{"id":10581,"date":"2011-07-02T02:15:43","date_gmt":"2011-07-02T02:15:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rsanews.com\/?p=10581"},"modified":"2011-07-03T02:15:55","modified_gmt":"2011-07-03T02:15:55","slug":"craig-ferguson-opening-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rsanews.com\/new\/craig-ferguson-opening-change\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"Opening Segment Changes<\/strong><\/span>\r\n\"\"<\/a>It’s been five days since Craig<\/strong> & Company returned to CBS Television City from a fortnight’s hiatus.\u00c2\u00a0 And it’s been five days since things changed in the Late Late Show’s opening segment.\u00c2\u00a0 Monday’s lack of monologue appears to have been a one-time thing but the “split” use of the theme song may be a longer-term switch.\u00c2\u00a0 As it turns out, there is a bit of a backstory.\r\n\r\nGetting Viewers To Stick Around<\/span><\/strong>\r\nFrom the earliest days of Craig’s run on the Late Late Show, the opening segment has been an odd thing.\u00c2\u00a0 Most late night shows (and many other television shows) tend to start with the opening theme and a fairly long first segment.\u00c2\u00a0 The first segment typically runs ten to twelve minutes in length, with the idea being to “hook” the audience… that is, to pique their interest and retain them for as long as possible.\u00c2\u00a0 Many prime time shows have gone so far as to run an opening segment for several minutes before a tiny five to ten-second theme song or even none at all, with the hope of getting viewers too interested in the story to leave.\r\n\r\nAds Before Midnight<\/span><\/strong>\r\nBut because Craig is on so late (12:37am on the East and West coasts where the bulk of viewers live), advertisers wanted to be sure at least the first commercial break tied to the show would be seen before people went to bed.\u00c2\u00a0 The idea was to give some sort of quick tease after David Letterman’s show ended, take a long commercial break for network and local ads and then start the show for real… at about 12:43am.\u00c2\u00a0 There was discussion back and forth between the network and the show’s producers and the result, which could have been a negative, was turned into a positive.\u00c2\u00a0 Craig and the LLS team came up with what have become trademark opening bits; sometimes a musical number, sometimes a foreshadowing of upcoming guests, an exploration of topics by Craig or a puppet, and sometimes a rambling but charming admission that he has no material for the night.\r\n\r\nThe Theme Song Moves<\/span><\/strong>\r\nFast-forward to this past week when viewers saw something new:\u00c2\u00a0 Craig did his opening bit but then the full theme song played, followed by pictures of the night’s on the screen:\r\n\r\nVideo courtesy: TVsCraigFerguson<\/span>\r\n<\/embed><\/object>\r\n\r\nAfter the long commercial break for network and local ads, the show comes back with a reprise of the theme’s final phrase “Tomorrow’s just your future yesterday!” and the familiar words of announcer Shadoe Stevens, “Ladies and gentlemen, Craig Ferguson!”\u00c2\u00a0 From there, the show proceeds as it has been, with Craig entering the studio to the cheers of candy-bribed hobos, teasingly smacking the camera and welcoming the studio and home audiences:\r\n\r\nVideo courtesy: TVsCraigFerguson<\/span>\r\n<\/embed><\/object>\r\n\r\nOur Educated Guess<\/span><\/strong>\r\nWhile it is speculation on our part, the reason behind the change may come down to the original goal of having long opening segments:\u00c2\u00a0 Retaining audience.\u00c2\u00a0 Whether prodded by research or the producer’s gut feeling, we think it makes sense for three reasons:\r\n
    \r\n\t
  1. Rather than Craig simply saying, “We’ll be back after this,” the show can use more of the shiny things in its toolbox (the catchy, energetic theme song and the promise of interesting guests) to encourage people to stick around after the commercials.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. By placing the theme song earlier, the show’s “second start” with Craig’s monologue begins closer to 12:45am. That’s important to the people who track the show’s ratings because 12:45-12:50am is one of the five-minute blocks checked by electronic meters during the show. It’s a technical detail, but perhaps an important one.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. And finally, the theme at the end of the opening segment allows a prime location for the announcer to say, “The Late Late Show, brought to you by…” We could see a “title” sponsor or two emerge in the coming months.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nThe Late Late Show and its more traditionally-formatted competitors are in an ongoing effort to draw more viewers.\u00c2\u00a0 Perhaps this small change of format, which still manages to keep advertisers happy with their early commercial break, might help the show keep people awake just a little bit longer.\u00c2\u00a0 That’s our best guess as to why the changes happened.\u00c2\u00a0 What do you think about the way the show begins now?\u00c2\u00a0 Let us know in the comment section below. Thanks to the RSA’s General @Malinky2Stoatir<\/strong> for the video clips of Thursday’s show.\r\n\r\nEnjoying the Show<\/strong><\/span>\r\nThursday night’s guests each tweeted after their appearances.\u00c2\u00a0 Henry Winkler<\/strong> said:\r\n

    good morning!!! first of all thank you all for your supportive tweets about the CRAIG FERGUSON show ..what a great way to start this day<\/p>\r\nAnd astronaut Mike Massimino<\/strong> said:\r\n

    Taping the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson was a blast! Hope you enjoy it!<\/p>\r\n\"\"<\/a>Massimino’s appearance make the RSA’s @doxieone1<\/strong> wonder what Geoff Petersen<\/strong> would look like as a astronaut\/cosmonaut\/robonaut.\u00c2\u00a0 Friday evening, Geoff tweeted:\r\n

    Tonight, my hilarious dead-on wonderfully accurate impression of @CraigyFerg<\/a>. And now I’m unemployed. #willsayballsforfood<\/a><\/p>\r\nTonight’s Guests<\/strong>\r\n<\/span>\"\"<\/a>Friday on the Late Late Show, Craig’s guests are actor\/comedian Cedric the Entertainer<\/strong> and actress Moon Bloodgood<\/strong>.\r\n

     <\/p>\r\n

     <\/p>\r\nUpdated Guest List<\/strong><\/span>\r\n

    The guest schedule has been updated through July 15th, with actor Tim Daly<\/strong> added to the lineup.\u00c2\u00a0 As always, you can see the most up-to-date guest schedule available on our Guests<\/a> page.\u00c2\u00a0 Please give our guest page a “+1” on Google and link to it from you page if you have one.\u00c2\u00a0 We appreciate your help in spreading the word.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The LLS opening segment changes slightly, we look at why, two guests enjoy their appearances, plus the updated guest list.<\/p>\n

    Read More ><\/a><\/p>\n

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