MediaCityUK’s dock10 has played host to the pilot shoot for Sony Pictures Television (SPT)’s forthcoming syndicated late-night talk show Channel Surf with Craig Ferguson.
The half-hour weekly show will be produced by Whisper North and will be distributed by SPT. It marks the Scottish-American comic’s return to the late night chat format over eight years after he stood down as host of CBS’ The Late Late Show in 2014 following a successful 10-year run in the hot seat. Channel Surf will find Ferguson and friends reviewing the shocking, surprising and hilarious moments of the previous week’s TV shows.
Ferguson and Whisper North MD Tom McLennan, formerly director of entertainment North for ITV, will executive produce, and Richard Easter (America’s Got Talent, You’ve Been Framed) and Joe Bolter (The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson), who has worked with Ferguson for almost 15 years, will serve as writers on the show.
Ferguson said: “I wanted to do Channel Surf because I think television is ready for the return of the silly/ funny/ occasional lip-synching puppet format. Also, it’s a TV show which contains clips of questionable moments from other TV shows thus creating a spectacular visual turducken of stupid.”
Fellow EP McLennan,added: “I am beyond excited to work with Craig once again. He is the funniest person I have ever worked with, and his energy and creativity are contagious. It is an honour to executive produce Channel Surf and see Craig back on home turf doing what he does best: being honest, humble and incredibly funny.”
Craig Ferguson is a multiple Emmy and Peabody award-winning and Grammy nominated actor, writer, producer, director and comedian with a diverse career that encompasses film, television and the stage. He is a New York Times bestselling author and has recorded numerous standup specials for Netflix, Epix, Comedy Central and Amazon. The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson remains a cult favorite on YouTube long after its 10-year CBS run, racking up millions of views every year on fan-posted clips.
Since leaving late night, Ferguson has hosted Celebrity Name Game (2014-2017) and ABC’s The Hustler (2021). Most recently, he performed to sold-out stand-up comedy audiences across North America in 2022.
Ferguson moved to the US in 1994 after being “headhunted” at the Edinburgh Festival, although he has still made occasional appearances on UK screen and stage since, including in a 2018 episode of BBC Scotland’s comedy Still Game. His 2000 film Saving Grace provided the inspiration for Doc Martin, and was last year adapted into a stage musical with music by KT Tunstall.
With the dock10-shot pilot in their hand luggage, SPT will take the show out to potential buyers in Los Angeles this week.
