Beech Tree News Network

Last year, James Corden announced that he would step down as host of the Late Late Show on CBS after this season.  It was announced February 8 that, instead of looking for a new host, the Late Late Show would be ending its 28 year run.  It will be replaced by @mdnight, a series that ran on Comedy Central from 2013-2017.  It will begin after Corden bids his final farewell this spring.

Stephen Colbert will be executive producer of the new show.  That’s already strike one for me.  This is obviously a blow to the Late Late Show brand.  Let’s be honest, it kills the brand for CBS.  The series first aired in January 1995 with the late Tom Snyder as host.  The format under Snyder was vastly different.  It was basically a one-on-one interview show where Snyder sat across from his guest.  There was no band.  The music was basically canned easy-listening piano.  

Snyder left the show 3-6-99 after being there since 1995. and was replaced by the egotistical Craig Kilborn(’99-’04).  His brand of humor was sarcastic and make fun of everything.  You may recall the dust-up where he made fun of Kentucky after a tornado.  Or you may not.  He’s certainly not the first to do so.  Kilborn stepped aside and, after lots of guest-hosts, the gig was given to Craig Feguson(’05-’14). You might remember Ferguson as Mr. Wick, Drew’s boss on ABC’s Drew Carey Show.  I liked him much better than Kilborn.  He was funny without being an a-hole.

Ferguson shockingly stepped away from the show and, once again, after guest hosts, James Corden was named host.  This broke what I called the “Craig cycle”.  James Corden has, by far, been my favorite Late Late Show host.  I dare say he’s been my favorite late-night host.  

NBC itself has considered moving out of the 9 pm scripted drama spot in the future, which could have a similar knock-on effect to both Late Night with Seth Myers and The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.  

The move to have Colbert-who hosts The Late Show at 10:35-as an executive producer harkens back to the days when David Letterman, who was at that point host of The Late Show, secured a contract that gave him and his Worldwide Pants productions company control of producing the show that followed him.  Unlike that agreement, CBS is retaining ownership of its late-night block, as reported by www.deadline.com   If you’re wondering, in longevity it’s 1 Ferguson(9 years), 2 Corden(7 years), 3 Kilborn(5 years).

Will the new game show work in lieu of a new host for the Late Late Show? Time will tell.  I’ve had the Late Late Show in my list of season passes since Ferguson was host.  At least that portion of the DVR will be freed up.  You had a great run, Late Late Show.  

Below are the links to my Blendertainment podcast if interested.

https://open.spotify.com/show/61yTPt9wXdz37DZTbPUs16?si=w5jHghPVRmaTaP5Z...

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blendertainment/id1541097172