The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson has won the George Foster Peabody Award, the oldest international award for electronic media, for its episode An Evening with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

In the news release announcing the winners, the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication had high praise for the show, saying: “…received a Peabody Award, as did the Desmond Tutu installment of CBS’s consistently surprising “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” a talk show without borders.” In the detailed list of winners, the judges also said, “As this fascinating, often funny interview attests, the Scottish-born Ferguson has made late-night television safe again for ideas.”

Thanks to RSA member @SunnyAnnie84 for this transcript of the announcement: “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson – an evening with Desmond Tutu aired on CBS receives a Peabody award. Ferguson’s quirky, off-beat style refreshes a staple television form, as his interview with Archbishop Tutu makes abundantly clear. But in Father Tutu Ferguson meets his match.”

Adam Savage of Mythbusters said: Congratulations @craigyferg on your Peabody Award! Well DONE sir!

Producer Michael Naidus tweeted: Someone apparently has noticed our show. This is scary and lovely all at once. Remember … you guys were here first.

And Craig tweeted: Holy crackers. A Peabody. Congrats to Lisa Ammerman the segment producer who made the Father Tutu visit happen. I am genuinely shocked.

For those who missed it, here is the interview portion of the show and Craig’s thoughts immediately afterward from March 4, 2009 in four parts, thanks to the RSA’s own Malinky2Stoatir:

Congratulations to Craig, Michael Naidus, Brian McAloon, Lisa Ammerman, Erin Willetts, Cathy Hoeven, Andrea Wayland, David Podemski, Ian P. Kornbluth, Megan O’Toole, Joe Strazzullo, Philip McGrade, Ted Mulkerin, Jonathan Morano, Joe O’Brien, Ben Stout, Tom Straw, David Harte, John T. Reynolds, Bob Oschack, Lynn Ferguson, Peter Lasally, David Letterman/Worldwide Pants, CBS and everyone who works so hard to produce, direct, write and make the Late Late Show possible. This is a high honor and it is richly deserved by all.

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We got our best look yet at Geoff Petersen, the robot skeleton sidekick in the opening of last night’s show:

Video courtesy: Malinky2Stoatir

Geoff Petersen debuts on the Late Late Show on April 5th, accompanied by Grant Imahara.

For those who are fans of the Drew Carey show, you might want to tune in for tomorrow’s episode of The Price is Right: CBSTweet The Price is Right celebrates April Fools w Drew Carey & guest Kathy Kinney 4/1 when “Mimi” takes over the show! #TPIR

Tonight’s guests on the Late Late Show are comic Wanda Sykes and actress Anna Torv.

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