Craig Ferguson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the hockey player, see Craig Ferguson (ice hockey).

Craig Ferguson
Craig Ferguson, 2014.jpg
Ferguson at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con, speaking at the NERD Machine HQ
PseudonymBing Hitler[1]
Born (1962-05-17) 17 May 1962 (age 59)
Springburn, Glasgow, Scotland
MediumStand-up, television, film, music, books
Nationality
Years active1980–present
Genres
  • Observational comedy
  • improvisational comedy
  • surreal comedy
  • blue comedy
  • satire
  • deadpan
Subject(s)
  • American culture
  • Scottish culture
  • politics
  • everyday life
  • pop culture
  • self-deprecation
  • current events
Spouse
Anne Hogarth
​
​
(m. 1983; div. 1986)​
Sascha Corwin
​
​
(m. 1998; div. 2004)​
Megan Wallace-Cunningham
​
​
(m. 2008)​
Children2
Notable works and roles
WebsiteThe Craig Ferguson Show

Craig Ferguson (born 17 May 1962) is a Scottish-American actor, author, comedian and television host. He is best known for hosting the CBS late-night talk show The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005–14), for which he won a Peabody Award in 2009 for his interview with South African archbishop Desmond Tutu that year. He also hosted the syndicated game show Celebrity Name Game (2014–17), for which he won two Daytime Emmy Awards, and Join or Die with Craig Ferguson (2016) on History.[2] In 2017 he released a six-episode web show with his wife, Megan Wallace Cunningham, titled Couple Thinkers.[3][4]

After starting his career in the UK with music, comedy, and theatre, Ferguson moved to the U.S., where he appeared in the role of Nigel Wick on the ABC sitcom The Drew Carey Show (1996–2004). Ferguson has written three books: Between the Bridge and the River, a novel; American on Purpose, a memoir; and Riding the Elephant: A Memoir of Altercations, Humiliations, Hallucinations & Observations. He holds both British and American citizenship.

He has written and starred in three films, directing one of them, and has appeared in several others, including several voice-over roles for animations. He provided voice work for Gobber in the How to Train Your Dragon film series (2010–2019), Owl in Winnie the Pooh (2011) and Lord Macintosh in Brave (2012).

Since 2021, Ferguson has hosted the American game show The Hustler on the ABC television network.

Early life and education[]

Ferguson was born in Stobhill Hospital in the Springburn district of Glasgow, to Robert and Janet Ferguson on 17 May 1962.[5][6] When he was 6 months old, he and his family moved from their Springburn flat to a Development Corporation house in the nearby New Town of Cumbernauld, where he grew up "chubby and bullied".[7][8] They lived there as Cumbernauld was rehousing many Glaswegians away from the poor housing conditions and damage to the city from World War II.[8] Ferguson attended Muirfield Primary School[9] and Cumbernauld High School.[10] At age 16, Ferguson left high school and began an apprenticeship to be an electronics technician at a local factory of American company Burroughs Corporation.[11]

His first visit to the United States was in 1975, when he was 13, to visit an uncle who lived on Long Island, near New York City.[12] When he moved to New York City in 1983, he worked in construction in Harlem.[13][14] Ferguson later became a bouncer at the nightclub Save the Robots before returning to Scotland.[15]

Career[]

UK career[]

Ferguson's experience in entertainment began as a teenager as a drummer for Glasgow punk bands such as the Night Creatures and Exposure. Shortly afterward, he had a brief stint as a drummer for the post-punk band Ana Hausen, who released a single for Human Records in 1981.[16] He then joined a punk band called The Bastards from Hell. The band, later renamed Dreamboys, and fronted by vocalist Peter Capaldi, performed regularly in Glasgow from 1980 to 1982.[17] Ferguson credits Capaldi for inspiring him to try comedy.[7] When he was 18, he worked as a session musician and performed as a drummer for Nico during a few gigs when she toured Scotland.[16]

After a nerve-racking first comedy appearance, he decided to create a character that he described as a "parody of all the über-patriotic native folk singers who seemed to infect every public performance in Scotland".[7] The character was named "Bing Hitler" by Capaldi.[17] Ferguson first performed as the character in Glasgow, and he later became a hit at the 1986 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. However, by the end of the year, Ferguson was already discussing his intention to retire Bing. At the press launch for an alternative pantomime of Sleeping Beauty (which he had co-written with Capaldi),[18] he said "you can't write for just one character forever".[19] A recording of his stage act as Bing Hitler was made at Glasgow's Tron Theatre and released in the 1980s;[20] a Bing Hitler monologue ("A Lecture for Burns Night") appears on the compilation cassette Honey at the Core.[21]

After enjoying success at the Edinburgh Festival,[22] Ferguson appeared on television as 'Confidence' in Red Dwarf, on STV's Hogmanay Shows,[23] and on the 1993 One Foot in the Grave Christmas special One Foot in the Algarve. In 1990, a pilot of The Craig Ferguson Show, a one-off comedy pilot for Granada Television, was broadcast. It co-starred Paul Whitehouse and Helen Atkinson-Wood.[24] In 1991, Channel 4 asked him to host Friday at the Dome, a 75-minute live music show.[25][26] In 1992, he was given his own BBC Scotland show, 2000 Not Out.[27]

In 1993, he presented a six-part archaeology TV series, The Dirt Detective, for STV.[28][29][30] Also in 1993, he was given a six-part TV series on BBC One. The Ferguson Theory was a mix of stand-up and sketches recorded the day before transmission.[31][32][33] In 2017, it was announced that he would return to UK television for the first time in 25 years[34] in a guest role in BBC Scotland's comedy Still Game, to be shown in 2018.[35]

Ferguson also found success in musical theatre. Beginning in 1991, he appeared on stage as Brad Majors in the London production of The Rocky Horror Show.[36] In 1994, Ferguson played Father MacLean in production of Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom at the Union Chapel in London. The same year, he appeared again at the Edinburgh Fringe, as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple.[37]

US career[]

Ferguson (left) at the premiere of Brave with First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, 2012

Ferguson moved to Los Angeles in November 1994, after his soon-to-be agent Rick Siegel saw Ferguson during the Edinburgh Festival and suggested that he come to America.[38] His first US role was as baker Logan McDonough on the short-lived 1995 ABC comedy Maybe This Time, which starred Betty White and Marie Osmond.

His breakthrough in the US came when he was cast on The Drew Carey Show as the title character's boss, Mr. Wick, a role he played from 1996 to 2003. He played the role with an over-the-top posh English accent "to make up for generations of English actors doing crap Scottish accents". In his comedy special "A Wee Bit o' Revolution", he specifically identified James Doohan's portrayal of Montgomery Scott on Star Trek as the foundation of his "revenge". (At the end of one episode, though, Ferguson broke the fourth wall and began talking to the audience at home in his regular Scottish accent.) His character was memorable for his unique methods of laying employees off, almost always "firing Johnson", the most common last name of the to-be-fired workers.[39] Even after leaving the show in 2003, he remained a recurring character on the series for the last two seasons, and was part of the two-part series finale in 2004.

During the production of The Drew Carey Show, Ferguson devoted his off-time as a cast member to writing, working in his trailer on set in between shooting his scenes. He wrote and starred in three films: The Big Tease, Saving Grace, and I'll Be There; he also directed the latter, for which he won the Audience Award for Best Film at the Aspen, Dallas, and Valencia film festivals. He was named Best New Director at the Napa Valley Film Festival. These were among other scripts that, "...  in the great tradition of the movie business, about half a dozen that I got paid a fortune for but never got made."[40]

His other acting credits in films include Niagara Motel, Lenny the Wonder Dog, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Chain of Fools, Born Romantic, The Ugly Truth, Kick-Ass, and, as a voice-over actor, How to Train Your Dragon, How to Train Your Dragon 2, Brave, and Winnie the Pooh.[41]

Ferguson has been touring the United States and Canada with a comedy show since the late 2000s, including a performance at Carnegie Hall on 23 October 2010 and a performance at Radio City Music Hall on 6 October 2012. He has performed two stand-up television specials on Comedy Central, both released on DVD: A Wee Bit o' Revolution in 2009 and Does This Need to Be Said? in 2011. His third comedy special, I'm Here to Help, was released on Netflix in 2013, garnering positive reviews of 4 out of 5 stars on Netflix and peaking at number 6 on Billboard top comedy albums.[42][43] It also received a 2014 Grammy Award nomination for Best Comedy Album.[44]

Ferguson was awarded the Peter Ustinov Comedy Award by the Banff World Media Festival on 11 June 2013.[45]

The Late Late Show[]

Main article: The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

In December 2004, it was announced that Ferguson would succeed Craig Kilborn on CBS's The Late Late Show. His first show as the regular host aired on 3 January 2005. The show was unique in that it had no "human" sidekicks such as Ed McMahon on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson or Conan O'Brien's Andy Richter.[46][47] He had a remotely operated robot skeleton named Geoff Peterson and two silent performers in a pantomime horse costume that were added in 2010. His monologues were conducted within a few feet of the camera versus the long distance Johnny Carson kept from the camera and audience.[48]

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.[49] 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.[50]

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.[jargon][51] 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.[52]

On 28 April 2014, Ferguson announced he would leave The Late Late Show at the end of 2014,[53] with the final episode airing on 19 December.[54] His contract was set to expire in June 2014, but a six-month extension was agreed on to provide a more graceful exit and give CBS more time to find a replacement host.[55][56] He reportedly received US$5 million as part of his contract because he was not selected as the replacement for David Letterman's Late Show.[57] 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.[56] 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."[58] CBS continued the franchise with James Corden as the new host.[59]

Television work[]

Performing stand-up in New York City, 2007.

Craig Ferguson has made guest appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Rachael Ray, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, The Howard Stern Show, The Daily Show, The View, Loveline, Real Time with Bill Maher, The Soup, The Talk, The Price Is Right, Kevin Pollak's Chat Show, The Dennis Miller Show and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He also co-hosted Live with Regis & Kelly with Kelly Ripa and was guest host on the April Fools' Day episode of The Price Is Right in 2014.

In 2009, Ferguson made a cameo live-action appearance in the episode "We Love You, Conrad" on Family Guy. Ferguson hosted the 32nd annual People's Choice Awards on 10 January 2006.[60] TV Guide magazine printed a "Cheers" (Cheers and Jeers section) for appearing on his own show that same evening.[citation needed] From 2007 to 2010, Ferguson hosted the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on 4 July, broadcast nationally by CBS. Ferguson was the featured entertainer at 26 April 2008 White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, DC.[61]

Ferguson co-presented the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama with Brooke Shields in 2008. He has done voice work in cartoons, including being the voice of Barry's evil alter-ego in the "With Friends Like Steve's" episode of American Dad!; in Freakazoid! as Roddy MacStew, Freakazoid's mentor; and on Buzz Lightyear of Star Command as the robot vampire NOS-4-A2. He was the voice of Susan the boil on Futurama, which was a parody of Scottish singer Susan Boyle. He makes stand-up appearances in Las Vegas and New York City. He headlined in the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal and in October 2008 Ferguson taped his stand up show in Boston for a Comedy Central special entitled A Wee Bit o' Revolution, which aired on 22 March 2009.

British television comedy drama Doc Martin was based on a character from Ferguson's film Saving Grace – with Ferguson getting writing credits for 12 episodes.[62] On 6 November 2009, Ferguson appeared as himself in a SpongeBob SquarePants special titled SpongeBob's Truth or Square.[63] He hosted Discovery Channel's 23rd season of Shark Week in 2010. Ferguson briefly appeared in Toby Keith's "Red Solo Cup" music video released on 10 October 2011.[64]

In September 2013, Ferguson guest-starred on the season finale of Hot in Cleveland as a priest/tabloid journalist who turns out to be the father of Joy's (Jane Leeves) son. The show reunited him with former co-star and frequent Late Late Show guest Betty White. Ferguson reprised the role for several episodes when the show returned in March 2014.

Celebrity Name Game[]

Ferguson speaking at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con

In October 2013, it was announced that Ferguson would host the syndicated game show Celebrity Name Game, produced by Coquette Productions, beginning in late 2014.[65] Ferguson's involvement in the project dates back to 2011, when it was originally pitched and piloted as a CBS primetime series.[66][67] As of April 2014, the series has an initial order of 180 episodes.[57] The syndicated series began airing on 22 September 2014. Ferguson won Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game Show Host for Celebrity Name Game in 2015[68] and 2016.[69] On 2 December 2016, it was announced that the series would end after three seasons.[70]

Ferguson signed in 2015 to play Prentiss Porter in The King of 7B, a comedy pilot for ABC.[71] However, the show was not picked up.[72]

Join or Die with Craig Ferguson[]

Main article: Join or Die with Craig Ferguson

On 18 February 2016, Ferguson began to host a historical talk show on History titled Join or Die with Craig Ferguson. The title is a reference to a Benjamin Franklin political cartoon published in the Pennsylvania Gazette on 9 May 1754, which Ferguson had tattooed on his forearm after becoming an American citizen.[73] Ferguson and a three-guest panel of comedians and historians conduct a humorous discussion of a different topic on each episode, such as the most doomed presidential campaign, greatest Founding Father and greatest invention, with viewers invited to share their opinions via Twitter.[72]

The Hustler[]

Main article: The Hustler (American game show)

Since January 2021, Ferguson has hosted the American game show The Hustler which broadcasts on the American Broadcasting Company television network. The show follows five contestants who collaborate to build up a cash prize by answering a series of trivia questions presented by Ferguson, whilst one of the contestants is secretly designated as the Hustler beforehand and given the answers to all the questions.

By the end of the game, two of the honest contestants have been eliminated; the other two must correctly choose the Hustler in order to stop him/her from winning the entire prize. The series premiered on January 4, 2021, before moving to its regular timeslot on January 7, 2021, airing on Thursdays at 10 p.m.[74]

Radio[]

On 27 February 2017, Ferguson launched The Craig Ferguson Show, a two-hour talk radio show on the Comedy Greats channel and Faction Talk on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.[75][76] His last new show aired 11 May 2018.

Literature[]

Ferguson's novel Between the Bridge and the River was published on 10 April 2006. He appeared at the Los Angeles Festival of Books, as well as other author literary events. "This book could scare them", he said. "The sex, the violence, the dream sequences and the iconoclasm. I think a lot of people are uncomfortable with that. I understand that. It was very uncomfortable to write some of it."[77] The novel is dedicated to his elder son, Milo, and to his grandfather, Adam. He revealed in an interview that he is writing a sequel to the book, to be titled The Sphynx of the Mississippi.[78] He also stated in a 2006 interview with David Letterman that he intends the book to be the first in a trilogy.[79] As of February 2019, Ferguson has produced no further novels, although he has published non-fiction.

Ferguson signed a deal with HarperCollins to publish his memoirs.[80] The book, entitled American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot, focuses on "how and why [he] became an American" and covers his years as a punk rocker, dancer, bouncer and construction worker as well as the rise of his career in Hollywood as an actor and comic. It went on sale 22 September 2009 in the United States.[81][82] On 1 December 2010 the audiobook version was nominated for a Best Spoken Word Album Grammy.[83]

In July 2009, Jackie Collins was a guest on The Late Late Show to promote her new book Married Lovers. Collins said a character in her book, Don Verona, was based on Ferguson because she was such a fan of him and his show.[84]

Ferguson wrote a short story for In Sunlight or in Shadow (2017, Pegasus Crime), an anthology edited by Lawrence Block and featuring works inspired by the paintings of Edward Hopper (1882-1967). Block is a favorite writer of Ferguson's and appeared multiple times on The Late Late Show.

On 10 October 2018, Ferguson announced his third book via Twitter,[85] Riding the Elephant: A Memoir of Altercations, Humiliations, Hallucinations, and Observations which released 7 May 2019.[86]

Personal life[]

Ferguson is a fan of Scottish football team Partick Thistle F.C.[17] as well as the British television show Doctor Who. He holds an FAA private pilot certificate, issued in 2009.[87] He has five tattoos which include the Join, or Die political cartoon on his right forearm;[88][89] a Ferguson family crest with the Latin motto Dulcius ex asperis ("Sweeter out of [or from] difficulty") on his upper right arm in honour of his father;[90] and a Celtic cross with the Ingram clan motto Magnanimus esto (Be great of mind) on his upper left arm in honour of his mother.[91][92] He has often said that his Join, or Die tattoo is intended to signal his American patriotism.[88] Ferguson returned to live in Scotland in 2019.[93]

Ferguson consumes neither meat nor alcohol, as he is both a vegan (having stated in 2016 that he had been vegan for almost three years[94]) and a recovering alcoholic. Ferguson has been sober since February 18, 1992.[95][96]

As mentioned in episode 7 of his television show Join or Die, Ferguson also plays the harp (although not well and was kicked out of the band as a result).

Influences[]

Ferguson has stated that his comedy influences include Monty Python, Marx Brothers, The Three Stooges, Laurel and Hardy,[97] and David Letterman.[98]

Family[]

Ferguson eulogised his father Robert on an episode of The Late Late Show in January 2006. Following the death of his mother Janet (3 August 1933 – 1 December 2008), he spoke of her on-air, ending the programme by playing her favourite song: "Rivers of Babylon" by Boney M.[99]

Ferguson has two sisters (one older and one younger) and one older brother.[100] His younger sister, Lynn Ferguson Tweddle, is also a comedian, presenter, and actress, who voiced Mac in the 2000 stop-motion animation film Chicken Run. She was a writer on The Late Late Show until July 2011.[101]

Ferguson has married three times and divorced twice. His first marriage was to Anne Hogarth from 1983 to 1986, during which time they lived in New York. His second marriage was to Sascha Corwin (founder and proprietor of Los Angeles' SpySchool), with whom he has one son, born in 2001. He and Corwin shared custody of their son, and live near each other in the Hollywood Hills. In 2008, Ferguson married art dealer Megan Wallace-Cunningham in a private ceremony on her family's farm in Chester, Vermont.[102] They have a son together, who was born in 2011.[103]

American citizenship[]

During 2007, Ferguson, who at the time held only British citizenship, used The Late Late Show as a forum for seeking honorary citizenship from every state in the US. He received honorary citizenship from Nebraska, Arkansas, Virginia, Montana, North Dakota, New Jersey, Tennessee, South Carolina, South Dakota, Nevada, Alaska, Texas, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, and Indiana, and was "commissioned" as an admiral in the tongue-in-cheek Nebraska Navy.[104] Governors Jon Corzine (New Jersey), John Hoeven (North Dakota), Mark Sanford (South Carolina), Mike Rounds (South Dakota), Rick Perry (Texas), Sarah Palin (Alaska) and Jim Gibbons (Nevada) sent letters to him that made him an honorary citizen of their respective states. He received similar honours from various towns and cities, including Ozark, Arkansas; Hazard, Kentucky; and Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

Ferguson became an American citizen on 1 February 2008[105] and broadcast the taking of his citizenship test as well as his swearing in on The Late Late Show.[106]

In 2019 Ferguson moved with his family back to Scotland.[107]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Modern Vampires Richard
1999 The Big Tease Crawford Mackenzie Also writer
2000 Chain of Fools Melander Stevens
2000 Born Romantic Frankie
2000 Saving Grace Matthew Stewart Also writer
2002 Life Without Dick Jared O'Reilly
2002 Prendimi l'anima (The Soul Keeper) Richard Fraser
2003 I'll Be There Paul Kerr Also director and writer
2004 Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Person of Indeterminate Gender
2004 Lenny the Wonder Dog Dr. Richard Wagner
2006 Niagara Motel Phillie
2007 Trust Me Ted Truman
2009 The Ugly Truth Himself Cameo
2010 How to Train Your Dragon Gobber (voice)
2010 Kick-Ass Himself Cameo
2010 Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon Gobber (voice) Short film
2011 Gift of the Night Fury Gobber (voice) Short film
2011 Book of Dragons Gobber (voice) Short film
2011 Winnie the Pooh Owl (voice)
2012 Brave Lord Macintosh (voice)
2012 Big Top Scooby-Doo! Whitney Doubleday (voice)
2014 How to Train Your Dragon 2 Gobber (voice)
2014 Postman Pat: The Movie Craig, Not a Dalek (voice)
2014 The Hero of Color City Nat (voice)
2018 Duck Duck Goose Giles (voice)
2019 How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Gobber (voice)
2020 Then Came You Howard

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Red Dwarf Lister's Confidence Episode: "Confidence and Paranoia"
1988 Chelmsford 123 Scott Episode: "Peeled, Grapes, and Pedicures"
1988 The Laughter Show Various Characters Episode: "2.4"
1992 The Bogie Man Detective Sergeant Ure Television film
1993 One Foot in the Grave Glaswegian beach bully Episode: "One foot in the Algarve"
1994 The Dirt Detective: A History of Scotland Himself (host) 6 episodes
1994 The Ferguson Theory Various roles 5 episodes; also creator, writer, executive producer
1995–1996 Maybe This Time Logan McDonough 18 episodes
1995 Aaahh!!! Real Monsters Cammander / French Man / Weatherman (voices) Episode: "Garbage Ahoy/Goin' (Way) South"
1995–1997 Freakazoid! Roddy MacStew (voice) 7 episodes
1996–2004 The Drew Carey Show Nigel Wick 185 episodes
1996 Almost Perfect Peter Church Episode: "Suites for the Sweet"
1998 The Lionhearts Various roles Episode: "Survive"
1998 Hercules Agent Epsilon / Orion (voices) 3 episodes
1999 The Wild Thornberrys Jope (voice) Episode: "Dances with Dingoes"
2000 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command NOS 4 A2 (voice) 5 episodes
2001 The Angry Beavers Wizard / TV Announcer (voices) Episode: "Beavemaster/Deck Poops"
2001 The Norm Show Rob Episode: "Norm Comes Back"
2001 The Legend of Tarzan Samuel T. Philander (voice) 4 episodes
2005 Life as We Know It Oliver Davies Episode: "Papa Wheelie"
2005–2014 The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson Himself (host) 2,058 episodes; also writer
2005 Vampire Bats Fisherman Television film
2006, 2019 American Dad! Evil Barry (voice) 2 episodes
2008 White House Correspondents' Dinner Himself (host) Television special
2009 Craig Ferguson: A Wee Bit o' Revolution Himself Stand-up special
2009 Family Guy Himself Episode: "We Love You, Conrad"
2009 SpongeBob SquarePants Himself Episode: "SpongeBob's Truth or Square"
2010 Futurama Susan Boil (voice) Episode: "Attack of the Killer App"
2011 Archer Announcer (voice) Episode: "Jeu Monégasque"
2011 Craig Ferguson: Does This Need to Be Said? Himself Stand-up special
2012 Political Animals Himself Episode: "Pilot"
2013–2015 Hot in Cleveland Simon 7 episodes
2013 Sean Saves the World Andrew Episode: "Of Moles and Men"
2013 Craig Ferguson: I'm Here to Help Himself Stand-up special
2014 The Price is Right Himself (host) Episode: "April Fools"
2014–2017 Celebrity Name Game Himself (host) 257 episodes; also executive producer
2014 Web Therapy Ewan Clarke 2 Episodes
2015 Craig Ferguson: Just Being Honest Himself Stand-up special
2016 Join or Die with Craig Ferguson Himself (host) 22 episodes; also creator and executive producer
2016 Red Nose Day Himself (host) Television special
2017 Lip Sync Battle Himself Episode: "Craig Ferguson vs. Jay Leno"
2017 Craig Ferguson: Tickle Fight Himself Stand-up special
2018 Still Game Callum Episode: "The Fall Guy"
2019 How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming Gobber (voice) Television special
2021–present The Hustler Himself (host)

Web[]

Year Title Role Notes
2014 Web Therapy Ewan Clarke 3 Episodes
2017 Couple Thinkers Himself (host) 6 episodes; also executive producer

Video games[]

Year Title Voice
2013 Disney Magical World Owl

Radio[]

Year Title Role
2017–2018 The Craig Ferguson Show Himself (host)

Awards and nominations[]

Year Award Category Work Result
2000 British Independent Film Award Best Screenplay Saving Grace Nominated
2003 US Comedy Arts Festival Audience Award I'll Be There Won
2006 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson Nominated
2009 Peabody Award[108] The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson Won
2011 Grammy Award Best Spoken Word Album American on Purpose Nominated
2014 Grammy Award[109] Best Comedy Album I'm Here to Help Nominated
2015 People's Choice Award[110] Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson Nominated
2015 Daytime Emmy Award[111] Outstanding Game Show Host Celebrity Name Game Won
2016 Grammy Award[112] Best Comedy Album Just Being Honest Nominated
2016 Daytime Emmy Award[113] Outstanding Game Show Host Celebrity Name Game Won
2017 Daytime Emmy Award[114] Outstanding Game Show Host Celebrity Name Game Nominated

Discography[]

  • Live at the Tron (as Bing Hitler). Jammy Records. 1986. Catalogue number JRLP 861.
  • Mental; Bing Hitler Is Dead? Polydor. 1988.
  • A Big Stoatir. Polydor. 1990.
  • I'm Here to Help. . 2013.

References[]

  1. ^ "'I should have died in 1992': Craig Ferguson's comedy comeback". 7 August 2019.
  2. ^ Pedersen, Erik (6 January 2016). "'Join Or Die With Craig Ferguson' Gets Premiere Date on History". Deadline. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  3. ^ "This Addicting New Series Comes From an Unexpected Source". 6 October 2017.
  4. ^ GANT (8 October 2017). "Kimbal Musk: Can real food feed the world? – Couple Thinkers – EP 1" – via YouTube.
  5. ^ "Monitor". Entertainment Weekly (1259): 27. 17 May 2013.
  6. ^ Tennant, Thomas. "Bio Brief: Craig Ferguson". About.com. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c Borowitz, Andy (1 October 2009). "The Scotsman". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Ferguson 2009, pp. 14–15.
  9. ^ "New Cumbernauld Community Centre handed over!". hubsouthwestscotland.co.uk.
  10. ^ Ferguson 2009, p. 31.
  11. ^ Ferguson 2009, pp. 66–68.
  12. ^ "Craig Ferguson Eulogizes his Father". Retrieved 17 August 2008 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ Tucker, Ken (12 October 2007). "Great Scot". Entertainment Weekly (958).
  14. ^ Ferguson 2009, p. 110.
  15. ^ Ferguson 2009, pp. 112–113.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b "Episode 96 - Craig Ferguson (Comedian, Celebrity Name Game, The Drew Carry Show, The Late Late Show)". Turned Out A Punk. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b c Ferguson 2009
  18. ^ "Winter for Hitler". The List. 3 October 1986. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  19. ^ Caldwell, Graham (12 December 1986). "Bing's Whiter Than White Christmas". The List. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Bing Hitler: Live at the Tron". discogs. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  21. ^ "Craig Ferguson". Discogs (in German). Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  22. ^ "Advertisement: Craig Ferguson at the Edinburgh Playhouse". The List. 11 August 1989. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  23. ^ "Craig Ferguson stand-up comedy clip". ScotlandonTV.tv. SMG Productions. Archived from the original on 8 October 2008. Retrieved 23 October 2008.
  24. ^ The Craig Ferguson Show at IMDb
  25. ^ Lappin, Tom (3 May 1991). "The dome service". The List. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  26. ^ "Friday at the Dome". IMDb.
  27. ^ Lappin, Tom (9 October 1992). "Hollywood to Hillhead". The List. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  28. ^ "The Dirt Detective". Scottish Television. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  29. ^ "The Dirt Detective". IMDb. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  30. ^ "Craig Ferguson in Dirt Detective". ScotlandonTV.tv. SMG Productions. Archived from the original on 8 October 2008. Retrieved 22 October 2008.
  31. ^ "The Ferguson Theory". BBC. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  32. ^ "The Ferguson Theory". IMDb. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  33. ^ "The Ferguson Theory (BBC1)". The List. 24 September 1993.
  34. ^ "US host Ferguson to appear in Still Game". BBC News. 30 July 2017 – via bbc.co.uk.
  35. ^ "US host Ferguson to appear in Still Game". BBC News. 30 July 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  36. ^ "The Rocky Horror Show Vocal Selections Book & CD". Rockymusic.org. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  37. ^ Carter, Bill (29 September 2009). "Late Night Transplant Looks Back at His Path". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 November 2009. We did it exactly the same except for soccer references instead of baseball, and we brought down the house every night.
  38. ^ Ferguson 2009, ch. 31.
  39. ^ Macaskill, Mark (4 May 2008). "Craig Ferguson 'may be next Letterman'". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008.
  40. ^ "Episode dated 17 February 2009". Conversations with Michael Eisner. 17 February 2009. CNBC.
  41. ^ "Craig Ferguson biography and filmography | Craig Ferguson movies". Tribute.ca. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  42. ^ "Craig Ferguson: I'm Here to Help". Netflix. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  43. ^ "Craig Ferguson: Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  44. ^ "Grammy Awards 2014: Full Nominations List". Billboard. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  45. ^ Dore, Shalini (12 April 2013). "Banff to Fete Craig Ferguson with Ustinov Comedy Award". Variety.
  46. ^ Johnny Carson at IMDb
  47. ^ "Conan O'Brien Presents: Team Coco @ TeamCoco.com". Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  48. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 June 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  49. ^ "Jay and Conan Rule The Late-Night Week, Stretching Their Year-Ago Leads". NBC Universal. Retrieved 18 May 2007.[dead link]
  50. ^ "Ferguson beats Conan in ratings for 1st time". CNN. 11 April 2008. Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  51. ^ Weprin, Alex (17 March 2009). "Late Night Ratings: Craig Ferguson Tops Jimmy Fallon". BroadcastingCable.com.
  52. ^ Fixmer, Andy (11 April 2014). "Moonves Says Woman Would Be 'Great' as 'Late Late' Host". Bloomberg. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  53. ^ Carter, Bill (28 April 2014). "Craig Ferguson to Leave CBS at End of Year". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  54. ^ Swift, Andy (19 December 2014). "Late Late Show: Craig Ferguson Says Goodbye With Incredible Twist Ending". TV Line. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  55. ^ Adalian, Josef (28 April 2014). "Craig Ferguson Is Leaving CBS's Late Late Show". Vulture. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  56. ^ Jump up to: a b Littleton, Cynthia (28 April 2014). "Craig Ferguson: 'I Wanted to Leave the Show Before I Stopped Enjoying It' (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  57. ^ Jump up to: a b O'Connell, Michael; Rose, Lacey (30 April 2014). "CBS' Nina Tassler: No Craig Ferguson Replacement Before Upfronts (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  58. ^ Bauder, David (29 April 2014). "Craig Ferguson Announces Late-Night Retirement". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  59. ^ Rice, Lynette (8 September 2014). "James Corden Officially Announced to Replace Craig Ferguson on Late Late Show". People. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  60. ^ "Ferguson to host U.S. "People's Choice Awards" show". Associated Press via Highbeam.com. 26 October 2005. Archived from the original on 21 September 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
  61. ^ "Bush pokes fun at his successors". BBC News. 27 April 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  62. ^ Craig Ferguson (I) at IMDb
  63. ^ "SpongeBob SquarePants to tie the knot". OneWed.com. 14 October 2009. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012.
  64. ^ Schmitt, Brad (14 October 2011). "Toby Releases Star-Studded "Stupid," "Perfect" Song". Country Weekly. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  65. ^ O'Connell, Michael (28 October 2013). "Craig Ferguson to Host Syndicated Game Show 'Celebrity Name Game'". The Hollywood Reporter. The Live Feed. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  66. ^ Rose, Lacey (16 June 2011). "Courteney Cox, David Arquette Sell Game Show Pilot to CBS (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  67. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (27 January 2014). "Craig Ferguson Talks Latenight Moves, New Game Show at NATPE". Variety. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  68. ^ Boardman, Madeline (27 April 2015). "Daytime Emmys 2015 Complete Winners List: Soaps, Talk Shows Win Big". Us Weekly. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  69. ^ "The 43rd Annual Daytime Emmy Award Winners" (PDF). Los Angeles: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 1 May 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  70. ^ Bunch, Rebecca (2 December 2016). "Celebrity Name Game Cancelled". The TV Ratings Guide. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  71. '^ Lyons, Beverley (15 March 2015). "Late Late Shows Craig Ferguson begins work on new comedy pilot for US television". Daily Record. Glasgow, Scotland. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  72. ^ Jump up to: a b Goldberg, Lesley (17 September 2015). "Craig Ferguson to Host Historical Talk Show on History". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  73. ^ Bierly, Mandi (4 February 2016). "See Craig Ferguson Invade History for 'Join or Die'". Yahoo! TV. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  74. ^ "ABC Announces Early 2021 Unscripted Premiere Dates". The Futon Critic. 10 November 2020.
  75. ^ Press Release. "Comedian Craig Ferguson Launches Daily Show Exclusively on SiriusXM". SiriusXM Holdings Inc. SiriusXM. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  76. ^ "Faction Talk – Listen to top Entertainment w/ Jason Ellis & Others".
  77. ^ Steinberg, Jacques (4 April 2006). "From Craig Ferguson, a Novel Born of Literary Rambles". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
  78. ^ "Between the Bridge and the River: Q&A with Craig Ferguson". Chroniclebooks.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  79. ^ "Letterman interviews Ferguson about Novel, 2006".
  80. ^ Schneider, Michael (7 May 2008). "Craig Ferguson set to pen memoirs". Variety. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012.
  81. ^ "About the Book: American on Purpose". HarperCollins.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012.
  82. ^ Ferguson 2009.
  83. ^ "53. Best Spoken Word Album". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  84. ^ "Episode dated 21 July 2009". The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. 21 July 2009. CBS.
  85. ^ "Craig Ferguson Show on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 10 October 2018.[non-primary source needed]
  86. ^ Ferguson, Craig (7 May 2019). Riding the Elephant: A Memoir of Altercations, Humiliations, Hallucinations, and Observations. S.l.: Blue Rider Press. ISBN 9780525533917.
  87. ^ "FAA Airmen Certification Database". Federal Aviation Administration. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011.
  88. ^ Jump up to: a b "Episode dated 22 September 2009". The View. 22 September 2009. ABC.
  89. ^ "The Rallying Cry of the Robot Skeleton Army". Tweetphoto.com. 11 February 2010. Archived from the original on 14 February 2010.
  90. ^ Ferguson 2009, p. 259.
  91. ^ "Episode dated 05 August 2011". The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. 5 August 2011. CBS.
  92. ^ "CraigyFAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about Craig Ferguson & The Late Late Show". Craigyflogs. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  93. ^ "Craig Ferguson in Conversation with Kathie Lee Gifford: Riding the Elephant". 92Y. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  94. ^ Ferguson, Craig (12 February 2016). "Craig Ferguson: 25 Things You Don't Know About Me (I've Written 800 Nail Salon Yelp Reviews!)". Us Weekly. Retrieved 3 April 2017. I’ve been a vegan for almost three years.
  95. ^ "Craig Ferguson: Measure of a man". 8 April 2010.
  96. ^ "Craig Ferguson Cuts Spears Slack". Associate Press via CBS News. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2007.
  97. ^ Lazarus, Nancy (5 October 2012). "Craig Ferguson: 'My Job Is to Be the Naughty Kid'". PRNewser. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  98. ^ Jensen, Jeff (3 April 2014). "The David Letterman Legacy will live on in every other late-night host". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  99. ^ "Episode dated 8  December 2008". The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. 8 December 2008. CBS.
  100. ^ "Craig Ferguson – Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on 25 November 2005. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
  101. ^ "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson: An Evening with Archbishop Desmond Tutu". www.peabodyawards.com. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  102. ^ "Craig Ferguson ties the knot over holidays". Access Hollywood via Today.com. 6 January 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  103. ^ Michaud, Sarah (2 February 2011). "It's a Boy for Craig Ferguson". People. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  104. ^ Stoddard, Martha (3 July 2007). "Nebraska honors 'Late Late Show' host Craig Ferguson". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 29 February 2012.[permanent dead link]
  105. ^ "Craig Ferguson passes citizenship test". Associated Press via USA Today. 28 January 2008. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2007.
  106. ^ "Episode dated 4 February 2008". The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Season 4. Episode 69. 4 February 2008. CBS.
  107. ^ Pathikrit Sanyal: Why did Craig Ferguson leave America? Talk show host was highly successful but returned to Scotland, here's why. MEAWW, 7 January 2021
  108. ^ "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson: An Evening with Archbishop Desmond Tutu (CBS)". Peabody Awards. 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  109. ^ "Jay Z Tops 56th GRAMMY Nominations With Nine". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. 6 November 2013.
  110. ^ Glee, Katy Perry Lead People's Choice Award Nominations, 2 Broke Girls' Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs to Host E!. Retrieved 5 November 2013
  111. ^ "The 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 31 March 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  112. ^ Johnson, Zach (7 December 2015). "2016 Grammy Awards: Complete List of Nominations". E!. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  113. ^ "2016 Daytime Emmy Award Winners: The Complete List". 2 May 2016.
  114. ^ "The 44th Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). New York City: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 22 March 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.

Bibliography[]

External links[]

Media offices
Preceded by
Craig Kilborn 		Host of The Late Late Show
2005–2014 		Succeeded by
James Corden
Preceded by
Les Stroud 		Host of Shark Week
2010 		Succeeded by
Andy Samberg
Retrieved from ""