White House Dinner Teaches the World Something I Already Knew: Craig Ferguson Is God

Craig Ferguson is God.

I first wrote those words back in 2006, when I was transfixed by the stream of consciousness monologues CBS' Late Late Show host would spin every night. In the same way that David Letterman and Conan O'Brien were more interesting when the world wasn't paying attention, Ferguson was spell-binding back then, occasionally using the monologue for serious statements on his relationship with his dad or how he felt, as a recovering addict, the time had come to stop making fun of Britney Spears.

I wrote a story about Ferguson last year that seemed to be reprinted all over the place, based on spending a half hour with the unassuming Scotsman and hanging out for a show taping. He shared about his love for South Florida and let slip that he might walk away from the show when his five years contract expires.

Now, everyone loves Ferguson because he hit a home run over the weekend as the keynote speaker for the White House Correspondents Dinner, tweaking President Bush and Dick Cheney with the right mixture of deference and sass (on Cheney: "He's funny for an evil guy."), while paying tribute to his own new status as a recently-approved citizen and even dinging the New York Times for passing up the dinner after Jayson Blair and Judith Miller already ruined their journalistic reputation.

Watching Craig dissect the dinner last night, it's obvious he's not as freewheeling as he used to be. The set's nicer, the jokes a little more predictable and his ratings have risen above media darling O'Brien's for the first time in his tenure. See a take from Europe here.

I think America's finally about to discover what I've been preaching for years, and Ferguson may find leaving the late night gig as he's peaking tougher than he anticipates.

Check out his dinner speech here:

Comments

[Eric Deggans]

Craig is indeed a really talented guy. And there's something amazing about these shows, when a host hits on something that is resonating with the audience and the culture, but it hasn't gotten old or established, yet.

Letterman had it, Conan had it, Ferguson had it, Jimmy Kimmel is getting there. After that moment, the show can still be fun and entertaining, but it's never really the same...

[Marissa]

He's wicked brilliant. I am usually unable to stay up late enough to watch him regularly, but I adore his humor. I'm a wimp and long for sleep.

His movies are quite hysterical, too.
"Saving Grace" and "The Big Tease" are well worth seeking out. Both of which he wrote, by the way.

[Susan]

I do think that maybe the best monologues were done back in 05-06 years. I started watching in November of '06. I've caught some of the older ones on youtube. I do agree that the jokes now are a little more predictable and he is not as freewheeling as he used to be. Back in the older years I don't think he did as much standup around the country as he does now so I'm guessing he had spent more time on the show to get it off the ground and therefore more time and attention to the monologue. Also he is only 45 so he has only so many stories in him about his drinking and divorces. I do think that he has it pounded in his head from his father that he has to have job satisfaction. When his contract is up he may be bored with it and it will show and he won't be happy or satisfied just to do it because he has a show that bears his name on it. Boredom and Craig don't mesh well together. Good grief, you can tell when they come back from commercial that he can't sit still! If he does leave, well because I'M selfish, I will be glad because he owes us readers a second novel and he can't do that doing the show every day. Wouldn't want him to. Does he leave does he stay?
I see it as a win-win.