What did we learn on the show tonight, Craig?

A few months ago, I saw a live taping of The Late Show with Craig Ferguson, which airs on CBS at 12:35am right after Letterman. I went to the taping not fully knowing what to expect; I knew that Ferguson was a solid actor as well as a quick and gifted stand-up comedian, and I've enjoyed his shows over the years. And I know that one shouldn’t judge a performer based on one isolated encounter or episode. But if Ferguson is anything like the person I saw on the CBS soundstage for just over forty minutes, he doesn’t look like he’s getting any pleasure out of the experience.

Again, maybe it was just my expectations that were skewed; I pictured Ferguson as an ebullient sprite playfully interacting with the audience and indulging in ribald humor when the cameras were off. What I saw instead was someone clearly punching the clock, a job rather than a joy, with little spontaneity or verve on display. (Trust me...I know when someone is punching the clock in a comedy environment, thanks to my years as a comedy night MC.) The monologue was performed almost directly into the camera, with little to no audience interaction, and during the breaks between segments, Ferguson either went to the back of the stage and waited for the red light to flash, or left the stage area altogether.

As quick as it started, it was over, and we were ushered out of the studio into the brisk early evening California air, light and shadow intertwined. I'm glad I had the experience (in fact, one of the biggest laughs from the crowd occurred when we were marching in to be seated; one of the ushers was high-fiving people, and when I stuck my hand up to its comical heights and waited for the hand slap that never came, all the people behind me started laughing loudly) and I'll continue to watch The Late Late Show, but I'll always wonder what's really behind the persona of Craig Ferguson.

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