Craig Ferguson is leaning into what makes him (and you) laugh
As people from around the world gather around screens to watch this year’s Winter Olympics, comedian Craig Ferguson remembers a time when people gathering around a screen sparked a desire that changed his life.
The Scottish comedian and award-winning late-night talk show host recalled when he was 7 years old, when he watched American astronauts landed on the moon for the first time. From that point on, whatever goals or aspirations he had, he had his sights set on making them happen in the United States.
“Whatever these guys are up to, I want to be a part of that,” Ferguson recalled, referring to America during the Apollo space mission. “For me, it was always about America … this was always the destination, both emotionally and geographically.”
After getting his comedy career started in Scotland (along with a short stint as a drummer in a few punk rock bands as a teen), Ferguson made the permanent move across the Atlantic to Los Angeles in 1994, finding initial success with his role as Mr. Wick on “The Drew Carey Show” while continuing to do stand-up comedy.
After the show ended in 2003, he was tapped to succeed Craig Kilborn on CBS’s “The Late Late Show” in 2004 and brought his unique sensibility and punk rock energy to the format for a decade, whether it was his chaotically charming and thoughtful interview style, or ditching the human comic sidekick for a robot skeleton named Geoff.
Ferguson’s popularity led to him becoming a best-selling author (most notably his 2009 memoir “American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot”), a podcast host (“Joy with Craig Ferguson”) and the soon-to-be host of the CNN series “American On Purpose.” He also carved out a fun niche for himself as a game show host, first with “The Celebrity Name Game” and now with “Scrabble” on The CW.
“I love hosting game shows … all you have to do is want to play the game,” he said. “This was an easy ‘yes’ for me because I play (Scrabble) on my phone anyway.”
Regardless of the multiple directions his career has taken him since coming to the States (that includes, as he noted, an American wife, American children and American tax returns), stand-up comedy has always been his anchor and the place where he feels like he can be the most expressive.
“As long as I kind of had the safety net of being able to work on my own, always, I can say what I want, always … and for the most part, I kind of do,” Ferguson said.
On his current “Pants on Fire” tour, which comes to the Lexington Opera House this Friday, Feb. 13, Ferguson has put his foot down when it comes to subjects he is not going to touch, whether it is the current, in-flux state of late-night television or anything related to politics (“I’m sick of listening to people I agree with,” he said).
Other than that, any other topic can potentially be tackled with his signature style, as long as it meets one requirement.
“The only rule I’ve ever given myself is … if it makes me laugh, I keep it in. If it doesn’t, I won’t,” he said. “It could get a little fruity in places, but I think anyone who knows me knows that’s something that’s going to happen.”
Craig Ferguson “Pants on Fire” Tour
When: Friday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Lexington Opera House, 401 W. Short Street
Tickets: $48.35 to $81.15, 859-233-4567 or lexingtonoperahouse.com