Let's back up a bit.
Tom Snyder was the first host, and I thought he was engaging, funny and thoughtful. Unfortunately, Snyder drew an older crowd. CBS didn't like that.
Snyder out. Craig Kilborn in.
Craigers brought in a frat boy style of humor. It was okay, and better than what NBC was offering. I was in the minority. CBS didn't win the time period with either Snyder or Kilborn.
Another Craig followed Kilborn. Ferguson. He was wildly inventive and funny. Sometimes, Ferguson was too far out there. I will give him credit for deconstructing the genre. The skeleton robot sidekick was genius. Craig Ferguson produced some great television, and I was sorry to see him go after ten years.
James Corden arrived in March of 2015, a bold choice on the part of CBS. If you look back on this blog's archives, you will see that I gave the early Corden shows good reviews. He is a charming and talented guy. Comedy. Music. Carpool Karaoke was wonderful and extremely creative.
Things changed. "The Late Late Show" devolved in to another smarmy Hollywood chat-fest, and Corden's monologs became too political. There was no reason to watch. It was the same, tired stuff. On top of that, published reports said Corden wasn't a nice man.
Having said all of that, I stick by my opinion that Corden is a guy who has a lot going for him. "The Late Late Show" wasn't the right vehicle. He didn't take the show in a positive and interesting direction.
CBS is giving up on the franchise. It will be replaced by a game show that started on Comedy Central. Pity. There is talent out there who can rejuvenate the show and make it fun again. It looks like CBS is taking the cheap and easy way out.
