U.K. writer/actor James Corden will, as expected, replace Craig Ferguson as host of CBS’s The Late Late Show. The network officially announced the hire this morning, saying the Tony-winning Corden will begin his new gig “in 2015,” but offering virtually no other details, such as where the new Late Late Show will tape or who will produce it. The 12:35 a.m. show has always been based in Los Angeles, and while there’s been no public indication that that might change, it wouldn’t be surprising if CBS is trying to get either Los Angeles or New York to step up with some tax incentives. (Financial aid from New York helped convince NBC to move The Tonight Show back east and ensured CBS’s Late Show will stay there once Stephen Colbert takes over from David Letterman.) As for when Corden will start, it seems unlikely (though not impossible) that he’ll sign on immediately after Ferguson steps down in December. CBS could serve up Ferguson reruns if there’s a gap, though it would be a lot more fun if the network tried out a few guest hosts in the time slot. Maybe one or two of them might even be nonwhite dudes.
