THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON BIDS FAREWELL

DOS EAT DOG BIDS FAREWELL TO THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON

Do the conversations between late night television hosts and their guests ever seem stilted to you? Rehearsed? Does the host ever seem to be asking leading questions to open the door for an amusing anecdote? Well, I hate to shatter the illusion, but that's because they are. Guests undergo an extensive pre-interview process to ensure that a host can find something to talk with them about. In an age of publicists and public image consultants, this fact isn't really surprising. What is surprising is that this process is completely thrown out the window on Craig Ferguson's late late show.

Mila Kunis reveals why guests love doing The Late Late Show

I know this because it's been brought up by Ferguson's guests, while in the same breath revealing that his is the easiest, least stressful, most enjoyable show to guest on. His interviews have a conversational ease that makes them stick out from the traditional talk show fare, and their unrehearsed nature is reflected by Ferguson's symbolic destruction of his note cards at the beginning of each guest segment. It helps that he only has people on the show that he's interested in talking to; you won't, for example, see Kim Kardashian on the Late Late Show plugging her latest perfume line.

Irreverent, off the cuff, and tongue in cheek, Ferguson has spent the last ten years making light of the serious and entertaining college kids, night owls, and people with internet connections the world over. He works within the confines of the late night talk show format, while at the same time shredding the format's conventions, lighting them on fire, and dancing on their grave with his trusty horse companion, Secratariat. His late night sidekick is a talking skeleton named Geoff Peterson. His band is non-existent, though frequently referenced. And, you never know who is going to phone in on his ever present vintage telephone, from "Morgan Freeman" to "Bill Clinton" to "Evil Santa Clause". A mounted rhinoceros head shouts quips from above a faux fire-place. Surreal bumper videos of Bowie/Terminator hybrids herald his comedic fan mail segments. All in all, Ferguson's set is reminiscent of a demented talk show version of Pee Wee's playhouse. It's silly, but never stupid. Ferguson compares his haircut to that of Irish avant-garde author Samuel Becket, and criticizes the paintings of abstract expressionist Mark Rothko; he somehow refuses to appeal to the lowest common denominator while doing exactly that, often to the chagrin of his perpetually displeased producer Michael Naidus (who Ferguson, jokingly, accuses of anti-semitism despite his jewish origin).

Ferguson's put upon producer, Michael Naidus

Ferguson's repartee with sidekick Geoff Peterson is always a highlight of the show

Ferguson takes a phone call

Secratariat entertains the crowd!

Partially, all of this is because... Well, the show is on at 12:30, and he can get away with it. But beyond that, it's because Ferguson is an genuine, one-of-a-kind soul. He is seemingly incapable of inauthenticity. He doesn't toe the party line. He speaks frankly about his past problems with addiction, and about his true feelings toward his show, CBS, and his audience.

Ferguson speaks frankly about his past addictions

Ferguson's final Late Late Show aired tonight. It was a typical episode, and the perfect sendoff for an atypical host. His presence will be sorely missed in the sphere of late night television. Dos Eat Dog bids Craig Ferguson a fond farewell, and wishes him much luck in his future endeavours!