The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn

The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
GenreLate-night talk show
Presented byCraig Kilborn
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes1,190
Production
Executive producerPeter Lassally
Production locationsCBS Television City, Los Angeles, California
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time45 minutes
Production companyWorldwide Pants
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseMarch 30, 1999 (1999-03-30) –
August 27, 2004 (2004-08-27)
Related
Late Show with David Letterman
The Daily Show

The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn is an American late-night talk show hosted by Craig Kilborn that aired on CBS from March 30, 1999, to August 27, 2004. It is the second incarnation of CBS's The Late Late Show franchise and followed Late Show with David Letterman in the network's late-night lineup.[1][2]

The series replaced The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder and adopted a more comedy-oriented format emphasizing celebrity interviews, recurring comedy segments, and Kilborn's sarcastic, self-aware on-air persona.[3]

History

In 1998, CBS announced that Kilborn would succeed Tom Snyder as host of The Late Late Show.[1] Kilborn had previously gained prominence as an anchor on ESPN's SportsCenter and as the original host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central.[4]

Kilborn debuted as host on March 30, 1999.[3] Unlike Snyder's interview-focused program, Kilborn's version emphasized comedy, irony, and a deliberately detached hosting style.[5]

The program was produced by David Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants, with veteran late-night producer Peter Lassally serving as executive producer.[6]

Format

The series followed the traditional late-night talk show format, featuring an opening monologue, comedy desk pieces, celebrity interviews, and musical guests. Recurring segments included "5 Questions", "Yambo", "What Up?", and "To Hell with..."[7]

Kilborn cultivated a comedic persona characterized by mock arrogance, ironic detachment, and frequent references to old Hollywood glamour and his own supposed sophistication.[8]

Reception

During its run, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn competed primarily against NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien and, later, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!.[9]

Critical reception to Kilborn's hosting style was mixed, although the program developed a loyal following among younger viewers.[10] Reviewers frequently noted the contrast between Kilborn's ironic style and the more earnest approach of many competing late-night hosts.[11]

Departure

In August 2004, Kilborn announced that he would leave the program when his contract expired.[12] CBS subsequently employed a rotating group of guest hosts while searching for a replacement.[13]

Kilborn later stated that he had grown dissatisfied with the repetitive nature of late-night television and viewed his departure as a form of early retirement.[14]

In December 2004, CBS announced that Scottish comedian and actor Craig Ferguson would become the next permanent host of the program.[15]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Carter, Bill (December 18, 1998). "CBS Gives Kilborn a Late-Night Promotion". The New York Times. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Craig Kilborn Named Host Of CBS' 'Late Late Show'". Chicago Tribune. December 18, 1998. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Huff, Richard (March 29, 1999). "Kilborn bringing attitude to CBS late-night slot". New York Daily News. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Kilborn gets late-night promotion". Variety. December 17, 1998. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  5. ↑ Ryan, Joal (March 30, 1999). "Kilborn Makes Himself at Home". E! Online. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  6. ↑ "CBS taps Kilborn for late-night slot". Deseret News. December 18, 1998. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  7. ↑ "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn". IMDb. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  8. ↑ Collins, Scott (March 30, 1999). "Kilborn Brings Smirk to Late Night". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Late-night TV heats up with Kilborn move". Houston Chronicle. March 28, 1999. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  10. ↑ Bianco, Robert (February 20, 2001). "Kilborn settles into late-night groove". USA Today. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  11. ↑ Lowry, Brian (March 29, 1999). "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn". Variety. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Craig Kilborn exiting CBS late-night show". NBC News. August 13, 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  13. ↑ "CBS taps guest hosts for 'Late Late Show'". Variety. December 7, 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  14. ↑ Collins, Scott (June 28, 2010). "Craig Kilborn returns to TV after years away". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  15. ↑ "CBS Picks Ferguson for Late-Night Slot". The Washington Post. December 8, 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
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