Craig Ferguson (born 17 May 1962) is a Scottish-born American television host, stand-up comedian, writer, actor, director, author, producer and voice artist. He is the host of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, an Emmy Award-nominated, Peabody Award-winning late-night talk show that airs on CBS. Additionally, Ferguson hosts the syndicated Celebrity Name Game. After starting his career in Britain with music, comedy and theatre, Ferguson moved to the United States where he found success in the role of Nigel Wick on The Drew Carey Show. He has written and starred in three films, directing one of them. Ferguson has also written two books: Between the Bridge and the River, a novel, and American on Purpose, a memoir.Early life and education[edit] Ferguson was born in Stobhill Hospital, in the Springburn district of Glasgow, Scotland, to Robert and Janet Ferguson, on 17 May 1962,[2][3] and raised in nearby Cumbernauld, growing up "chubby and bullied". He was raised Scottish Presbyterian.[4][5] When he was six months old, he and his family moved from their Springburn apartment to a council house in Cumbernauld. They lived there as Glasgow was re-housing many people following damage to the city from World War II.[5] Ferguson attended Muirfield Primary School and Cumbernauld High School.[6] At age sixteen, Ferguson dropped out of Cumbernauld High School and began an apprenticeship to be an electronics technician at a local factory of American company Burroughs Corporation.[7] His first visit to the United States was as a teenager to visit an uncle who lived on Long Island, near New York City.[8] When he moved to New York City in 1983, he worked in construction in Harlem.[9][10] Ferguson later became a bouncer at the nightclub Save the Robots. The Late Late Show[edit] Main article: The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson In December 2004, it was announced that Ferguson would be the successor to Craig Kilborn on CBS's The Late Late Show. His first show as the regular host aired on 3 January 2005. By May 2008, Ben Alba, an American television historian and an authority on U.S. talk shows, said Ferguson "has already made his mark, taking the TV monologue to new levels with an underlying story. But he is only just starting ... He is making up his own rules: It's the immigrant experience."[20] The show is unique in that it has no "human" sidekicks such as Ed McMahon on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson or Conan O'Brien's Andy Richter.[26][27] He has a remotely operated skeleton named Geoff Peterson and two silent performers in a horse costume. His monologues are conducted within a few feet of the camera versus the long distance that Johnny Carson kept from the camera and audience.[28] These props are the modern offspring of the legendary comedian Soupy Sales with his children's show being uncannily similar although not nearly as consistent as Ferguson's polished and intuitive delivery.[29] The Late Late Show averaged 2.0 million viewers in its 2007 season, compared with 2.5 million for Late Night with Conan O'Brien.[30] In April 2008, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson beat Late Night with Conan O'Brien for weekly ratings (1.88 million to 1.77 million) for the first time since the two shows went head-to-head with their respective hosts.[31] By the end of 2009, Craig Ferguson topped Jimmy Fallon in the ratings with Ferguson getting a 1.8 rating/6 share and Fallon receiving a 1.6 rating/6 share.[32] By 2014, Ferguson's ratings had faltered, trailing those of Late Night with Seth Meyers with an average of 1.35 million viewers versus 2.02 million.[33] On 28 April 2014, Ferguson announced he will leave The Late Late Show at the end of 2014.[34] His contract was set to expire in June 2014, but a six-month extension was agreed on in order to provide a more graceful exit and give CBS more time to find a replacement host.[35][36] He will reportedly receive US$5 million as part of his contract because he was not selected as the replacement for Letterman's Late Show.[37] Ferguson made the decision prior to Letterman's announcement but agreed to delay making his own decision public until the reaction to Letterman's decision had died down.[36] CBS Entertainment Chair Nina Tassler said, following the announcement, that in his decade as host Ferguson had "infused the broadcast with tremendous energy, unique comedy, insightful interviews and some of the most heartfelt monologues seen on television."[38] CBS intends to continue the franchise with James Corden as the new host

• published: 20 Nov 2014
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