Who is James Corden?

James Corden with his arm on fireIt has been reported that James Corden is going to take over Craig Ferguson’s spot as host of the Late Late Show on CBS.  I guess they took all the “late night needs more diversity!” discussions to heart, making the big leap from a Scottish man to a slightly younger English one.

But I know what you’re thinking… “Who the hell is James Corden?”

You might know him as the guy who keeps hosting the Brit Awards who was ordered to cut off Adele during her speech after winning best album.  Or maybe you saw him in Begin Again?  Soon American audiences will get to know him for Into the Woods, the musical making the jump from stage to screen this Christmas.

But to be honest if you’re not British there’s a good chance that you don’t know him.

I happen to be guilty of late night insomnia watching of British quiz shows on youtube which is how I know James Corden.  He’s got good timing and is keen on doing bits, and overall seems nice if inoffensive and a bit upper crusty.  Quite a departure for the way Ferguson approached the late night genre, with gay robot skeletons, pantomime horses, constant prodding of the censors and a complete disregard of sticking to the “plug the project” formula of interviews.  I for one will miss his impromptu therapy sessions with guests and tangents about Kierkegaard.

In the meantime if you want to get to know Corden check him out on “The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2012” with a bunch of other funny Brits (Jack Whitehall, Russell Howard, Richard Ayoade, Jimmy Carr).

source: The Wrap