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“It’s a great day for America.”
Loyal viewers know that’s how Craig Ferguson started his CBS late night time present for years — paying tribute to the land he now calls residence. A local of Scotland, Ferguson formally turned a U.S. citizen in 2008 — a journey which he chronicled in his 2009 memoir American on Purpose.
And now, 17 years after publishing that tome, Ferguson is again with a present of the identical identify celebrating a nation he actually loves, timed to coincide with its 250th birthday. The five-episode collection — debuting Saturday at 9 p.m. ET on NCS — takes a novel have a look at the U.S. by means of the eyes of a person who actually has profound affection for it.
To be clear, Ferguson believes America has flaws. But at this second in time, he believes a celebratory present is what’s referred to as for — telling Mediaite he got down to make a present that’s “patriotic but not jingoistic.”
“What I didn’t want to focus on is what I feel needs changed in America,” Ferguson advised Mediaite in an interview on May 19. “And I don’t even want to focus on that in the promotion of this show. Because I feel like if I discuss what I think needs to be changed, everything will become about that. And so I’m not unaware, I’m not an idiot…I’m not saying there aren’t problems, but that isn’t what I’m focusing on at this point in my journey.”
Ferguson opened as much as Mediaite in a wide-ranging dialog about America, and what he’s hoping to point out viewers in his new collection.
This dialog has been edited for context and readability.
MEDIAITE: How’d this all come collectively? Who approached who? And how was the present conceived?
CRAIG FERGUSON: It was a form of natural factor. I had, about two or three years in the past, I had lunch with [CNN EVP] Amy Entelis and Amy and I have been form of speaking about …is there a world the place I do one thing on NCS? And we have been type speaking concepts round. And then IPC, the manufacturing firm, had provide you with this concept of doing a present that was primarily based on every modification. That’s how we began it.
And IPC, who I actually preferred working with, and Morgan Fallon, the present runner who got here on and directed all of those reveals and showran the entire thing, all of us form of labored collectively. And it appeared it was form of dry to dry and do each modification. Plus, there’s numerous amendments. Some of them — and that is controversial – a few of them are usually not that fascinating. So…I had written the ebook American On Purpose in 2008 once I turned a citizen, it got here out in 2009. So we form of circled again on that and regarded on the immigrant expertise. I’ve lived right here for the reason that Nineteen Nineties, however I turned a citizen in 2008. So we checked out that and taking an American’s perspective of America by means of an immigrant lens. And that actually is what it turned.
I’m an amazing believer that much less format is healthier. I don’t know if you happen to’re acquainted with my late night time present, however format’s by no means actually been my f*cking factor! So as we bought much less formality and extra form of, let’s simply go and speak to individuals and have a look at issues and have an concept, the present appeared to develop.
One modification we did was clearly the First Amendment. Fascinating and fascinating, and a really form of intricate and rather more sophisticated topic than simply freedom of speech — though that’s sophisticated sufficient. And then we did different issues. Capitalism we did as a result of though it doesn’t essentially belong to America, it’s very a lot American life. So it’s not within the Constitution, nevertheless it form of is what we do. And then, we checked out individualism, which is within the structure, however we didn’t restrict ourselves to that definition of it. And we checked out patriotism. And how that appears. So we bought looser in our definition over time within the improvement of the present.
And then within the precise capturing of the present we did the identical factor. Luckily working with, , with individuals and that is why it’s taken me some time to do that, I believe, as a result of I needed to work with individuals who form of felt the identical means as I did about not solely the United States, which is love — however sophisticated love. And I needed to make a present which was patriotic however not jingoistic, and was not an ironic f*ck you to America. But extra a form of, ‘no, this is an awesome place.’ It’s sophisticated and there’s issues in it which possibly we must always check out. But… I believe there are many reveals on the market what we’d like to check out. And this present is a bit more celebratory than that. That’s what I needed to do.
I used to be gonna contact on this later, however because you carry it up, anyone who’s adopted you for a very long time is aware of how deep your love of the nation is. You speak about it on a regular basis. Literally each present on CBS began out with you saying, “It’s a great day for America.” It’s been 12 years because you mentioned that each night time on CBS. Do you continue to really feel that means? How has your relationship with America developed within the 12 years because you’ve been off CBS and doing different stuff? Where are you with America proper now?
I believe the place I’m with it proper now could be I’m form of like, in public, I discover myself somewhat guarded. And I believe that’s as a result of there, it appears like proper now, the media has all the time been very energetic in America. And I really feel like, , generally each time I do an interview or each time I speak to somebody within the media, I’m like ‘Maybe I should have a lawyer.’ Because what am I going to say that’s going to get me into bother?
And so how do I really feel about America proper now? The identical, within the sense that I adore it, nevertheless it’s sophisticated. You know, and I’m a bit older, and America’s a bit older. And what I didn’t need to focus on is what I really feel wants modified in America. And I don’t even need to focus on that within the promotion of this present. Because I really feel like if I talk about what I believe must be modified, every part will turn into about that. And so I’m not unaware, I’m not an fool…I’m not saying there aren’t issues, however that isn’t what I’m focusing on at this level in my journey.
As somebody who’s adopted your profession for a very long time, it nearly appears unfair to ask you about a few of that as a result of that’s not your jam. So I suppose my query then would focus on individuals who aren’t followers of yours, and don’t know your work.
Do they even exist?
Very few. But they might they might have a look at the present thematically, they might see these these topics and so they might presume an agenda that doesn’t exist. So how do you combat that notion? I’ve seen a few the episodes now. It actually shouldn’t be political in any means. But the notion undoubtedly, I really feel like, shall be that it’s. So how do you fight that?
I don’t assume I can, to be sincere…I can’t actually do something about different individuals’s perceptions. You know what I imply? It’s like, I make the factor I make after which that’s what I made and the way they understand it’s form of as much as them. I imply, look, I admit freely to being a management freak, however I can’t management how different individuals understand me. I really feel like it’s what it’s. I made the factor I made, and I’m saying what I needed to say.
I believe the reality is, in case you are a really political individual, then every part you see is political. And to a person with a hammer, every part is a nail. When I bought sober, years and years and years in the past, I nonetheless have numerous mates who drink quite a bit. And it could annoy them quite a bit once I mentioned, ‘Nah, I’m not going to drink anymore.’ And they took it as that I someway was advocating temperance for them, and I’m not.
Be as political as you want. I’m not saying there’s something unsuitable with being political. But this isn’t it. So if you happen to say ‘Oh, that Craig Ferguson show, that’s a political present, that’s a part of a NCS agenda.’ Then I might say, ‘No, you’re unsuitable.’ Because I thought of it. And I mentioned to Amy Entelis in considered one of our first discussions, ‘What I’m completely adamant about is that I’ll make the identical present for you as I might make if I used to be doing this for Fox News.’ It’s the identical present. This present is my present. It’s my take. I wrote the ebook — actually wrote the ebook on this — and I’m staying convicted to that. I’m staying connected to that as an concept.
It felt like your present, watching it, it actually did. [Mediaite screened two episodes prior to this interview] I don’t understand how a lot you drew on this — nevertheless it jogged my memory of the reveals that you just did in Paris with Kristen Bell, and in Scotland with Mila Kunis.
That’s precisely what I used to be going for. That’s what I’m going for — to do it in an American sense. That is basically what it’s. Take no matter I’m, or what my perspective is, and take it out into the nation. And that’s it. That actually is it.
Yeah and what drove these reveals — and what appears like drove this one — was a curiosity and a real curiosity in how America works. In what Americans are like. That identical curiosity you took to these street reveals in Paris and Scotland feels prefer it carried over right here, although you’ve now lived right here for many years. You nonetheless have that curiosity in regards to the nation.
Oh, I’m inquisitive about individuals. And so, I’m very glad you mentioned that, as a result of that’s precisely what I used to be going for. And I’m blissful about that. I’m simply curious in regards to the individuals, I believe that what I don’t have — possibly I’m fortunate within the sense that as a result of I’m an immigrant, as a result of I didn’t develop up with sure form of like arduous and quick agricultural references. Or beliefs about what Americans must be. I really feel prefer it offers me somewhat extra fluidity. But you speak to any immigrant, or possibly even actually the youngsters of immigrants as nicely, as all people says, there’s an actual sense of…satisfaction appears too easy a phrase. There’s a way of…jubilation appears an excessive amount of possibly as nicely. But there’s an actual enjoyment that comes with changing into an American. It’s superior, and I’m more than happy I did it.
The first episode of the collection focuses on new American residents. Seeing the enjoyment of a brand new citizen… take me by means of that episode, what was that like.
It’s humorous as a result of my buddy Okay.T. Tunstall had simply turn into a citizen pretty lately. I really like her, she’s my sister. And so she was the primary visitor I referred to as up. I mentioned, I’m doing this present about how superior it’s, the way it’s superior to be an American and the way superior the America is. Do you need to be in it? And she mentioned… Hang on a minute, I simply have to speak to my husband. And then she mentioned sure… and so we went to Texas and purchased cowboy hats as a result of we’re each from Scotland and we each needed to do one thing actually American and actually form of iconic for us.
And then from that starting level I began and speaking to totally different Americans… I talked to a gentleman referred to as Abdi Nor Iftin who received the golden ticket in Somalia to turn into an American… it’s like one in 250 individuals who applies will get this factor. And he got here from a conflict zone and got here in and now he lives in Maine. And it was the form of similarity between the totally different experiences and the way you find yourself right here…There is a way of historical past about it in a really private sense. It feels such as you’re a part of one thing. It is an uncommon bonding expertise for individuals who have turn into Americans by means of the method of immigration. It’s an fascinating form of similarity that all of us appear to have.
And that drives the query… how a lot can we all have in frequent anymore? Is {that a} query that you just’ve thought of?
What we all the time had in frequent shouldn’t be a lot. But the nice factor, what I believe is so essential about America, is we don’t have to have something in frequent. You don’t must have something in frequent to be an American. My expertise as an American is wildly totally different in all probability from numerous different Americans. We don’t to have one thing in frequent to be American. I believe that’s the genius of America.
I don’t assume it is advisable have one thing in frequent with somebody to get together with them. I form of like having totally different experiences. So I’m being somewhat semantic about it, however I really feel just like the distinction is what’s enjoyable, what’s nice about it. Like if you go a street journey right here, and also you undergo … I imply ,I firmly consider that you just don’t know this nation till you’ve pushed throughout it a few instances. Until you’ve gone from New Orleans, by means of Buc-ee’s, to the northeastern level of Maine.
If I can do something with this present, if it has any form of noble aspiration — and most of it is rather like I hope it’s entertaining… But if I’ve any nobler aspirations to this, it’s: These individuals are nice and so they’re fascinating and also you don’t know them. And you need to. Here they’re. They’re fascinating.
One of the episodes is targeted on Freedom of Speech. What did you study in that one? Where is Freedom of Speech in America proper now?
There’s a really fascinating factor that occurred in that present the place I didn’t know the seven soiled phrases that George Carlin had provide you with … And what I did is, we recorded a stand-up present of mine and I requested the viewers if any of them knew the seven soiled phrases. And I don’t need to give it away, however considered one of them did. And it was f*cking stunning. A ravishing factor occurred. And that’s one of many issues I’m proudest of within the present is that any person got here out of the viewers and f*cking mentioned them. And who it was and the way it occurred was simply fabulous.
There is a free speech matter within the information proper now that you just’ve bought some distinctive perception on, which is the departure of Stephen Colbert. What are your ideas?
I’ve been requested this query earlier than. I really feel like of all people on this nation, I’m uniquely unqualified to debate late night time tv. And I’ll inform you why. I didn’t actually watch it earlier than I did it. I’d possibly see Dave, or Jay if I used to be round, however I wasn’t like a late night time man. It wasn’t one thing that was in my course of. I definitely didn’t watch it once I was doing it as a result of I used to be f*cking doing it each day. And then I did it for 10 years, after which after I did for 10 years, I by no means needed to see it once more. I don’t actually throw myself into that debate as a result of I’m actually actually not a part of it. I’m not any extra certified — and possibly much less certified than most individuals — to speak about it.
Joe DePaolo is the Editor in Chief of Mediaite.
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