Another day, another long-running late-night host gone.
After Stephen Colbert hosts his final “Colbert Report” on Thursday night, Craig Ferguson will sign off from CBS’ “Late Late Show” on Friday after 10 years.
The Scottish host brought a quirkiness to the 12:35 a.m. show in his decade at the helm, infusing the broadcast with an improvised, whimsical style (his sidekicks are a robot skeleton and pantomime horse, after all).
As Ferguson steps aside for James Corden to take over “The Late Late Show” in March, here’s a look back at his greatest hits.
Craig riffs with Geoff & Secretariat
His robot sidekick Geoff and Secretariat the pantomime horse have been a part of almost every show in its later years, frequently appearing in Ferguson’s monologue or other bits.
The host even mentioned his prized pals in the official statement announcing his departure from the show: “CBS and I are not getting divorced, we are ‘consciously uncoupling,’ but we will still spend holidays together and share custody of the fake horse and robot skeleton, both of whom we love very much.”
Craig eulogizes his parents
The host paid an emotional tribute to both his parents when they died, his father in 2006 (the episode earned Ferguson his first Emmy nomination) and his mother almost three years later in 2008.
Craig becomes an American citizen
Ferguson always starts the show by saying “it’s a great day for America” and he became a US citizen himself in 2008, documenting the swearing-in ceremony for the show.
Craig does an entire show in puppets
In addition to his sidekicks, Ferguson also frequently uses puppets on the show, including a December 2009 episode that marked its 1,000th episode where Wavy Rancheros filled in as host. The all-puppet episode also featured shark and Connery the Bull puppets and guest Jason Segel with a Dracula puppet.
Craig interviews Desmond Tutu
Despite his wacky side, Ferguson didn’t shy away from taking on more serious topics, like in 2009 when he dedicated an entire episode to an interview with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, which won the show a prestigious Peabody Award.
Craig goes to Paris
Actress Kristen Bell served as Ferguson’s co-host for a week of episodes in Paris in 2011, for which the show was retitled “Le Late Late Show avec Craig Ferguson à Pari
Craig goes to Scotland
The show traveled to Ferguson’s homeland to tape a week of episodes in 2012, which included a trip to his old high school.
Craig passes the baton
Ferguson’s successor James Corden stopped by the show Wednesday night to practice throwing to commercials and the outgoing host had nothing but nice things to say about his heir. “I’m delighted you’re taking over,” he said, while telling Internet haters to “Leave him alone! He’s lovely — and smells like biscuits.”