EXCLUSIVE: James Cordon is preparing to say goodbye to The Late Late Show.
The Briton has extended his contract for the late night series of CBS for one year and will leave before the summer of 2023.
Cordon will host The Late Late Show for eight and a half years until he leaves – a great achievement.
“It was a really difficult decision to leave because I am extremely proud of the show. I’m excited to extend [for a year]”Cordon told Deadline. “I always thought I would do it for five years and then leave and then stay. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, wondering if there might be another adventure. “
Cordon signed a contract to host The Late Late Show, which previously hosted Ferguson in 2014 and premiered on March 23, 2015.
The co-creator of Gavin & Stacey was a somewhat surprising choice, but he boosted the 12:30 p.m.
In fact, Cordon’s Carpool Karaoke with Adele has been viewed more than 250 million times on YouTube, while his journey with One Direction has garnered 189 million views. The YouTube Late Late Show itself has nearly 10 billion views and has over 27 million subscribers, the second highest level late at night.
Kate Schellenbach, Zeberia Newman, Rob Crabbe and Ben Winston Terence Patrick / CBS
CBS executives, including President and CEO George Cheeks, CBS Entertainment President Kelly Cal, SEVP programming Tom Sherman and Nick Bernstein, SVP, Late Night Programming, West Coast, wanted to keep Corden and offered various deals, including a three-year extension , a two-year extension and a lengthy one-year deal before making a decision. “My bosses here at CBS supported me incredibly and very patiently as I made that decision,” Cordon added.
“Seven years ago, James Cordon came to the United States and struck television with huge creative and comedic swings that resonated greatly among viewers on air and online. From Crosswalk the Musical to the legendary Carpool Karaoke and every unique comedy segment he introduced, James has really rethought many elements of late night form. He was also the perfect network showman, entertaining audiences from his night out on TV City as well as Tony and Grammy’s stage, “said Cheeks. “During my two years at CBS, I had the privilege of seeing James’ creative genius up close and experiencing his valuable partnership with CBS, both as a performer and as a producer. We wish he could stay longer, but we are very proud that he made CBS his American home and that this partnership will extend another season on The Late Late Show. ”
Cordon’s move marks the second major change in the late night of the last 12 months after a relatively stable few years. Conan O’Brien recently left the post after a long career behind the desk, and Jimmy Kimmel’s future is also uncertain, as the comedian is publicly debating whether or not to continue running his ABC show.
CBS will also have to figure out what they do after Cordon and how to replace him.
There has been much speculation over the last few years as to whether Cordon will leave The Late Late Show and return to the UK. But Cordon told Deadline that he and his family “really don’t know the answer.”
“It’s something we think about and talk about a lot, but we haven’t decided yet. This is the life side of the things we will understand, “he added. “I love living here. I love everything that is given to me. My family and I have never taken this amazing adventure for granted. I drive to Sunset every day and I just think I’m from High Wycombe. ”
Cordon has always been an anomaly in the late nights, starring in films such as Peter Rabbit, Cats and Prom, where he received his first Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor and Host on HBO Max’s Friends: The Reunion while he hosted Night talk show. He is also a partner in Fulwell 73, the production company responsible for Hula’s Kardashians and Camilla Cabello’s Cinderella, and co-starred with Sally Hawkins in the upcoming Amazon Mammals comedy drama series.
“There are still some other things I feel I want to do. I would like to try and write. There are some [stories] I would like to say. I would like to see if I am capable of this. “The fact that it’s horrible is the reason I do it,” he added.
James Cordon and Tom Cruise Terence Patrick / CBS
But first he has 200 more shows ahead of him, which will take him to about 1250 since he started. After telling his staff this afternoon, Cordon wanted to inform his entire team well so that the move would come as no surprise.
Produced by CBS Studios and Fulwell 73 and executive produced by Rob Crabbe and Ben Winston, Cordon called The Late Late Show “the happiest work environment.”
“Out of respect for everyone [staff]. I want to tell them this now and say that we can really enter this past year with absolute enthusiasm, passion and love. These shows are not created by one person. “I’m very lucky to start working with some people whose talents and gifts are just rocking me,” he said.
The extension also means he will be able to spend some time patting with his friend Mark Noble, captain of his beloved West Ham United, who is retiring at the end of this season. “He’s the happiest I’m not leaving in September because he desperately wants to go out and play golf,” laughs Cordon. “I will be here for eight and a half years, he has been in this club since he was nine years old. Nothing makes me happier to be thought of in the same spirit as Mark Noble, but I would not deserve such praise. “
Now, Cordon and his team must try to get past their entrance – where Cordon persuaded Tom Hanks to take a retrospective of his career with him in his opening episode, which also includes appearances by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Billy Crystal, Chris Rock and Meryl Streep.
“I’m going to miss the adrenaline rush of thinking, ‘Next week I’m going to jump off a plane with Tom Cruise, or in two weeks we’re going around the White House in a car with Michelle Obama or singing Penny Lane with Paul McCartney riding a Penny Lane,'” he said.
“All my biggest ambitions are for what is what [the show] it could be, it absolutely surpassed them all, “he added. “My intention is to try to get out the same way we came in, which is just to come out with a bang.
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