Craig Ferguson by Gage Skidmore
Craig Ferguson is a multi-talented and seriously funny guy, with a silliness that occasionally spills over into the realm of genius (and often is simply silly) but his arsenal of talents is no joke.
The irreverent, puppeteering comic host of the Late Late Show started out as a musician, playing drums and guitar (although his childhood dream was to become an astronaut– the only thing he hasn’t yet tried). Along the way, he also wrote the feature films Saving Grace (in which he also starred opposite Brenda Blethyn) and The Big Tease, and penned the best-selling novel Between the Bridge and the River. His latest book, the autobiography American On Purpose, details his picaresque path from the rough streets and bars of Glasgow to sobriety, stardom and American citizenship (in that order). As an actor, Ferguson has guest starred on numerous TV series and is featured as the voice of the Viking ‘Gobber’ in the recent animated hit feature, How to Train Your Dragon.
Since taking over the Late Late Show as the protege of his time-slot predecessor David Letterman in 2005, the Scotsman has set all-time viewer records in the five years he’s been on the air. The show won a 2009 Peabody Award for broadcasting excellence in news and entertainment for his episode The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson: An Evening with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Combining several of his best talents, Ferguson even composed the only singable — and unforgettable– late night TV theme tune, Tomorrow’s Just Your Future Yesterday, on which he performs as a vocalist, drummer and of course, a puppeteer.
Fans (like the author of this post) know that he starts every show with the phrase “It’s a great day for America, everybody!” When you can use so many of your talents as he does, every day really is a great day (or night), for him and everyone who enjoys his work.
