Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Rivers of Babylon
Thank you Craig Ferguson for sharing your late mother's favorite song with us, a terrible faux reggae number by Boney M. &a huge hit record everywhere but in America, & produced, you noted, by the same guy who gave the world Milli Vanilli.
Craig's mom, Janet, died Dec. 1, tonight was his first show back after the funeral in Glasgow Scotland. As when his father died a few years ago he gave over the show to a modest tribute. But this was different. The show for his dad had a dutiful, ritual quality. He invited on his friend, celebrity therapist Dr. Drew Pinsky, to discuss father-son relationships, & ended the show by joining with a Scottish drumming group in a traditional tribute. That fine episode was nominated for an Emmy.
Craig choked up a bit at the end of his monologue. He had a more intimate, affectionate, relaxed relationship with his mom (much as David Letterman does with his mother). She was guest & willing comic foil on one of his early Late Late programs, he showed a few clips. He just seemed heartbroken, & there wasn't much he could do except say in so many words that he loved her, & was grieving, & get through the hour. Honest reality television. I appreciated it.
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." Thomas Jefferson
Craig's mom, Janet, died Dec. 1, tonight was his first show back after the funeral in Glasgow Scotland. As when his father died a few years ago he gave over the show to a modest tribute. But this was different. The show for his dad had a dutiful, ritual quality. He invited on his friend, celebrity therapist Dr. Drew Pinsky, to discuss father-son relationships, & ended the show by joining with a Scottish drumming group in a traditional tribute. That fine episode was nominated for an Emmy.
Craig choked up a bit at the end of his monologue. He had a more intimate, affectionate, relaxed relationship with his mom (much as David Letterman does with his mother). She was guest & willing comic foil on one of his early Late Late programs, he showed a few clips. He just seemed heartbroken, & there wasn't much he could do except say in so many words that he loved her, & was grieving, & get through the hour. Honest reality television. I appreciated it.
