TVSquad

He's become a much better interviewer, an unusual one. It seems as though he really listens to his guests and is on the alert for any odd thing they say. Then he jumps in with a new question and takes the interview in a new, not pre-interviewed, direction.

Reply

In answer to your question "Is Craig Ferguson as good as Conan?" the answer is no. Craig Ferguson is much, much better than Conan. They can't even be compared. They are like apples and oranges. Craig is intelligent, funny (his monologues remind me of Billy Connolly), is a great interviewer/listener and his guest love him, because he really talks to them. Have you noticed how many of his guests rave about him and his show? Dennis Hopper, Susan Sarandon, and Regis Philbin to name a few. He makes his guests feel at ease. It's a talk show for adults and not full of stupid jokes.

I must confess, I've never liked Conan. Only David Letterman can pull off the stupid jokes.

He brings the American talk show to a new level. Well a level I haven't seen since I was living in Europe. And maybe that's the key. Look at Parkinson and other similar British talk shows and you see that they are totally different than American shows. Not always better, just different. Dave is awesome. Leno is lame. Conan still hasn't grown up and Craig should dominate for years.

But on the other hand, just because you are good and a small audience gets you, doesn't mean that you will stick around long. I'm looking at you Arrested Development (and your friend Kitchen Confidential).

Reply

One think I like about Craig's monologues is that they are more of a monologue and less of a stand-up routine. He almost makes it seem like he's completely ad-libbing it... not reading it off of cue cards. Hopefully the viewers will respond well soon and give CBS/WWP a reason to give Craiggers pt. 2 more respect (and a bigger studio and budget)

Reply

Dead on, I think. Conan's show has the better bits but Craig is a far superior monologist and interviewer. I like the twinkle in Craig's eye as he makes contact with an audience member or crewmember after making some particularly silly statement. I like it a lot better than seeing Conan check his hair in the monitor night after night anyway.

Reply

My husband and I have actually discussed this in the last week. We watch Letterman (can't stand Leno) so we started watching Craig Ferguson just because the TV was on and was on that channel. After watching a few shows we started to really like Craig's style, especially his monologue (for all the reasons already mentioned). There's no doubt he is far superior to Craig Kilborn, but I don't watch Conan so I can't make any comparisons in that regard. Bottom line, we really like Craig Ferguson. Dave needs to give him a raise.

Reply

I definitely agree with number 2, and 4 is dead on with that last sentence.

Conan's skits are funny, but I can only take so much of Conan himself. He is constantly messing with his hair, walking back and forth in front of the camera, making faces, and he is always making jokes about himself when talking to guests. I definitely agree that Craig Ferguson is different, but he does seem to care more about his guests.

Reply

Dead on.

Craig's monologue "stories" are great. I loved the one where he was talking about getting an arcade game in his house, or anytime he talks about being in a punk band. Even when he started (when the show was kind of rocky) I thought he really came across as a likeable guy.

I also agree with the bits/sketches comment. Conan's skits and video pieces trump the hell out of Craig's. Conan and his writers/performers are top notch.

I still like Conan, but I find myself tuning in after watching Craig for a bit. Well anyway, both good shows in my opinion.

Side note: Leno still annoys the crap out of me.

Reply

Ya know what, I used to be a die hard Conan fan. And then one day, conan was a re-run so I switched to Craig.

And I've been watching him ever since. Even repeats. He's SO funny. And I love when he comes back from the commercials and says something like "welcome back my frisky little ponys" lol, it's so funny.

Although, Conan is awesome, and IF Craig is in fact funnier, it's not by that much.

Reply

I'll start by saying that I haven't watched Craig very much at all. But from what I've seen, its difficult to compare the two shows. First the monologue on Conan's show is not the focus of the show, like with Leno and to a lesser extent Ferguson. Like every one has said, Conan is about the bits. As far as the interviews go, I don't see how any interview on any late night show can be compelling, especially with the big name celebrities. It basically comes down to a matter of taste. Conan's show is built more on absurdist humor. Ferguson is more like a trational comedian. Frankenstein wasting a minute of your time or the Cactus Chef Playing "We Didn't Start the Fire" on the Flute is not for everyone.
It took Conan O'Brien a few years to really hit his stride, so Craig's got some time.

Reply

I will always have a soft spot for Conan, having watched him from the painful first weeks. Conan is a writer and he does a "writer's show," where you sit and say "that's funny" even if you're not laughing. However, Craig Ferguson is doing the best show on network late night TV, and I hope he gets to continue for many years to come. He's an artist: a fine comic actor, a wicked mimic, an attentive interviewer--the monologues are usually laugh-out-loud funny and sometimes mind-blowing. I can't stay up late enough to watch that daypart "live" anymore and even though I like Conan, have never recorded him. Ferguson has a season pass on my DVR. Love. him.

Reply

Craig is much better than Conan, and I think his ratings might even surpass Conan's in the next year...he's closing in on him.
I agree with 10's comment...I've never seen a late-night host worth recording to watch the next morning until I saw Craig. He brings a refreshing perspective to his narrative-style observations, influenced in part by his immigrant-soon-to-be-US Citizen status. The style and nature of Craig's monologues sometimes lead him to end it with a serious moral or patriotic statement, and it never seems forced...he's very sincere. He's also extremely inquisitive, which is partly what makes him a good interviewer.
To my knowledge, Craig Ferguson is the only late-night host who is still currently acting, and along with his critically acclaimed ventures into directing and screenwriting, he has written a novel that will be out in the spring, "Between the Bridge and the River." He seems to have an insatiable need to create and entertain, and I think he's doing a marvelous job.

Reply

"I was pretty much a Conan O'Brien loyalist that only tuned over to Kilborn if some hot starlet was on (isn't that why every guy watches any late night talk show after the monolouge?)."

You call yourself a Conan loyalist and then admit to watching late night shows only to see hot chicks? In the same sentence!? You should be ashamed.

For me, the late night shows are all about teh comedy. Craig can't match Conan's quick wit if he tried. I enjoy both of them, but when it comes to being funny, Conan's got the lead.

Reply

Conan hands down, but depends depends on my mood. For Jim Carrey slapstick type comedy I'd choose Conan, otherwise I'd choose Craig.

Reply

I've made a point of checking out Ferguson ever since his brilliant skewering of the Couch Jumper last spring. His monologue is a refreshing well-constructed bit of can't miss entertainment.

A far cry from the bad joke/obnoxious laugh as bad joke delivery that was so painful to watch in the early days.

Ferguson's show is well worth watching. Unlike Conan, a few drinks aren't necessary to find it funny. (Not that they hurt, but Ferguson is actually funny when I'm sober! Wow.)

Reply

Craig is so much hotter than Conan..it's not even a fair question. He has the accent, the tall dark, slightly off good looks. He is super funny. Did I mention that he is more handsome than Conan. Yup. Craig is much better. Super duper better.

I don't get why people think Conan is smart and funny - all his jokes are "I'm a big dork." Dumb.

Reply

Okay, I seem to be the only person in the universe that liked Craig Kilborn. I loved Kilborn. I loved his delivery and watched the show religiously for awhile. Then I switched to Conan because that's what my roommates watched at the time and it was easier. However, I still switched back and forth between them when one or the other was doing a non-funny bit or interviewing an uninteresting guest (cough, Julia Stiles, cough). Since Kilborn left, I haven't watched the Late Late Show because I liked Kilborn so much. But this is all idle chitchat because the question posed in the title is ludicrous. Conan O'Brien is hilarious. The man wrote for Saturday Night Live and the Simpsons for crying out loud. Craig Ferguson was a regular on The Drew Carey Show. Advantage: O'Brien.

Reply

I like Craig Ferguson. It has been years since I watched anyone from the late night TV (hey I have Tivo, I can watch what I want). He is not a great sketch comic as people have said, but the guy is funny and very charming. He comes across as someone you would like to have over for a couple of coffee (or a beer if that is your taste).

Reply

Conan has run thin for me. it's too forced.

i like craig. however i hardly watch :/

Reply

I can't wait for conan to replace leno. No one is better than conan imo.

Reply

Re: #16's comment, Craig's job on the Drew Carey Show was a minuscule part of his career. Craig is a writer/director/producer/actor, and excellent at every one of those jobs. He is, dare I say, a Renaissance Man. My personal list of the Big Four talkshow hosts: 1. Craig, 2. Dave, 3. Conan, 4. Jay.

Reply