Possible New LLS Host
As always, quoting people “with knowledge of the situation” (translation: people without knowledge of the situation), the Hollywood trade press started buzzing on Tuesday afternoon about a possible successor to Craig Ferguson on The Late Late Show. We say “successor” because no one could replace him, to borrow Mr. Jefferson‘s phrase about Mr. Franklin. First touted by The Wrap.com, followed by Variety, The Huffington Post, Entertainment Weekly and many others, is British star of stage, film and television James Corden.

For American audiences unfamiliar with Corden, he is a talented actor, writer, comedian and a very funny man. Thanks to the power of the interwebs, we’ve seen him many times on UK television programs, including co-creating and writing the sitcom Gavin and Stacey, a sketch show with his comedy partner Matthew Horne, and as a hilarious member of celebrity panel quiz shows, including The Big Fat Quiz of the Year. On film, you can see him co-starring with Keira Knightley in Begin Again, and he will play the key role of the baker in Disney’s film adaptation of Into The Woods this fall, alongside Johnny Depp and Meryl Streep. Last year he won a Tony Award on Broadway for his work in Richard Bean’s comedy One Man, Two Guvnors, and he has received great reviews as host the UK’s BRIT Awards (Britain’s equivalent of the Grammys) for the past few years.

While the move would suggest CBS is planning to keep a comedy format for the show, we hasten to add that nothing has been confirmed by CBS or Corden’s agents. As with every step of the process, we’ll have to wait and see. But for what it’s worth, Corden is sharp, funny, genuinely likeable and a generous performer who has the rare talent of knowing how to make the person standing next to him on stage shine. His four million Twitter followers probably would agree. CBS tends to make big announcements about shows when the shows are on hiatus, so if something is confirmed, we’ll be sure to pass it along.

Dave Makes A Pitch
Last week, when former White House Press Secretary Jay Carney stopped by The Late Show to talk with David Letterman, the two talked about the challenges of working both in and around the media. As the interview was wrapping up, Carney said he was looking for his next job, so Letterman made a pitch for him to host The Late Late Show. We’d guess that probably won’t happen.

Craig at w00tstock
As w00tstock regular Adam Savage mentioned in his tweets, Craig’s appearance at the fantastically geeky festival in San Diego during Comic-Con was a complete surprise, but a welcome one. Saveage tweeted a video clip of Craig’s time on stage. Thanks to the RSA’s @colleen_byrne and a host of other skellies for sending it our way.

Video courtesy: UAT Digital Video

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