The TV Zone

Missed this last week, but thanks to the vacuum cleaners over at HuffPo, I've now seen.

Amusing:

Craig Ferguson's well-wrought rip of NBC's straight faced claim on Thursday that Conan was/is the new King of Late Night.

Craig disputes the coronation.

Meanwhile, on the jump, his old "interview" with Sarah Palin - when she agreed to sponsor his citizenship.... (if she knew then what she knows now - that Dave Letterman is Craig's boss - would he still be scrambling for citizenship?)

Continue reading "Craig Ferguson: New King of Late Night? " »

As I think CBS said on the air last night, and TV Week has reported, Craig Ferguson will star in five mini-programs in primetime next week with ...Paris Hilton.

Why Paris? Why primetime? Why so much exposure for CBS's late late night guy (who is funny, of course)? Why Monday?

Easy! Monday is the day Jimmy Fallon starts at "Late Night" and CBS would very much like to remind you in the midst of its powerhouse Monday night line up that its guy has Paris and you should watch her...instead of Jimmy...

The ways of TV are indeed transparent ....

Here are details from the presser:

"Paris Hilton joins Ferguson in a cameo role in the five distinct primetime comedy spots on March 2, the last of which teases her guest appearance on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" later that evening. Jim Parsons makes a special guest appearance as his character, Sheldon, from "The Big Bang Theory" in the five unique spots on March 9. The spots are set in Ferguson's shabby, but not chic, faux home, where Hilton and "Sheldon" join him, separately, for TV dinners and a night devoted to watching CBS's five Monday night series. "

Paris and Craig? There's a little history - as she has for all late nighters, she has provided a rich and endless source of ridicule. First clip below is a representative Paris riff (and a funny one). Second, Paris makes her first appearance on "Late, Late" and Craig kinda apologizes for all the abuse. That one aired last fall...

Click to see photos of Paris Hilton and other celebrities at 2009 New York City Fashion Week.

Click to see photos of Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton at at Club Paris.

Jeez, whassa matter with us TV writers. Okay, jeez, whassa matter with THIS TV writer?

Get paid big bucks by the Tribune Company to watch television, and what did I do? Forgot to watch Craig!

That's right: Craig Ferguson, who may actually on occasion - even though it may be apostasy to say this - be funnier than the bearded guy who airs an hour earlier. In any event, "The Late Late Show with CF" also returned last night, and I honestly think this monologue, which I youtube for you just below, was funnier than Dave's. Not that Dave, beard and all, wasn't funny - he was. But Craig was terrific. I'm told by a friend who's a huge Craig fan that the opening bit - Craig in beard, wrestling sheep - was a keeper. If some intrepid Youtuber tracks that down for me, I'll post as well.

Anyway, let 'er roll....Heeeeere's Craig: