Craig Ferguson Speaks From The Heart
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 พ.ย. 2010
- Craig Ferguson one of the person I have lot of respect for, speaks on his past problems as an alcoholic and why he will not ridicule Britney Spears and her shaved head crisis. Must watch! [Original Air Date: 20-Feb-2007]
TH-cam: / tvscraigferguson
/ drpinch2190
Brought To You By Your Friendly Neighborhood MONKE :)
"Anna Nicole Smith died" audience laughs "Britney Spears is seriously ill" audience howls with laughter "she clearly needs help" audience giggles
boy they aren't on the same page are they
It's disturbing to hear people laugh at completely inappropriate times. My faith in humanity erodes in these moments. Mobs lack empathy.
he is also a charismatic funny person, people get a little tingle when he speaks. Imo it was ok, little by little the audience understood what the issue was and chilled, and laughed, with understanding.
Everything he was saying is commonly used as setups for stand up jokes. 'This isn't a joke', 'this story really happened to me', 'im going to be serious for a moment'.
Neither are you.... here you are echoing them instead of him.
You can't really blame the audience for laughing when they did, there was no way they could have known the monologue would be so serious. They just came to see a late night talk show.
He was concerned about being fired for this, but did it anyway. EVERYONE was kicking Britney while she was down, and obviously going through some mental health issues. The writers had all the jokes about Britney set up for him. He saw them, and told CBS that he refused to do it. Unlike every other garbage late night talk show, Ferguson did the right thing, and I have so much tremendous respect for him.
I didn't know that. I have so much more respect for him. It's a shame he thought he would get fired for speaking from his heart and being kind.
"He was concerned about being fired for this, but did it anyway"
What's your source on this?
I've been a fan of Craig for a very long time and read all his books and saw most of his late nights, I have never heard of this. From my impression of the production and his show, he pretty much has free reign to do whatever he wanted to.
Writers? He tosses out most of his written material.
I call bullshit on your entire post.
@@user-tz9jh6pv2j He literally discussed it ON HIS SHOW. And in interviews. I could not possibly care less what you think. I'm pretty sure if you had spent the amount of time just simply trying to google it, that you did writing your idiotic post to me, then you would find the truth yourself simply enough. If you weren't such a rude jackoff, I might have bothered helping to find a source good enough to satiate your cynical skepticism.
You should drop the hostile know-it-all attitude. Believe it or not, you are not aware of every single thing Craig has ever said. Which is pretty fkng obvious, because you aren't aware of this.
He had me laughing and welling up at the same time. I wish I had watched him when he was on air.
from a 2019 interview:
"But really, I thought at the time that I was giving my resignation monologue. I thought, “They’re going to fire me for this.” And actually the opposite happened, and everyone seemed to be very happy about it. I never heard anything negative from anybody at the network or [production company] Worldwide Pants. But I was convinced at the time that I was getting into trouble."
"If you could beat it with money, rich people wouldn't die."
What a line. That hits really, really hard. It's the same with depression, sadly.
Finally having money and all the time during the pandemic meant I could have as much of whatever I was using. It was my rock bottom. Watching this video made a difference.
“She’s 25 years old. She’s a baby herself”. When I first heard this monologue years ago, I remember being insulted by that line thinking that “I’m in my 20s. I’m not a baby”.
Now that I’m pushing 40, Craig is 100 percent correct. If you’re 25, you’re still just a kid. And to go through all that crap at 25, it’s no wonder Brittany had the meltdown she did.
Absolutely right. I remember being 18 and thinking “right, I’m an adult now, people have to respect that I know what I’m doing.” What a load of horseshit. It wasn’t until 25 that I realized how messed up I was, and it wasn’t until now that I’m 32 that I finally was able to do something about it. I’m still struggling, but I’m stronger than ever. Anyone who’s going through that, my offering is this: the old wisdom that it’s darkest before the dawn didn’t come from nowhere. You’re not going to be ready until you’re ready, but that day WILL come. You just need to hang on until it does. And when it does, you’ll find you have built all the skills you need to take advantage. Surround yourself with good people, and your victory over your demons will be assured. Others can always lead the way, even if neither of you fully understand how. When they say you can’t do it alone, they don’t mean awkward support groups. They mean the people you’ll do things for that you wouldn’t do for yourself. That’s not weakness. That’s having the wisdom to find the strength you never knew you had. Good luck.
I remember watching when it first aired. It blew my mind because this was prime ragging on anyone for everything years.
Craig has/had a good view on how messed up things can be.
@@alexbanks8429I really needed to see this. Thank you and Bless you 🙌🏽
@@alexbanks8429About to turn 37, and you are 100% correct. I’d like to say that by the sound of it, you have done such an admirable job of cultivating that wisdom that you so eloquently referred to because this comment moved me. Learning never stops just as aching never stops, but there’s a lot of joy that comes with perseverance.
Just a kid at 25 yes very true but 25 also Carrie’s consequences when you f**k up
To Tommy the bartender, thank you for that glass of sherry
thank god it was an alcoholic glass of sherry
Tommy knew what Craig was doing. That's why he made him stay and have that drink. He knew it would stop him.
MIKAL Amen, brother.
I wasn't there, but I assume Tommy could see Craig had that look about him. I have done bar work part time for a few decades now, you get a bit tuned in to watching and reading people, not always accurate though.....
I've got a problem too
Watching this video made me decide to go to rehab for my alcoholism. That's all.
When I was in rehab we were shown this video.
Good luck to you
/watch?v=_Kmh4BbJPz8 this video is the one that got me to turn sober. I recognized myself in it and things I need to do. Afraid I'll never get past that 'pay debt' stage though but doesn't hurt to try.
best of luck to you!
Keep going. God is with you
"While Ferguson “never heard directly from Miss Spears” after his speech, he stressed, “That was not necessary. I wasn't looking for that.” However, he does have a feeling that she heard what he said, and that she may have thanked him in her own subtle way. “I did want to use one of her songs [“Oops!...I Did It Again”] in a standup special, and when I requested it, everyone was saying there's no way that song was going to clear,” he said with a chuckle in 2019. “I asked if I could use it in a standup special, and I got it for nothing. That's a very expensive song to use. So, I'm extremely grateful that she let me do that.”"
"Comedy should be about attacking the powerful people... not the vulnerable people" perfectly said.
Comedy's about making people laugh, it's not some political shit
@@mclovin411 I mean, he did say to go after "the politicians, the Trumps, the blowhards...", and this was WAY before Trump was close to becoming a politician.
@@auburnwithalake To be fair, Trump was still a part of the New York elite from the '80s onwards. So he was referring to him as just another rich guy, not necessairly a powerful man.
Punch up
@@marky.mark.g This was during the years of Trump pointing to cameras saying, "You're Fired!" during the height of The Apprentice. God, when I look back, I forget that he was just a reality gameshow host.
This. This is why Craig Ferguson will be remembered as perhaps the greatest talk show host ever.
+Ghostlore He will never be remembered as the greatest talk show host. Which is unfortunate, 'cause he actually might be.
Actually yeah you're right. I was speaking for myself I guess. I loved this guy as a host...he was/is a rare individual.
+Ghostlore He's the King of late night. Always thought so. Not to rag on Conan (genius, obviously), Fallon is good, and Colbert is…well, c;mon…he's Colbert. But there's something about Craig…he's the fuckin man.
If I had my choice of being on which late night show, it'd be Craig Ferguson, no hesitation.
+Sgt Baker I wholeheartedly agree!
+Ghostlore No "perhaps" about it, he's #1. Amazing dialogue.
From a the interview/article I just read about this, he said he never heard or spoke with Britney about what he did that night. But years later his team wanted to use, "Oops, I did it again," for a stand-up special. He said his team were dubious on being able to get permission to use the song knowing that it was an often requested song and it also cost a lot to license. He put in the call to her people and he got to use the song for free. Britney knew about what he did and didn't forget.
This sounds fake
@@BeeHatGuy Not fake at all, it's a true story.
@@BeeHatGuy It sounds fake but it is a story that Craig himself told, so unless he lied to put himself in the middle of a sappy feel-good story for whatever reason, it's true. I don't know the guy personally but he doesn't seem to be the sort of person insecure and egotistical enough to do that kind of thing.
Googling, it's on Entertainment Tonight 2021: While Spears never directly reached out to Ferguson after he took such a stance, he thinks she may have heard about it. "I did want to use one of her songs ['Oops!...I Did It Again'] in a standup special, and when I requested it, everyone was saying there's no way that song was going to clear,” he shared. “I asked if I could use it in a standup special, and I got it for nothing. That's a very expensive song to use. So, I'm extremely grateful that she let me do that.”
@@calmbbaer Awesome. Thanks for providing that context.
It's amazing and inspirational to me how people continue to come to this video year after year, and provide their own stories of struggles, how this monologue from Craig impacted them personally, and other insights.
The way Craig uses his own struggles to get laughs while guiding them away from Britney’s is highly respectable and it’s no wonder why he eventually won a Peabody award.
A class act and one of the best late night hosts ever.
There's a joke about the urine dilemma, in that Peabody award part of your comment, somewhere.
@@x1c3x Ok. That there is funny. Cheap. But funny.
What a beautiful gesture.
I miss him on late night. A lot.
I hope that he is good.
😅 II m
The effort the audience was making trying to find a punchline in Britney spoke volumes.
I think there's opening monologue formula that talk show hosts usually follow that over time, audiences have developed to react to over the years. Set-up, build up, punchline, laughter. Next joke. But when the host goes "off-script" so to speak, and does stuff like speak from the heart or be serious, the audience is still trying to follow the formula, looking for the punchline. That's the role of a late night audience, to laugh at the correct times. Craig Ferguson did a great thing, and it threw the audience for a loop. They were still in "talk show audience" mode, they weren't ready for an honest monologue about inner struggle.
There's a PSA/drama movie in which a worker accidentally kills his friend during a bet meant to conceal a(n ego threatening medical condition) from his coworkers out of misplaced fear; and is ofc. subsequently grief stricken.
Having only seen it once as a child, my recollection of the movie itself may be incorrect.
Having had it brought to his attention by [union] asking him to watch the privately produced movie with major actors. My father seized the opportunity to ignore the instructions to watch it privately (and that it may not be suitable for children) and instead invited neighbors and friends to watch a secret-unreleased-comedy treasure; AKA: "an uncredited Bill Cosby movie, but it's raunchy like a porn parody or something" during the peak of his popularity.
They were all so horrified to watch, from start to finish, a serious dramatic examination of grief, masculinity, and workplace-culture as imposed by the expectations of the early 80's; That they completely missed _the plot_ ---(spoilers removed)--- expecting that every time "Bill Cosby" opened his mouth, that there'd be a joke or punchline that would dispel the grizzly horror of what had happened; without consequence.
While I saw the totality of the acting missing from all of Bill Cosby's other known works poured into the hauntingly convincing -ly real- portrayal of a man secretly utterly ashamed of himself, while his 'friends' all tried to continue their life as normal;
(... Wow. I wonder how that's aged; I had many flashes of "I have to remember that is not the character 'Bill Cosby', but an actor or a look-a-like. Projection was out-of-focus due to oblique angle of projector".)
I heard many inappropriate laughs, at things that weren't funny, at times that they expected to hear a joke. "Cosby" (or his double) delivered none.
--spoiler?-- edit: spoiler deleted.
Or.. if you had watched the show, it speaks of how often he had been making fun of her.
They may be prompted by a sign to laugh when instructed and it's actually the crew responsible for trying to punch up a genuinely deep moment.
@@wholewheatstingray Yeah, these laughters feel like they are out of the can. If that's the case it's even worse and I pity the show host.
Today, Craig is 30 years sober. I think I speak for everyone when I say we are grateful to have him around :)
I remember watching this video when I was two weeks sober, six years ago, on the verge of relapse. I did not relapse and I'm still sober. I was just reminded of it and am back here watching. I hope he knows how much of a difference he has made in so many lives.
The sheer empathy he exudes in this clip makes me cry. Im not an alcoholic but i do have a the "thinking" problem he speaks of. Thanks Craig for teaching me something profound..
It never sat well with me how people made fun of Britney … I’m even more empathetic now that I have ptsd/anxiety.
I watch this periodically for inspiration!
Same.. I love Craig so much and this particular video just makes me laugh and tear up at the same time!!
You'll never see Jimmy Fallon or Jimmy Kimmel or James Corden or any other interchangeable Late Night Jim speak like this. They're so processed and manufactured. Craig was always just himself and that's what made him so great.
You hit it, bud. A pity this guy isn't in the public light any more. Then again, maybe he wants it that way. Thanks for posting a truthful, honest comment.
Well here’s one thing, Kimmel talked about his son, who had a heart disease at birth. I know it’s not the same but I do believe Kimmel does have a genuine piece of him to share. I agree about Fallon and Corden but I do believe Kimmel is an exception. But with that I believe Ferguson is the best late night host and most honest and honorable. Have a great night!
Very true!
@@DevonMuise totally agree! Jimmy Kimmel is definitely genuine. Craig is fantastic... Miss his show!
Conan
Hearing people laugh at any mentions of Britney shows how much has changed in the past thirteen years, not only in regards to mental health issues, but paparazzi and celebrity cultures too.
Tell me about it...I think it started to tone down somewhat after Amy Winehouse had died. The tabloids would still take jabs at her but I think people started to realize how callous and unforgiving the "news" really were
@@uhgottadime what was the moment that made people fully realise this wasn't ok?
@@discordemail7042 for me it was the media circus with Michael Jackson. I was a child when it happened, but it still lingered in my mind even after all these years. Actually reading into what actually happened left me sick to my stomach.
@@severussnape8040 you was a child when what happened? In confused explain in detail
@@discordemail7042 read it again but slower this time
"That Anna Nichole Smith woman, she died"
*audience laughs*
WTF?
He does mix his usual humor all over this "serious" talk.
And people often laugh when confused too
@d So they arent dumb then.
It was a different time, I think in the mid-2000's so much mainstream comedy was mean-spirited and revolved around "shocking" jokes, so audiences were simply used to laughing at a statement like that because they assumed it was meant for humor. Being sincere like Craig Ferguson was being was less the norm. I'm really glad that as a society we've been moving in a different direction overall, where empathy and kindness is a little more mainstream and expected. Not that things are completely better now, obviously, but if he had made the same monologue a year ago, there would have been waaay more applause and less (inappropriate) laughter.
Audience on autopilot
Crazy shit...
I been sober for over a year now and before that I had a 8 months and a year sober. I owe it all to this monologue. It has been almost ten years since I hear this on TV piss drunk and realize I was an alcoholic. It has taken almost ten years for me to say that I'm managing the situation and I'm confident I can stay sober. I have a long way to go but I'm doing much better already. Thanks Craig.
David Quintana im really happy for you man. keep going! 😊😊
Hey almost a year after this post, hope youre winning youre battles man.
I come back to this video over and over. Still 100 percent sober. What's more sobriety has open my mind to so many other positive changes. Thanks to those that commented and like this comment. Also let me thank Craig for what has been the biggest adventure in my life.
and your grammar has improved exponentially!! Congratulations! Well done! I have faith in you :)
javier smith bite me. check your genders,you nimrod.
Clean date 8/9/11.
Thanks for saving my life, Craig.
He was a part of my sobriety too. Congratulations. Keep at it brother.
Happy for you
I watch this monologue every year on my sobriety anniversary. Never gets old.
Hope you’re doing well stranger!
Funny, so do I.
Four years yesterday for me. Keep putting one foot in front of the other, and the world will turn.
Man. These comments. Congrats to all of you. Keep getting stronger ❤️
You’re doing great
It's depressing how the crowd continually does not realize that this isn't a set up.
+godihopethisnottaken eh, he threw in some genuinely funny bits occasionally which is when the crowd laughed, there was one part that the crowd didn't get it but you can't blame an audience at a comedy show for laughing accidentally.
He is known for taking people down the garden path with one line of thought and then doing an abrupt but elegant and artful 180 flip--and he was almost *never* completely serious about anything, so they just weren't sure what was going on and thought this was a bit.
It's depressing the way you us 'set up'.
godihopethisnottaken in 2020 it is cringe worthy
It’s not - it’s a late night show, they’ve had someone amping them up before the show, so naturally takes a while for Craig to get the message through that he’s not looking for laughs on this occasion
I don’t know if he coined it, but the line “I don’t have a drinking problem, I have a THINKING problem” is so perfectly stated. And telling.
It's not the stinkin' drinking~it's the stinkin' thinking..... from the hallowed halls of AA
No, it's classic AA, and very very true
Dont understand the line can someone help me, is it over thinking are past trying get rid of it or some other meaning??
@@elfalco101 It means it's not the alcohol that's the problem, it's your brains association with alcohol and how it warps your mind into thinking you NEED a drink.
It means alcoholics use drinking to haphazardly cover up a mental illness they have.
At the age of 59, after literally decades of living as an alcoholic, I finally found the strength to go to an AA meeting. 19 months sober as of this past Saturday. I stumbled upon this clip quite by accident when I was just 1 or 2 months sober. It inspired me at a time I didn't know if it was really worth it. My higher power was looking out for me. If you're struggling I hope you find the courage to take that first step to recovery. And thank you Craig Ferguson.
Hope you’re doing well!
Even though I don’t know you, I’m happy and proud for you. Wishing you all the best Geoff!
gay
I (being drunk) went to an AAA meeting by mistake. Worse, I drove there!
th-cam.com/video/6zXDo4dL7SU/w-d-xo.html
Hope your still ok...if not try again..reply and i will tell you why.👍
The way he folds self deprecating jokes inside of advocating for another person's wellness, that's class. He was using himself as a shield. Bless you, Craig. I come back to this monolog every year or two so thanks to the uploader so I can continue the tradition.
amen. this is the essence of chivalry, not the bullshit kind or the patronizing relic. He's exposing himself to ridicule because he knows he can take it and someone more vulnerable in the moment needs a respite. and people say modern men lack models of positive masculinity. they just aren't looking
He knew he had to feed the audience so he could tell his story.
He took the arrows and shielded Brittney - Mad Respect for that.
Not just class that’s EXCELLENT writing!!
He did a damn good job on this monologue
"comedy should have a certain amount of joy in it" Artfully stated.
The greatest opening monologue in late night history, and it's not even close.
It's a sign of great intelligence and rare integrity when a person can check themselves, and stop mindlessly doing what the crowd around them is doing. Love you Craig. Best talk show ever.
Said we should make fun of Trump and not Britney Spears, he’s rly ahead of his time
This man is incredible. Check out some podcasts he's been on recently. He's funny and wise.
@@dieterrosswag933 Britney did it by singing and dancing. The other did it by using tax breaks to build luxury hotels to gentrify poor neighborhoods, acted like an asshole to people on television, and was a real asshole to the American people and stomped on our laws and the executive office.
@@dieterrosswag933 *That's* what you think Trump's legacy should be? He left office with higher unemployment than when he came in and passed along the Afghanistan pullout to Biden because he was too much of a coward to do it himself.
In the grand balance of things Britney Spears has done much more good for the world and it's not even close.
@@dieterrosswag933 literally used his position to get himself some sweet deals and his daughter a load of money making franchises. The Idea that Trump gives a shit about anyone other than himself and the fawning over him by people he clearly sees as marks is why he is one of the greatest conmans of all time. I don't know how he does it - he's transparently corrupt yet people are here rallying for him whilst he laughs all the way to the bank.
Trump weakened the world against China and made out like a bandit yet here we are - because he said "kung flu" that you think his showman words were even remotely matched by what he was doing in the real world.
No not ahead of his time, for the purposes you intend. You’re just hating. But what Craig was talking about was going after the rich and powerful who could take it. He used Trump as an example of that class of person.
I love how Craig defends Britney.
Mc76 He was the only one who did.
+SpaceWitch 1990 what other hosts mocked her?
@@shinyDiamond89 She was the butt of NUMEROUS jokes back in the mid-2000s, on and off screen
@@shinyDiamond89 Jay Leno and David Letterman are two who come to mind. They were the biggest hosts of the time, too, so Craig definitely was swimming against the current here.
I am 24 and from the same area as him in Scotland (Cumbernauld), and I am currently struggling with the battle against alcoholism, whenever I crave a drink, I watch this, it doesn't always work, but one day I will conquer it
Keep it up, man. Gregory's Girl is the best Scottish film ever made
I am 25 and I do it as well... but I am Brazilian
I know there are lots of cliches about but I’m going to add one that I always liked - we can’t master our lives in one day - so just master the day.
I’m 25 and a week sober now. It’s not easy. But this guy gives me hope. From India
Depends on what "a drink" means.
As an alcoholic myself, I can attest to everything he said about being one. I stopped drinking in 1998 after waking up in a jail cell. I, like Craig, planned to leave that cell and then take my own life until I realized that the problem was within me and I had the ability to change it if I really wanted to. It's been 25 years or so since I took a drink now and I don't regret one single day of being sober.
all the best
Similar story here. Started withdrawing in a jail cell six years ago. But I got sober. And now I recently earned my master's in counseling so I can help others suffering. We can recover!
8 years no alcohol, 3 years no opiates for me. I come back here once or twice a year to watch this. For a boost of strength. For a laugh. And to remember I'm not alone.
You are not alone man!💪
Great news from you. Never let anyone or any Thing have control over your life. You've got this.
@@heresthething....4685 thank you! I appreciate the kind words. Bless you
You’re doing great
@@feliciahilbun538 thanks Felicia! bye Felicia!
Sorry I'm sure you get that a lot.
"Everybody knows an alcoholic."
That's it. It's everywhere, but we pretend it isn't.
Why is not more made of this man's stint on late night. There has never been a host that had done what he has. He had the ability to make us laugh, cry, feel, and especially think! He is not just one of these " rehab of the month" celebs. He has been sober over 20 years and is almost what we refer to as an oldtimer in the program ( sorry Craig!) He quietly dominated late night with something rarely seen on television.... Dignity. This monologue is really just an AA talk,it changed my life, I recommitted to my recovery and have been sober ever since. God bless you Craig.
+Tommy Petersen Well done bud, great comment, all good fortune to you going forward, odaat
+Tommy Petersen
Hope you're doing very well as of right now, man!
Are ya still sober Tommy?
are ya ?
I wish you all the best.
In all the years since this, I’ve never been able to get “She’s 25 years old, she’s a baby herself. She’s a BABY.” out of my head.
Video should be renamed "Greatest monologue in history of late night shows"
This and Jon Stewart's first post 9/11 monologue.
..."that totally went over the ignorant audience's heads."
I don't get how this guy can be hilarious but yet speak such inspiring words at the same time. It's incredible. It really is.
Right? Who can talk about the story of them almost killing themselves and make it light and funny?
Lets keep it in our pants, okay? He is funny, and sometimes he is serous. It is called be a person.
Alex L. He was cracking jokes he was speaking the reality of alcoholism
Alex L. Duality
Welcome to AA. : )
"I don't have a drinking problem, I have a THINKING problem." Very wise words there
"Some people can't drink, I'm one of them"
I relate so hard to this.
some of us have that allergy where when we drink we break out in handcuffs. im like Craig here ... I would probably drink if I could, but I can't.
I know, it so perfectly sums it up. If I could, I would...but I can't.
So on goes life.
This solidified my sobriety. I'm glad Brittney and Ferguson are still breathing and kicking. Mental health isn't news.
This video saved my life.
I watched this early in sobriety also. I'm 2+ years sober now, and just came back to watch it again. Glad to hear someone else is also inspired by Craig. If you're out there Mr. Ferguson, thank you!!!
Same, happy for you both
Dondi Leigh me too
I've watched this 100 times after a binge the night before feeling suicidal
I always watch it. I really wanna be like him one day
In hindsight Craig defending Britney Spears makes him all the more lovable but I think the fact that this monologue has clearly “saved lives” or reaffirmed people’s devotion to either being or staying sober speaks volumes of the good work Craig has done for them!
Late night clearly still suffers an abysmal void from your absence!
CF: "So tonight, no Britney Spears jokes."
Audience: 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣
Me:🤦🏾♀️
Hey the whole world was laughing at her at the time (including me). We were all in that state ready to laugh whenever someone said her name.
He seemed to be one of the few that understood
Plus for all of these TV shows they are just live laugh tracks. They go through a whole warm up process to laugh at anything. Then you expect them to not laugh? 99% would probably fail same test.
@@naynay8088 speak for yourself, some of us had a heart and empathy and were concerned, not laughing
I like how Craig made the audience laugh at him after four minutes instead of Britney. I remember watching this episode when it aired and being monstrously impressed. He showed us how to do it and we'll be forever grateful.
This kind of thing is why I've always respected Craig
Parmetheus Rai thanks bud.
I’m 24 and throwing up every morning from the night before. Had a couple months of sobriety under my belt before now and those were my best days. Always find myself coming back to this monologue. Today is my second day. Let’s see where this goes
You have a support group around you of people that's comprised of friends, parents, teachers, coworkers, bosses, there's a lot of people there if you reach a hand out someone will grab hold. It's a process to figure out but counseling would be very good to help you get your bearings on why you want to drink.
Hope you're doing well, my guy.
How you doing today?
Hey...hope you're doing well today
Keep trying and get help stay strong 😊
Craig offered up some of the finest 12 1/2 minutes of television ever offered.
Professional, comedic, vulnerable, educating, compassionate, all at one time. Some of the best a human can be.
All good things to you, Mr. Ferguson.
I'm not an alcoholic, but I come back to this speech over and over again. It's so inspiring in so many ways. There's lot of great messages here. Craig is a rare gem, his strength as an entertainer comes from being transparent. He can share his weaknesses and still be funny and righteous. I don't know why he wasn't more praised by his colleagues in the industry.
I suspect it's because, as he said, it was a job he never wanted in the first place, but he took the opportunity to mold the genre into something he could live with doing. The others would do anything to get their positions. Craig showed us how good it could be, and after he accomplished that task he bowed out, because it was done.
I really miss Craig's talk show. I used to stay up late just to see the monologue.
Marsha Rupe I'll get one going for you.
People have such disdain for those who are clearly not mentally well. It's sad for humanity.
100% agree. Now let's see if anyone has any sympathy for Chad Wheeler. I've worked at a mental hospital and have a BA in psychology and an MA in a related discipline. When the details came out about nearly beating his girlfriend to death and callously reacting her not dying, it's pretty clear to any mental health professional that he was likely in a delusional manic state for which he had no control over or understanding of his actions. But the story is too sensational for the media and public to grasp that mental illness is real and it's sometimes very ugly. Much easier to grandstand and make him out to be a monster.
@@michaelwankewycz6209 Um, what? We can sympathize with a person's mental illness, sure, but that also does not totally absolve a person who commits a violent crime. And your comment is especially shitty because people with serious mental illness are far more likely to be the victims of violence than perpetrators of it, so using it to wave away his actions really doesn't sit well.
Our sympathy for his condition should extend far enough to make sure he has anything and everything necessary to get the treatment he needs, but he absolutely still needs to be held accountable. And maybe spare some sympathy for his victim, who through no fault of her own was repeatedly abused and nearly killed. Any sympathy for Wheeler should NOT come at the cost of her safety, her healing, and justice for her trauma.
@@MushiePuppet17 I worked at a facility for people like him. It's an NGRI facility (not guilty by reason of insanity). It's basically a prison for the criminally insane. He would have a lengthy sentence, as he is clearly a danger to the public, as well as himself. I have never met him and obviously have never clinically assessed him, and even as a professional, I can only speculate as to his mental condition. I'm curious if you work in the field of mental health since you are so quick to judge. How much experience do you have with someone going through a bipolar 1 episode? Are you familiar with the various drugs used to treat the disorder and their side effects? As far as sympathy for his victim, I think everyone would agree that she went through a horrible assault and needs support and justice. But is throwing a person in prison for life who acted violently during an extreme mental breakdown truly justice?
@@MushiePuppet17 Allow me to educate further. What the public in general doesn't understand is the complete lack of control someone may have during a severe manic episode. A good comparison would be someone having a seizure. Very few would claim that a person has control of their body during a seizure. However, because someone may interact and even have conversations with others during mania doesn't mean they have any physical or mental control of their words and actions. (note the manic will usually engage in what most would describe as bizarre and rapid talking. They might possibly even come off as profound. They often display a lot of movement.) This concept is foreign to the uneducated observer, precisely because the manic individual interacts in a somewhat human way, even though it's still completely involuntary. You may not believe this or want to accept this. But it's rooted in science, not public opinion.
What I often discover in these situations is that a person challenging the scientist on say climate change, or in this case psychologist on mental health issues refuses to give in and instead attacks the semantics of the argument... not necessarily what was said, but how they interpret what was said. For example, the professional is being dismissive about another aspect of the argument, such as the victim's rights or mental/physical well-being. Let me just say that it's a normal reaction, defense mechanism more precisely, so feel free to unload on my analysis.
Those of us who have never had an addiction probably can't realize fully what it's like. Craig just explained it to me better than any doctor ever could.
I come back to thus video a lot
He seriously did. I wish I didn’t know exactly what he’s talking about but I do. Spread the word whenever you can🙂
In my opinion, in the 10 years Craig Ferguson was on the air he established him self as THE BEST late night talk show host. His show was truly amazing unique, honest, and from the heart. That’s why so many guest loved going to a show. Many of them outwardly said on his show how much they loved being on it and how much they loved him for how he did his thing. Respectfully to David letterman, Jay Leno, Johnny Carson, Conan, and all the others through the years, Craig was the best late night talk show host ever.
Will the audience stop laughing. This is serious shit. The audience really doesn't get it, although they're watching the greatest talk show monologue ever.
Is that the actual audience? Kinda sounds like a track edited in. It sounds fake to me
A studio audience walks into a comedy show, they have a warm-up comic before the show to get them hyped, Craig is peppering in jokes throughout the monologue, and the serious statements are still in the same cadence as a lot of his typical jokes. He's serious but the end of sentences sound like they could be punchlines. It's hard to shift gears as an audience in real time and realize what exactly is going on.
I like how he made the funnies about him. That way, the audience got their laughs, and he got to get his message out. And most importantly, he tried to divert the laughs from those who are suffering.
Audiences are instructed to exaggerate their laughter. If everyone laughed like they actually would, you wouldn’t be able to hear the audience ever
Like someone here said, audience is told repeatedly to really laugh out loud. There's the whole schtick with the warm up comic telling a joke and going: ok, that laugh you just did was a 7, we need to do an 11! Once more! Yeah, thats it, now maintain in for the whole show, even if it's not that funny ha ha!!! Its all fake. This audience just didnt realise that this time, it was all real.
Everytime I'm going through a rough patch in life I rewatch this for self help. Thanks Craig
Craig Ferguson deserves tremendous credit for doing this many years ago while everyone was tearing her apart. Thats a good man right here.
Craig Ferguson is an extremely talented comedian. But what people often don't realize is that 'great' comedians are inevitably incredibly intelligent. But there's a difference between mental intelligence and emotional intelligence. This guy was incredibly self aware ❤
As a long time Conan fan it pains me to say it, but Craig is probably the best late night host we've had in the last 20 years. He's funny, he's thoughtful, and he's sincere. Like Conan he did a show HE wanted to do, not the network and his love for what he did really shown through.
yup very underrated.. Conan has the sophistication of humor and sketches (the year 2000), but Ferguson was an amazing interviewer that brought true insight..
This. I was sad when his show ended. When he and his show went to Paris for a week, was the best late night show tv I've ever seen. It was funny, thoughtful, and entertaining. He even brought his robot Geoff. It made me fall in love with Paris. I've been a Conan fan for a very long time, I still am. He has good segments (like the old time-y baseball game one) but Craig is also thoughtful, funny and thoughtful. Comedy has the capacity to be that way and Craig mastered it.
I had heard Craig was in recovery then had the pleasure of watching this live on TV. Had 2 years sober at the time and shared with some friends about this monologue. Today I have 15 years 5 mos. Go God and thanks again, Craig!
That's so great dude. 6 years 4 mos for me.
hes looking like a hero now with the new britney documentary. he made the right call. people take note: actions you take will be viewed by people in the future differently and may make or break your legacy. he was on the right side of history with this.
I love the fact that he made the right call simply out of his humane nature and not for any other reason.
@@blueguy15 yeh like wtf. The advice should be be a good person, not about how you will be judged
100%
I think people who have actually lived that hell and found sobriety often feel protective of others who are currently struggling. I've been sober for 6 years + 3 months. Usually my first reaction to this type of stuff is: "he/she is sick and needs help." Most people just can't understand that. I don't blame them for it but there it is.
@@BULL.173 hey man good job on staying sober. you're wrong on trump though, instead of calling the insurrection unnacceptable he brags about his crowds (within the last couple days here). not sure how alcoholics/past alchoholics fall for his ruse but my dad did too. and although i'm not a lib, yeah you're right it does make me angry because he tricks decent men like you
Craig Ferguson is the only guy who can make you tear up one second and giggle the next
True
"Same things make us laugh, make us cry." - Big Smoke.
"This is my story because I was there when it happened... Well I was present." LOL Craig will always be #1 in my book.
Some of the audience members haven't got a clue, they just came expecting to be entertained when he was discussing a serious topic. Just because the words are coming from a comedian doesn't mean it's funny. Laughing about the death of a women or just saying the words "Britney Spears"? Perhaps it's the American humour but I'm not okay with that.
Yeah I felt uncomfortable that the audience laughed so much in this. Part of it, though, could have come from just being really uncomfortable. I know when I'm really nervous or in a tight spot, my reflex is to laugh to ease that tension. I'm betting a lot of the audience was guilty of the very thing Craig was talking about.
No, that's just blind human idiocy - I've seen it in my own non-American culture as well as in the American culture I live in. Societies often hinge on a false sense of community, demanding that people participate in things without bothering to encourage an emotional investment (like certain national holidays) - well, that door swings the other way, too.
You have a group of people listening to a comedian, and because the content requires a more complex, uneven response than the group was expecting (revealing of self, a smattering of comedy, but a large dose of serious content calling for introspection), the group participates in the most minimal way: general laughter all the way through.
In the same way that watching a mediocre comedy show with canned laughter teaches you, as the viewer, your cues without bothering about whether those cues are actually deserved, we're always being pushed toward doing things we don't necessarily feel to keep things "going smoothly." To stop and question, "Why is this funny?"/"Why do I care?"/"Why is this important?" is apparently too slow for the breezy type of life that you'll notice the media (in celebrities and politicians alike) loves to portray.
I hate it, too.
I totally agree with you. This is one of many cases where a person, in this case the speaker himself, Anna-Nicole Smith and Britney Spears, genuinely needed help, but many denied it to them and/or took advantage of their situation instead, Craig Ferguson found a good friend who helped him and he has managed to stay sober. When it happened to Britney Spears, what happened wasn't funny at the time and still isn't, it should make everyone reconsider what kind of society we are building. I think this is what Craig Ferguson was trying to convey, to the wrong audience unfortunately.
Attacking the audience? They laughed because they were expecting him to tell jokes. They had a pre-disposition to laugh at everything he said. Once they realized he was discussing a serious topic - they figured out what was happening - and reacted in a proper manner. In all the years of seeing celebrity disclosures regarding the disease of addiction - I cannot recall anyone doing a better job of explaining it than this man. My hats off to Craig Ferguson. To your point and as an American - we are idiots most of the time. But as a recovering alcoholic/drug addict since October 28, 1985 - in my opinion and only my opinion - every word and every reaction from the audience - in their own way - was perfect. But - like I said before - I am an American which makes me pretty much an idiot a good deal of the time.
so "audience members haven't a clue?" Actually, if you didn't find yourself laughing at all, then you were just someone who didn't understand it at all. But watch it again, and wait for when he speaks to how many of us ARE in that group.
...and one other thing. Ferguson is a comedian. If people laugh, they will remember this better, and he must have worked really hard on the best delivery to get laughs and say his bit. He is a phenomenally great comic!
Maybe he should do some stand-up ? d;^))
This is why I love TH-cam. You can always find something in history that needs to be listened to again.
I went into rehab May 24th 2010. I watched the Late Late show almost every night and he helped keep me sober with his constant humility and humor. Im still sober today and I owe a small chunk to Craig to keep paying it forward. Craig's show is very much missed !!!
Well this deserves a slow clap that gradually builds to thunderous applause.
Thomas Schrameck The program had not begun being in HD when this happened.
Should be in 3d virtual reality delivered directly into our eyeballs. But that and HD require certain camera's they didn't possess at the time of filming.
RESPECT. My date is January 12 1992.
+Sniperv1a One day at a time, brother.
wow, that's older than me. good on ya, mate
Sniperv1a happy anniversary
I was born in 1992 and now I need help.
Hey - my date is also January 12th, but 2017 instead of 1992. Keep it up, and I'll do the same.
I’m coming up for my second birthday clean and sober. 2 years ago I burst into tears listening to this monologue. This helped me get to AA! Now I do what is suggested, my train wreck of a life is improving rapidly and I’m helping others. Thanks!❤
The audience will laugh at anything. LITERALLY ANYTHING. That's how this format of talk show becomes so dangerous, because it allows people to think that laughing at anything is right. I love Craig for telling them "this is not a joke", and while they kept laughing he insisted in keeping the monologue serious, somber and informative.
He handled it so well. They were pi$$ing themselves laughing when he said ANS died, I loved how he stopped to say that, and to remind them it's not funny
That's how media influenced people. They just look at jokes to laugh at of people at their downturns and stuff. 2000s wasn't really progressive as I thought.
If someone is a friend of Craig Ferguson, They are one of the luckiest people on the planet in my opinion. He just seems so sincere all the time weather hes on his show or talking to a reporter on the streets. I believe this man is the real deal and we could all use a friend like Craig, he'd never throw you under the bus. Gonna miss him every night at 12:35
I read his book "American on Purpose" recently. Highly recommended but not really funny.
As of seeing this tonight, I am 6 weeks sober, from having alcohol every day for over twenty years. great speech from Craig!! will stay with me for long time!
Congratulations 🎊!
@@aiyanahenderson1118 thank you, still sober..
I watch this video whenever I'm feeling unsure of my sobriety. Going on 3 years now. 👍🏻
Most underrated entertainer. I'm in my 30s now but when I was young, I'd stay up late watching him because of monologues like this.
Same. Craig is the sole reason I watched late night. He's what got me into Conan and Graham. I'll still take old episodes of his on TH-cam over any other late night show. Except Graham and Conan, of course lol
Same. I remember watching this live.
"Anna Nicole Smith died"
- Audience laughs
"Britney Spears needs help"
- Audience laughs
"I'm 15 years sober"
- Total silence
This audience was clueless or just ignorant that night.
The 2000s was the peak shock/edgy humor era, and Britney Spears's name alone was a joke at that time. I have absolutely no explanation for the Anna Nicole Smith part, though.
This kick started my sobriety nearly three years ago. It's so important to hear for those, like me, who we're embarrassed about my problem and needed that comedic nudge to go get help.
This is, for me, still the best speech I ever heard; funny, profound, authentic. I listen it every now and then. A rare breed of real human
Four words for this: Thank you Craig Ferguson.
I'm a heroin addict and I totally resonate with what he says when speaking about committing suicide because his alcoholism.
back up in yo ass wit tha resurrection I hope you’re able to find support and get clean. You deserve to feel healthy and happy.
This video clip SAVES LIVES
It saved mine.
One of the greatest moments in TV.
My wife and I miss Craig Ferguson so much but we get why he quit. He is to be admired for his bitter honesty. God bless him and his family. God bless those of us who are suffering with addiction and their loved ones.
Craig is such a class act and has a great common touch. Hearing him like this is like sitting at the kitchen table with an old friend.
Just a tad bit over 9 months sobriety. God bless everyone!
Jon Wick u did it for 9 months you can do it for the rest.Wish you more strength! and happy sobriety :)
There were so many times that the audience was laughing when they shouldn’t have
this aged so well. craig always seemed pretty chill. i'm glad he did this monologue
This was one of those monologues that deserves wayy more attention than it's getting.
Craig: She needs help!
Audience: hahahahahaha
2 years + 2 days here. I watched this video back in 2011 as a 24 year old young pup who realised I had a problem, it really helped me pivot toward a 12 step program. Thank you Craig.
That man knows his AA. And was able to spread the message and maintain his anonymity at the level of press radio and film. To anyone wondering about his recovery the man joined the fellowship we have in Alcoholics Anonymous. That’s why he said we’re very close to the front of the phone book. Get dialed in and find a group. We’d love to have you.
Unfortunately I tried it. But it had far too much of a religious aspect for me. I would love to find a support group with out that element to it
I know Bill.... 19 yrs. .....thank you for being
Too damn real... someone needed to hear this.
Never watched his show. Don't watch any of these late night TV shows. But I stumbled across this and found it deeply moving. God bless him for his candor and compassion.
Watch the him and Robin Williams, its magic.
You should watch his show if you have the time and the will. You’ll see how amazing he got. I am not saying I knew him personally but in this video you can see he’s lived a real tormented life and then seeing him in his show, in total control, it gives us hopes and motivation to get better ourselves.
This video helped me realize my drinking problem and turn my life around
“Ya can’t beat this with money.” I’m not wealthy by any stretch and yet I understand that remark perfectly.
Exactly man, just find people who love you and keep with them. Life works out if you take steps not to let some of its tougher factors hit you so hard you don't get back up.
I’m 13 years... and I remember when he did this... and I needed to hear it today as much as I did then. I was so proud of him, and so grateful for my sobriety.
@@chaoticneutral6288 it will be 15 years june 04. ❤️ cheers to another 24
Almost three years sober and I watch this every few months.
The delivery of the punch line “one thing led to another and I forgot to kill myself that day” is absolutely perfect - it’s the moment where he could stand back and let everyone have a good laugh, but he knows that’s the moment he has everyone’s attention so he immediately goes onto his main point instead
To be fair to the audience, there was a pre-show warm-up comedian who literally had the job of priming the audience to laugh as much as possible during the show. So it took them a few minutes here to fully catch on that Craig was speaking from the heart.
Oh, his accent is in full force here,,,,
because he's being his genuine genuine self
This Friday it will be 4 years of sobriety for me. I knew I shouldn’t be drinking even I was 17, but did it anyway for 30 more years. I come back to this video whenever my knees get a little wobbly.
Congratulations! One day at a time!
In all seriousness, this video helped get me sober.
954 days and counting for me, putting one foot in front of the other and the world will turn.
@@Ironhandjohn that's incredible, and an amazing achievement. Congrats and good on you, friend
Much love
Mad respect for CF for saying this. People need to practice empathy more often because the fact of the matter is, none of us are perfect.