Late Late Show fans sadly only have around six weeks left with longtime host Craig Ferguson, as he is packing up and shipping out of the host chair on Friday, December 19. For his last show, he’s bringing in someone very familiar with departing the late night world: former Tonight Show host Jay Leno. That’s a pretty stellar way to go out, don’t you think?
Jay Leno last hosted the Tonight Show on February 6 of this year – after previously “last hosting it” in May 2009 during the Conan O’Brien debacle – and he’s actually returning to The Tonight Show on Friday night to chat it up with current host Jimmy Fallon. He’s been on the Late Late Show before, as seen in the video below, so it should be a pretty good time, especially if Ferguson is manically treating it like the last day of school.
Chances are, the discussion will center on Leno’s new show Jay Leno’s Garage on CNBC, which will presumably be just like his web series of the same name. Ferguson may also develop another series for himself in the future, but for now, he’s hosting Celebrity Name Game. Perhaps neither of their future projects will come up, and they’ll just do keg stands and try to ride Secretariat around the set. Perhaps not.
All of Ferguson’s December guests have been revealed, and he’s got a host of superstars lined up, many of whom have made his quirky show their home multiple times in the past. The early weeks of the month will see actors like Steve Carrell, Don Cheadle, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis and Carrie Fisher show up to talk about their projects. (I cannot wait to see Fisher in particular.)
For the final week, he’ll have on Tim Meadows, who holds the title of most appearances on Late Late Show, with 41. Later we’ll see Thomas Lennon, who’s been on the show 30 times, and Betty White, who’s shown up for 23 appearances. That last week also has Jon Hamm, Angela Kinsey, Larry King and Jim Parsons. Go big or go home. Or in this case, go big AND go home.
Following Ferguson’s departure on December 19, CBS will be handing over the Late Late Show reins to James Corden. Perhaps he’ll have Arsenio Hall or some other former talk show host as his first guest.
