8 Things To Know About The New Late Late Show With James Corden

After 10 years of robot skeletons and fake horses, Craig Ferguson left the Late Late Show in December to make way for new host James Corden. Corden, a British actor most recently seen in Disney's INTO THE WOODS, comes into the role with big shoes to fill and a new face for CBS. With Corden's hosting debut on March 23rd, here are a few things viewers should expect to see with the new Late Late Show.

1. James Corden's Late Late Show Will Not Be Like Craig Ferguson's Late Late Show

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Craig Ferguson created a very unique late night show compared to Fallon, Letterman and Kimmel. While his show lacked a house band, a human sidekick and his monologues often went on tangents, Ferguson developed a cult following in the late night community. When Corden takes the reigns, fans of the previous incarnation should not expect to see the same type of "Cheeky Monkey," brand of humor.

2. There Will Be A House Band

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Ferguson often poked fun that his show (the only one in the late night community) did not have a regular house band. For the new Late Late Show, not only will it finally have a house band, but it will be led by musician Reggie Watts. Watts, most recently seen on the IFC series Comedy Bang! Bang!, has immense musical and comedic talent and will definitely be a great match for the equally musically talented Corden.

3. Corden Is A Fairly Unknown Face In American Entertainment

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Aside from his most recent role in Disney's Into The Woods, James Corden is not a household name by any means. This is both a good and bad thing for the new Late Late Show host. On one hand, his "greenness," in the american television market allows him to be himself in front of the camera. It also allows his audience to like him for his personality and not a specific acting role. On the other side, he does not have the same advantage of his other late night competition, such as Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and future Late Show host Stephen Colbert, who took over the late night chair from successful runs on SNL, movies or other television programs.

4. Music Will Play A Role In Corden's Show

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Corden is less known for his work as a stand-up comedian and more for his work in traditional theatre. He is a Tony Award winning actor who is a professionally trained singer. While other late night hosts, such as Jimmy Fallon, incorporate music into their sketches from time to time, Corden has the chance to change the late night musical landscape with his vocal talents. If you haven't heard him sing, take a listen to his voice from Disney's Into The Woods soundtrack.

5. Corden is from Great Britain

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That's right. James Corden is a British actor from the small town of High Wycombe in Hillingdon area of London, England. While this is not the first time the Late Late Show will feature a foreign born host, he brings with him a very british style of humor, which could be challenge when connecting with american audiences. For Corden, his soft-spoken british demeanor and charm will be one of his keys to success for the new show.

6. Expect His Guests To Appear Together At The Same Time

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In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Corden, along with the show's producers Rob Crabbe and Ben Winston, revealed that all of the guests for the evening's show will come out at once rather than one at a time. Compared to other late night shows in America, this is a new move. However, this is actually a play out of British talk show host Graham Norton's late night book. While we will have to see how american audiences react to the new format, Winston has found that, "The biggest names in Hollywood from Will Ferrell to Tom Hanks to David Beckham have all gone, “We’re up for it. We think it’s refreshing and exciting.”

7. Corden Plans To Bring Something New While Honoring The Late Late Show Tradition

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James Corden's goal for the new Late Late Show is bring laughs to the american television audience while pushing for something new in the fairly established late night landscape. In a recent NPR interview, Corden described how, "It's not enough to rely on fact that there' always been a [Late Late] show. The fact that we're on after a talk show means we have to try and respect and honor the traditions of late night, but in so many ways try and make something that at least feels a little different to the show that's just been on." It is this attitude that has many people, including this writer, excited to see what "new," things he plans to bring to the late night talk show scene.

8. His First Episode Will Not Define His Late Night Tenure

CBS

In an age of social media criticism, a bad first episode can kill a new show. With The Late Late Show, people need to give Corden, Watts and the rest of the show time to find it's own path. They are filling some big shoes after Ferguson's departure and many people will be quick to compare the two shows. Don't do it. The two shows will be different and that is a good thing. The american television audience should give James Corden the chance to get comfortable in his new role and know that not all of his episodes will be home runs. If you look at Jimmy Fallon's first episode of Late Night and compared it to his first Tonight Show episode, you wouldn't believe how far he has come. I certainly wish James Corden and the entire Late Late Show crew the best of luck and hope they have a successful run on CBS!

Tune Into The Late Late Show With James Corden On March 23rd After The Late Show With David Letterman On CBS

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