.
The final episode also featured a music video that transitioned into Ferguson singing “Bang Your Drum” by the Scottish group Dead Man Falls inside his studio. In the clip he was joined by an array of previous guests including Samuel L. Jackson, Steve Carell, Kristen Bell, Lisa Kudrow and Betty White.
Leno was Ferguson’s final guest, and he complimented him for not taking part in the late-night wars. “You’ve always been fair. You didn’t join the late-night talk-show snippy club,” Leno said.
The former Tonight Show host also told a funny story about zoning out while interviewing Trista from The Bachelorette. He said when she approached him in the parking lot for a photo, he didn’t even realize he had interviewed her that day.
Ferguson ended the show with a pre-taped sketch in which Secretariat, Ferguson’s famous pantomime horse, finally took off his mask, revealing Bob Newhart underneath. Ferguson then channeled the series finale of Newhart by waking up next to Drew Carey — Ferguson starred in The Drew Carey Show — and recounting a horrible dream he’d had of being a talk show host.
Ferguson hosted The Late Late Show for 10 years. British comedian James Corden will take his place in March of 2015. In the meantime, a series of guest hosts will be filling in.
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