NEW YORK – Scottish actor Craig Ferguson, who played the boss for many years on “The Drew Carey Show,” will be the new host of CBS’ “Late Late Show.”
A formal announcement was expected Tuesday, according to two executives close to CBS who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Ferguson passed through a gauntlet of on-air tryouts set up by Worldwide Pants, David Letterman’s production company. He was one of four finalists with actor Michael Ian Black, comedian D.L. Hughley and MTV “Total Request Live” host Damien Fahey.
He replaces Craig Kilborn, who announced in August that he was leaving the 12:30 a.m. talk show after five years. The “Late Late Show” trails the time slot leader, NBC’s “Late Night” with Conan O’Brien, in the ratings.
Ferguson’s Scottish burr at least brings a different sound to late-night television. He was endorsed by New York Daily News critic David Bianculli, who said in a column printed Tuesday that Ferguson “just kept getting more and more comfortable, and showed more range, humor and originality than any of the others.”
Ferguson, 42, wrote and produced the 2000 film “Saving Grace.” He was a top comic in Britain before moving to Los Angeles in 1995.
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