I'll do something else … Probably, I'm thinking, carpentry.

August 5, 2014 11:51 AM

British comedian and actor James Corden, probably best known as co-creator and co-star of the sitcom "Gavin & Stacey," is taking the seat vacated by Craig Ferguson on "The Late Late Show" at the end of this year.

Ferguson, previously.

posted by jbickers (89 comments total)

Gay host ... big move for US telly?
posted by GallonOfAlan at 11:57 AM on August 5, 2014

So basically, the best way to get the Late Late Show gig is to be close personal friends with The Doctor.
posted by Strange Interlude at 11:57 AM on August 5, 2014 [11 favorites]

Probably better known in the States as Craig, from Doctor Who's The Lodger and Closing Time.
posted by Ian A.T. at 11:57 AM on August 5, 2014 [7 favorites]

I saw him in One Man, Two Guv'nors. Very funny performer.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:59 AM on August 5, 2014 [2 favorites]

I like his work, I think he'd be good.

GoA, the Wikipedia link shows him married to Julia Carey.
posted by arcticseal at 12:00 PM on August 5, 2014

Gay host ... big move for US telly?

Where did you get that he's gay? Wikipedia link says married to a woman.
posted by dnash at 12:00 PM on August 5, 2014 [1 favorite]

(And yeah, if his sidekick isn't a wisecracking little girl named Stormageddon Dark Lord of All then they will have made a huge miss.)
posted by jbickers at 12:00 PM on August 5, 2014 [6 favorites]

Gay host ... big move for US telly?

Bigger move for his wife Julia and son Max.
posted by Ian A.T. at 12:00 PM on August 5, 2014 [25 favorites]

Gay host ... big move for US telly?

Er. What? Corden is not gay. Or, at least, he has a wife and child and I think we're past the 'married to deter speculation' stage of showbiz.
posted by Brockles at 12:00 PM on August 5, 2014 [1 favorite]

Whoa, I did not see that coming! I actually quite like James Corden, so good for him!
posted by Kitteh at 12:01 PM on August 5, 2014

Well then I'm an idiot. I was sure he was gay. Not that it would matter a damn if he was. The earth is going to swallow me up now, here I goooooo
posted by GallonOfAlan at 12:03 PM on August 5, 2014 [14 favorites]

Me: Oh, did you know James Corden is...
Interrupting Wife: ...still being a dick?

And that's what we think of James Corden here.
posted by zoo at 12:04 PM on August 5, 2014 [8 favorites]

jbickers: And yeah, if his sidekick isn't a wisecracking little girl named Stormageddon Dark Lord of All then they will have made a huge miss.

I think Wilf has more of the Ed McMahon-y vibe you are looking for in a late nite sidekick.
posted by Rock Steady at 12:07 PM on August 5, 2014 [1 favorite]

Whew, good thing they didn't have to resort to anybody who wasn't a straight white guy!
posted by Lyn Never at 12:11 PM on August 5, 2014 [10 favorites]

He looks like Ewan McGregor with rounded edges. That's about the most in-depth comment I am able to make right now.
posted by Think_Long at 12:14 PM on August 5, 2014 [2 favorites]

I saw him in One Man, Two Guv'nors as well and he was absolutely fantastic. He can hold a room like nobody's business. If he can interview as well as he can banter, he'll do very very well.

Fun fact! Much like Ferguson, Corden performed in a band during his youth, though instead of playing new wave under the name Bing Hitler, he was in a boy band called Insatiable.
posted by Spatch at 12:15 PM on August 5, 2014 [1 favorite]

Hmmm. This may not end well.
As wonderful as Mr Corden is, and he is, I'm not sure he'll be able to handle the stress of this.
posted by fullerine at 12:16 PM on August 5, 2014

Maybe people think James Corden is gay because he likes kissing guys.
posted by larrybob at 12:16 PM on August 5, 2014

Fun fact! Much like Ferguson, Corden performed in a band yt during his youth, though instead of playing new wave under the name Bing Hitler, he was in a boy band called Insatiable.

Closing the circle even tighter: Ferguson's bandmate was ... Peter Capaldi.
posted by jbickers at 12:18 PM on August 5, 2014 [9 favorites]

I was sure he was gay.

I believe he did appear in PVC fetishwear in one of the "Only Gay in the Village" sketches on Little Britain, but I think that was more to do with his being fat and Welsh.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:18 PM on August 5, 2014 [2 favorites]

On further consideration, it seems that one of the other requirements of being a Late Late Show host is either being named Craig, or having once played someone named Craig.
posted by Strange Interlude at 12:18 PM on August 5, 2014 [3 favorites]

Ah, yes, another 'ew, girls are scary' moment in late night host casting. Shocked.
posted by tavella at 12:18 PM on August 5, 2014 [1 favorite]

Maybe people think James Corden is gay because he likes kissing guys.

Kiss ONE child star on the mouth...
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 12:25 PM on August 5, 2014 [1 favorite]

I can only hope this means a revival of Gavin & Stacey enthusiasm on this side of the Atlantic. At least enough so that my Nessa Halloween costume isn't met with blank stares...
posted by kickingthecrap at 12:32 PM on August 5, 2014 [4 favorites]

What, they couldn't get Charles Grodin?
posted by NedKoppel at 12:33 PM on August 5, 2014 [1 favorite]

Kiss ONE child star on the mouth...
Actually, there were three links in my post.
posted by larrybob at 12:36 PM on August 5, 2014

I've carried a pretty serious dislike for him since I saw (the first half of) Lesbian Vampire Killers. Just awful. But apparently he also hates and is embarrassed by that film, so maybe I should give him a break.
posted by Soulfather at 12:38 PM on August 5, 2014

James Corden: the gay Welshman who is straight and English.
posted by fullerine at 12:39 PM on August 5, 2014 [14 favorites]

"I've carried a pretty serious dislike for him since I saw (the first half of) Lesbian Vampire Killers."

Are they people who kill lesbian vampires?

Or are they lesbians who kill vampires?

Inquiring minds must know!
posted by I-baLL at 12:49 PM on August 5, 2014

James Corden was fabulous in Gavin and Stacey. I don't watch talk shows but I'd watch him.
posted by shoesietart at 12:52 PM on August 5, 2014

Glad he's leaving the country.
posted by biffa at 12:54 PM on August 5, 2014 [3 favorites]

Seriously? You can hire one of the Gavin & Stacey writers to host a late night talk show and you don't pick Ruth Jones? Who actually has experience as an absolutely delightful interviewer and chat show host (albeit only on the holidays, rather than every night)?
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 12:54 PM on August 5, 2014 [10 favorites]

James Corden: the gay Welshman who is straight and English.

James Corden: The Englishman Who Went Gaily Up a Hill But Came Straight Down a Mountain
posted by Atom Eyes at 12:55 PM on August 5, 2014 [15 favorites]

Glad he's leaving the country.

This is one of several negative comments about the guy, I am guessing they're all from folks in the UK. Can anybody clarify why he seems to be so disliked by some?
posted by jbickers at 12:56 PM on August 5, 2014

Strange, I just learned who he was because he's playing the Baker in the Into the Woods movie.
posted by gladly at 12:57 PM on August 5, 2014

James Corden: the gay Welshman who is straight and English.

Heh. Oh.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:58 PM on August 5, 2014

He was pretty good in The Wrong Mans, which was way more fun than something with that aggravating title has any right to be.
posted by figurant at 1:10 PM on August 5, 2014 [2 favorites]

This is one of several negative comments about the guy, I am guessing they're all from folks in the UK. Can anybody clarify why he seems to be so disliked by some?

The thing that really soured me to him was the Speech DeBelle incident. I'm probably in a minority to hate him for how he treated her though.
posted by zoo at 1:11 PM on August 5, 2014

He and Mat Baynton made The Wrong Mans, which I quite liked.

His appearance on Michael McIntyre's show is enough to convince me to give him a watch. Certainly a lot of otherwise funny people aren't suited to be late night hosts, but he seems to have a wonderful, unironic, all-in enthusiasm that's infectious.
posted by stefanie at 1:13 PM on August 5, 2014

The thing that really soured me to him was the Speech DeBelle incident. I'm probably in a minority to hate him for how he treated her though.

So I did a little googling and I guess you're talking about this. And yeah, I would guess that is a minority opinion, because it seems to me like he handled a drunk and antagonistic person on stage with style. Is this the only thing Brits hate him for?
posted by jbickers at 1:20 PM on August 5, 2014

Please don't taunt me with all this James-Corden-is-gay stuff, because I briefly got all hyped up for some stalkin' and then remembered that y'all are tragically wrong. Of course, it would have cut down on my stalking-Stephen-Fry-till-he-gay-marries-me time, so it's okay.

Corden is quite funny and, I imagine, cuddly.

Sigh.
posted by sonascope at 1:58 PM on August 5, 2014 [5 favorites]

James Corden is smug and unfunny and extremely full of himself. The complete opposite of Craig Ferguson, in fact. I am really disappointed.
posted by vickyverky at 2:20 PM on August 5, 2014 [6 favorites]

Oh yes, you can have him, US. As long as you promise you'll keep him forever and ever, so we don't have to watch him on every.single.TV.show.ever.

Love, the UK
posted by kariebookish at 2:20 PM on August 5, 2014 [2 favorites]

Can anybody clarify why he seems to be so disliked by some?

He seems too nice.
We're always suspicious of successful nice people.
A borderline enthusiastic person.

*shiver*

Plus, for some reason, of the 4 main stars of Gavin and Stacey he was chosen by the tabloid press to be the one to get most of the adulation. The others being too Welsh or Interesting.

I don't doubt for a moment Corden himself had anything to do with it, but them's the breaks.
posted by fullerine at 2:23 PM on August 5, 2014

I dislike James Corden because I watched the last chat show he did after the 2010 World Cup. It was dreadful, but it did unite the country in dislike

Hopefully, he's improved since then. I liked Gavin and Stacey, he was great in the History Boys and I heard good things about 'One Man, Two Guv'nors".

But my god that chat show was dire.
posted by eyeofthetiger at 2:24 PM on August 5, 2014 [1 favorite]

Oh yes, you can have him, US. As long as you promise you'll keep him

Network executives... lucked out finding a smart, quite clever actor/comedian that happened to have a quaint foreign accent.

What's the criteria for the next host in that time slot?

(I know nothing about Cordon, he may be great)
posted by sammyo at 2:29 PM on August 5, 2014

I was hoping norm macdonald would get it.
posted by coaster at 2:31 PM on August 5, 2014 [1 favorite]

I was hoping Secretariat would get it.
posted by Capt. Renault at 2:43 PM on August 5, 2014 [3 favorites]

I hear Geoff turned it down.
posted by maryr at 2:50 PM on August 5, 2014 [4 favorites]

If that link above is the first you've heard of Speech Debelle, don't let that be your first impression. Check out her charming single"Spinnin'"
posted by Ian A.T. at 2:55 PM on August 5, 2014

This is one of several negative comments about the guy, I am guessing they're all from folks in the UK. Can anybody clarify why he seems to be so disliked by some?

He's like the guy you talk to at a party for five minutes who then thinks you're BFFs. You can't get away from him, he's everywhere you look, and he thinks he's a million times funnier and more charming than he actually is. He just tries way too hard plus he's all "look at me and my famous friends who I ass-kiss shamelessly!!"

(In case I'm not being clear I am not a fan. Enjoy him. Keep him as long as you want.)
posted by billiebee at 3:06 PM on August 5, 2014 [1 favorite]

I'm not in the UK, but I watch a lot of UK television, and I'm not a huge fan of James Corden. I don't hate him, but I definitely get the "trying too hard" vibe off of him -- which, even if he's not really, is a persona which will grate on some -- and a calculated immaturity which strikes me as obnoxious instead of irreverent. He's not my least favorite person or anything, but there is a bit of a mental sigh every time he shows up. I don't think he'll be a very good successor to the wonderful madness that was Craig Ferguson's show.
posted by Errant at 3:14 PM on August 5, 2014 [4 favorites]

I think we may have reached Peak Corden here in the UK, is all.
posted by bright cold day at 3:41 PM on August 5, 2014 [1 favorite]

Closing the circle even tighter: Ferguson's bandmate was ... Peter Capaldi.

Who?
posted by Celsius1414 at 3:42 PM on August 5, 2014 [4 favorites]

This is Peter Capaldi.
posted by Flashman at 3:56 PM on August 5, 2014 [1 favorite]

Is joke.
posted by biffa at 4:02 PM on August 5, 2014

He seems too nice.
We're always suspicious of successful nice people.
A borderline enthusiastic person.

Big mates with that wanker who used to be in Take That.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:47 PM on August 5, 2014

Oh, and while you're at it, *please* don't let Craig Ferguson come back home just because he's on the dole now.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:48 PM on August 5, 2014

Of course, CBS had to hire another "Craig" (after Kilborn and Ferguson) to host that show, even if it was just the name of his most-familiar-to-Americans role.

CBS 1:35AM IS TV's CRAIG TIME.

(I'm not going to whimper too much how 'Craig' has plummeted in popularity as a boy's name since 2000 - I'm just going to blame Craigslist.)
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:11 PM on August 5, 2014

Oh, and while you're at it, *please* don't let Craig Ferguson come back home just because he's on the dole now.

I thought he was one keyed Bugatti anecdote from fully septic now and was not likely to return.
posted by fullerine at 5:20 PM on August 5, 2014

What happened with the UK and Craig Ferguson? Are we all ignorant of some terrible terrible crimes he committed over there?
posted by Grimgrin at 5:23 PM on August 5, 2014

Craigy Ferg has become a fully naturalized American citizen, which he still mentions proudly on his show at least weekly, so he may have alienated his fellow UKers, at least the Scots. And he has another show, the cringingly titled "Celebrity Name Game" debuting this fall, before his Late Late gig ends, as well as Producing (but not starring on) the cable TV version of "I F***ing Love Science". He's got ongoing income... he won't go 'on the dole' in any country.
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:32 PM on August 5, 2014

He's like the guy you talk to at a party for five minutes who then thinks you're BFFs. You can't get away from him, he's everywhere you look, and he thinks he's a million times funnier and more charming than he actually is. He just tries way too hard plus he's all "look at me and my famous friends who I ass-kiss shamelessly!!"

I don't hate him, but I definitely get the "trying too hard" vibe off of him -- which, even if he's not really, is a persona which will grate on some -- and a calculated immaturity which strikes me as obnoxious instead of irreverent.

Wait, so he's the UK's Jonah Hill?
posted by leotrotsky at 5:35 PM on August 5, 2014 [4 favorites]

Was elizardbits unavailable. This casting decision is terrrible. I do not approve.
posted by humanfont at 7:41 PM on August 5, 2014 [1 favorite]

Heh. I came in say what Errant said so well.

I saw him in a movie preview this weekend and was really surprised that someone in Hollywood thought he'd do well with American audiences. But that gig now makes sense in light of this one.

Michael McIntyre must have been too pricey.
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 9:11 PM on August 5, 2014

I don't think he'll be a very good successor to the wonderful madness that was Craig Ferguson's show.

I think Cordon is pretty talented and is a pretty fast learner. I predict his stint on the show will start off a lot like Fallon did, very rocky and appearing to try too hard, but then discovering what his natural strengths are and learning how to capitalize on them.
posted by hippybear at 11:55 PM on August 5, 2014

Good for him. He was getting overexposed here in the UK, which I think is the source of most of the criticism.
posted by like_neon at 12:03 AM on August 6, 2014

You're going to miss Craig Ferguson, America. A lot.
posted by Decani at 12:08 AM on August 6, 2014 [3 favorites]

Yeah, he had his own chat show here in the Uk a while back - very "jokey" and not very nice humour. - it was very different tone from Craig Ferguson . A lot of his humour seems wrapped up in British lower class tropes as well. It's a bold choice, but not sure it will work out well.
posted by Another Fine Product From The Nonsense Factory at 1:36 AM on August 6, 2014

If it gets him off uk tv, good. His name in the titles indicates you are in for a shitfest.
posted by devious truculent and unreliable at 2:49 AM on August 6, 2014 [2 favorites]

I'm another one who'll be happy if this means that he is less of a presence here in the UK.
I actually think he is decent in serious acting roles but his humour and the way he comes across in interviews is incredibly blokeish and oafish and insecure. He's the 4th funniest guy in the pub. That time Captain Pickard got drunk and called him fat was terrific for all involved.
posted by gnuhavenpier at 3:56 AM on August 6, 2014

He was very good in a semi-comic role in Cruise of the Gods, and pretty good in Doctor Who. Since I don't watch UK light entertainment, my other main exposure to him is as a promotional ambassador for Windows Phone. So, you know, likes an underdog!
posted by running order squabble fest at 4:33 AM on August 6, 2014

the way he comes across in interviews is incredibly blokeish and oafish and insecure. He's the 4th funniest guy in the pub.

This pretty much sums up why I (a UK person) don't like this chump, despite not having been exposed to him much. Well, that and the Tim Goodall character, and their non-reaction to complaints about it.
posted by Drexen at 4:34 AM on August 6, 2014

The reason Corden is hated in the UK is that he's utterly charmless, as evidenced by his infamous clash with a similarly unlikeable Patrick Stewart.
posted by creeky at 4:50 AM on August 6, 2014

There was the terrible sketch series that he did with Matthew Horne, that didn't get him much love and added to the overexposure. That was four years ago. I have to commend the BBC for reporting on the poor reception of one of their own series. Transparency of this sort is almost unheard of in most businesses.

Corden's enthusiastic schtick may go down well in the US.
posted by asok at 5:16 AM on August 6, 2014

I guess they really are serious about making Stephen Colbert change his name to James/Jimmy?
posted by getawaysticks at 6:13 AM on August 6, 2014

Who?

This is Peter Capaldi.

More to the point, the joke is that Craig Ferguson is childhood friends with Peter Capaldi, the actor who will be playing the Twelfth Doctor when the next Doctor Who season premieres later this month (after a brief cameo last season), and James Corden played a recurring character in the previous two Doctor Who seasons. [/the more you know]

Speaking as an American sci-fi/theater geek, in my view James Corden went from complete stranger to In All The Things in less than a year. First, as Craig on Doctor Who. Then, inexplicably (to me) being cast as the Baker in the movie of Into the Woods. Then, winning a Tony. And now taking over for Craig Ferguson. I had no idea that he was quite well known and successful outside of 'Murica.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 8:15 AM on August 6, 2014

He's like the guy you talk to at a party for five minutes who then thinks you're BFFs. You can't get away from him, he's everywhere you look, and he thinks he's a million times funnier and more charming than he actually is. He just tries way too hard plus he's all "look at me and my famous friends who I ass-kiss shamelessly!!"

So... Jimmy Fallon.
posted by Sys Rq at 8:45 AM on August 6, 2014 [1 favorite]

He's like Bungle the bear from Rainbow come to awful life.
posted by gnuhavenpier at 8:59 AM on August 6, 2014 [4 favorites]

Seriously, why are we importing hacks from abroad? Wasn't Piers Morgan enough to make up for getting you involved in Afghanistan and Iraq?
posted by Trifling at 9:49 AM on August 6, 2014

Taking Piers "Morgan" Moron was a good start, but not enough. Corden next, and just let us know when you're ready for Jonathan Ross.
posted by billiebee at 10:41 AM on August 6, 2014

Seriously, why are we importing hacks from abroad?

Apparently because it beats actually hiring a broad.
posted by Atom Eyes at 11:05 AM on August 6, 2014 [8 favorites]

...just let us know when you're ready for Jonathan Ross.

I thought we were friends.
posted by Celsius1414 at 3:09 PM on August 6, 2014 [1 favorite]

Isn't Jeremy Paxman available now?
posted by Flashman at 3:18 PM on August 6, 2014

You can't have Paxman! Tell you what, we'll keep Paxo and let you have Jeremy Clarkson and we'll throw in Jimmy Carr for free. Can't say fairer than that.
posted by billiebee at 3:26 PM on August 6, 2014 [5 favorites]

I like you, billiebee. Can we agree on giving them Fearne Cotton too?
posted by kariebookish at 6:57 AM on August 7, 2014 [2 favorites]

I thought we were friends.

That isn't what "special relationship" means.
posted by maryr at 2:24 PM on August 7, 2014

let you have Jeremy Clarkson

Have you seen the US version of Top Gear? Clarkson's a douche (the douchiest), but at least he's something.

(That said, America already has a bedenimed car nut slash chat show host slash asshole in Jay Leno.)
posted by Sys Rq at 2:40 PM on August 7, 2014

i will take carr and ross! throw in sarah millican too, and could we maybe get reginald d. hunter back?
posted by nadawi at 6:54 AM on August 18, 2014