{"id":11878,"date":"2011-09-10T02:18:06","date_gmt":"2011-09-10T02:18:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rsanews.com\/?p=11878"},"modified":"2011-09-11T02:15:22","modified_gmt":"2011-09-11T02:15:22","slug":"craig-ferguson-letterman-times-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rsanews.com\/new\/craig-ferguson-letterman-times-contract\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"Two Sentences, Two Revelations<\/strong><\/span>\r\n\"\"<\/a>A<\/span>mong the many people who write about late night television in America, the New York Times’ Bill Carter<\/strong> is widely regarded as one of the best.\u00c2\u00a0 He’s well-connected.\u00c2\u00a0 He does his research.\u00c2\u00a0 His observations about the reasons behind past events are sharp and insightful.\u00c2\u00a0 And more often than not, his predictions about the future tend to come true.\u00c2\u00a0 So Carter’s article in Friday’s Times should make at least a few people take notice, including fans of Craig Ferguson<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 We urge you to read the entire article<\/a> to understand the context in which Carter writes… it is primarily an article about how the days of the traditional late night talk show are probably numbered.\r\n\r\n[pullquote]Yet if Mr. Letterman does decide to extend his time on the show, it will certainly affect Mr. Ferguson<\/a>, who has a clause in his contract guaranteeing him the 11:35 slot when Mr. Letterman leaves. One possible outcome that some CBS executives have cited \u00e2\u20ac\u201d though they say they don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t fully believe it \u00e2\u20ac\u201d is that Mr. Ferguson might quit his 12:30 show if Mr. Letterman remains. –Bill Carter, New York Times<\/em> [\/pullquote]W<\/span>hat caught our eye, however, were two sentences about halfway through the article.\u00c2\u00a0 For as long as Craig has been in the 12:37am time slot at CBS, he has publicly insisted that he’s happy there and has no particular designs on moving to 11:35pm in the future.\u00c2\u00a0 In several interviews, he has (as have many fans and observers) worried aloud that the earlier time slot could stifle the creativity he currently brings to his show.\u00c2\u00a0 After seeing what happened to Conan O’Brien<\/strong> at NBC, these are not insignificant concerns.\u00c2\u00a0 So we were at least a little bit surprised to read Carter’s note that Craig has a clause in his contract guaranteeing<\/em> him a move to 11:35pm when David Letterman<\/strong> departs.\u00c2\u00a0 And then Carter mentions another possibility; that Craig could decide to leave before Letterman does.\r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>W<\/span>hile we hope he decides to stay, the idea of Craig leaving is certainly within the realm of possibility.\u00c2\u00a0 He seems to be energized of late by the live banter with Geoff Peterson<\/strong> (thanks to the talented Josh Robert Thompson<\/strong>), but he has talked in the past about being bored with some of the day-to-day nature of doing the show.\u00c2\u00a0 Whether is merely schtick or reality, Letterman gives every appearance of having been bored with his show for several years.\u00c2\u00a0 Craig keeps his creativity brewing with his daily monologue and by continuing to do live stand up comedy, writing screenplays and shepherding projects with his production company.\u00c2\u00a0 Letterman has his auto racing interests as well as a television production company.\u00c2\u00a0 But if Letterman decides to renew, will Craig continue to wait?\u00c2\u00a0 Contracts for both hosts expire in less than a year… August of 2012.\r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>W<\/span>e have no special insight into these matters but would offer some educated guesses:\u00c2\u00a0 David Letterman is probably getting tired.\u00c2\u00a0 He has lasted 30 years on network television, equaling the run of his idol, Johnny Carson<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 He has witnessed the recent retirements of Larry King<\/strong>, Oprah Winfrey<\/strong> and the pending retirement of Regis Philbin<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 And at age 64 (66 by 2014), he has plenty of money and could walk away at any time.\u00c2\u00a0 But despite all of that, we would take Carter’s assertion one step further:\u00c2\u00a0 CBS President Les Moonves<\/strong> not only wouldn’t push Letterman out, we think he’ll ask Letterman to re-up through 2014… wait two years and maybe even ask for another deal through 2016.\r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>A<\/span>nd if Dave stays for two to four more years, it’s probably a safe bet that Craig will, too.\u00c2\u00a0 If he negotiated a clause in his contract guaranteeing him the 11:35pm show, it seems pretty clear that despite his protestations in some interviews, he really does want the job.\u00c2\u00a0 We depart from Carter in only one respect:\u00c2\u00a0 Rather than abandoning them, the networks are likely to keep the talk shows in some form for a long time to come.\u00c2\u00a0 Bands may come and go, desks or microphones may get moved, salaries may be lowered and social media may become more integrated.\u00c2\u00a0 But there is still no better way for the networks, record companies, publishers and movie studios (with whom the networks are ever more entwined) to promote their stars, television shows, albums, books and films to a wide audience.\u00c2\u00a0 People want to see celebrities talk about their work and hear anecdotes from their lives, either on television at night or watching online clips the next day.\u00c2\u00a0 Because of the internet and DVR’s, the real audience for late night shows is probably double what the traditional ratings suggest, making it fertile ground for advertisers.\u00c2\u00a0 And even though the big late night show are expensive to produce, they still bring in many millions of dollars… more than most other shows the networks have to offer.\u00c2\u00a0 Getting disenchanted with the genre is one thing.\u00c2\u00a0 Walking away from the money is quite another.\u00c2\u00a0 And as for Craig, his creative mind may not be taxed by celebrity interviews but he puts on a more creative and entertaining show than almost anyone else on television today and if he stays the course, that talent and a willing network can put money in his pocket for many years to come.\r\n\r\nSpeaking of Creativity<\/strong><\/span>\r\nCraig does know how to have fun. Friday evening, he enjoyed his son’s bemusement:\r\n

My 10 yr old son just found out about the NASCAR driver named Dick Trickle. I may have to get oxygen. The kid is losing it.<\/p>\r\nChris Young on Dating<\/strong><\/span>\"\"<\/a>\r\nCountry singer Chris Young<\/strong> tells theboot.com<\/a> that he’s looking for dates that are “spur of the moment” types.\u00c2\u00a0 The crooner who has twice been named Country Weekly Magazine’s “hottest bachelor” will be on the Late Late Show Monday night.\r\n\r\nPraise for Bill Bailey<\/strong><\/span>\r\n\"\"<\/a>No less a voice than comedian Eddie Izzard<\/strong> has good things to say about Bill Bailey<\/strong>, and posted a link to Bailey’s tour schedule<\/a>:\r\n

Mr @<\/s>BillBailey<\/strong><\/a> is a very funny man and is doing a short run of shows in the US and Canada. Do check it out: http:\/\/www.billbailey.co.uk\/tour<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\nSealing the Deal<\/strong><\/span>\r\nDid you enjoy Craig, Geoff and guest Tim Meadows<\/strong> joking about “sealing the deal” through most of Thursday night’s show?\u00c2\u00a0 You can thank the RSA”s @HMSFox<\/strong> for the tweet that got them going:\r\n

@<\/s>CraigyFerg<\/strong><\/a> Dear Craig: When I meet a guy I like, I can never ‘seal the deal’ and get a phone number. Any advice? Tammy, Naperville IL<\/p>\r\nYes, Craig reads real tweets from real viewers every night.\u00c2\u00a0 You can tweet @CraigyFerg<\/a> yourself and maybe yours will be read on the air!\r\n\r\nTonight’s Guests<\/strong><\/span>\"\"<\/a>\r\nFriday on the Late Late Show, Craig talks with actor Alfred Molina<\/strong> and actress Brie Larson<\/strong>.","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The New York Times reports on the future of late night talk shows, contract details are mentioned and we share our view, plus Chris Young looking for dates, Bill Bailey praised, and how to seal the deal.<\/p>\n

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

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