To most American audiences Craig Ferguson is best known as the host of his own late night talk show The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and as Drew Carey’s boss Nigel Wick (1996 to 2003) on the award winning comedy show The Drew Carey Show. But the Scotsman (now American citizen since 2008) has worn many different hats in his career. Stand-up comedian, writer, actor, director, author and producer. His two books: Between the Bridge and the River (a novel) and American On Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot (a memoir) has been critically acclaimed.
On this balmy breezy autumn night in South Florida Ferguson brought his stand-up comedy routine to the audience of Hard Rock Live. But beware, this is not the gentile late night talk show host we’ve all come to know and love; Ferguson is uncensored and absolutely hysterical. No topic is off limits. From the latest Hollywood gossip, the differences between men and women, addiction, sharks, Nazi’s, Canadians, taking acid, massages, just to name a few. He also shared with the audience a new and improved name he created for a woman’s private part. There was a slight pause when he dropped this little ditty, then uproarious laughter from the audience. Still every bit as charming as he is on television his stand-up routine has got an edge that resonated with the Hard Rock audience. There was laughter from start to finish. Even a couple pairs of women’s panties made it to the stage. No, Craig didn’t bring them himself; they were thrown at his feet, aka Tom Jones kind of thing. The incidents certainly stopped Ferguson in his tracks and mid sentence. Quick on his feet his comebacks and banter with the audience was right on par and very funny. They were classic moments. Joe Matarese was Ferguson’s opening act and was very entertaining in his own right. He has been a guest on Ferguson’s late night show a few times and has also appeared on Chelsea Lately on E Entertainment Television. If there was any low point of the evening it would be the show was too short. Matarese’s set was twenty minutes; Ferguson one hour. It seemed like Craig was just getting started and another thirty minutes would have been a treat. Should Craig be making a stop in your city I urge you to check him out for yourself. There are plenty of laughs to go around.