Within the last year, late-night TV has undergone a huge shakeup. Jimmy Fallon started hosting The Tonight Show, Seth Meyers took over Late Night and The Colbert Report ended to give host Stephen Colbert time to prepare to take over The Late Show after David Letterman leaves in May.
Now we have one more big change to get used to. Craig Ferguson stepped down as host of The Late Late Show in December, and now his replacement James Corden will take the helm of the CBS late-night talk show tonight.
You may be thinking to yourself, "Wait, what? Should I know who James Corden is?" While the answer is definitely yes, it's understandable if you haven't the foggiest idea who this bloke is. While he's kind of a big deal in the United Kingdom, he's relatively unknown in the States.
All of that will change once his stint on The Late Late Show begins. Here's everything you need to know about this soon-to-be household name.
1. He's British
Following in Scottish-born Ferguson's footsteps, Corden will continue the British invasion of America's late-night TV landscape. Corden grew up in Hazlemere, England, a town northwest of London. However, this small town boy has made a big career for himself in Britain. He's most famous for creating and starring in the hit BBC comedy Gavin & Stacey. If you're a fan of British film, you've also probably seen him in One Chance, Starter for 10 and The History Boys, whose original theatrical production in London also gave Corden his big break. Corden has also appeared on Doctor Who, as every great British actor should.
2. He's The Host With The Most
Clearly, Corden has acting chops, but does he have the charisma and sense of humor to lead The Late Late Show? Why yes, he does. While Corden has never been a stand-up comedian, he has been a prolific comedic actor, starring in the comedy thriller The Wrong Mans and the sketch show Horne & Corden. He also knows a thing or two about leading a show. He has been a beloved five-time host of the BRIT Awards, the biggest night for British music, in addition to some other TV hosting gigs, such as taking the helm of the British sports panel show A League of Their Own. With all of that experience, I'd say he's just going to do just fine on The Late Late Show.
3. He Had A Big Comeback
Though things seem to be going great for Corden these days, that wasn't always that way. With The History Boys and Gavin & Stacey under his belt in the mid-to-late-2000s, Corden seemed to be on top of the world. However, by 2009, it seemed like Corden could get nothing right. With three big flops in a row, his sketch show Horne & Corden, his hosting of the 2009 BRIT Awards and the movie Killer Vampires, some critics speculated that Corden's star had faded. Clearly, he proved them wrong.
4. He's An Award Winner
Corden is kind of a big deal, and the sooner you realize that, the better. He won a BAFTA, the British equivalent of the Emmys, in 2008 for his performance in Gavin & Stacey. He also won the 2012 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performance in One Man, Two Guvnors. Stop whatever you're doing, and watch his performance at the Tony Awards ceremony because it will show you why he won. Corden also received an OBE, an honor bestowed by Queen Elizabeth II that recognizes achievements in the arts and sciences. Bow down.
5. He Had A Dramatic Weight Loss
Since Corden burst onto the scene, his appearance has changed radically. By switching things up with his diet and enlisting the help of a personal trainer, Corden has reportedly lost six stone, or about 84 pounds, within the last few years. But we all love him no matter what size he is.
6. He's Slowly Making His Mark On the United States
The Late Late Show isn't Corden's first foray into American show biz. In addition to his appearance on Broadway in One Man, Two Guvnors, Corden also recently appeared in the films Into the Woods and Begin Again. Now that Corden has made America his home as the host of The Late Late Show, we should expect him to take the States by storm.
Be sure to follow T-Lounge on Twitter and visit our Facebook page
