Craig Ferguson on The View

Craig made an appearance on the show this morning to promote his new autobiography, American on Purpose, which goes on sale today. The interview is below:



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Five questions with Craig Ferguson

Craig talked to USA Today to promote his new memoir, American on Purpose, which debuts next Tuesday, October 22:

1. You've been sober for nearly 18 years. Why did you write this memoir now?

When I spoke at the White House Correspondents Dinner (January 2008), it felt like a punctuation mark. I took an inventory of my life, and it seemed like the right time to take a crack at it.

2. How did your fellow Scotsmen react when you became an American citizen?

The ones I talked to had no problem. Being an American doesn't make me any less Scottish.

3. After you dropped out of school at 16, you were a drummer in a punk rock band. What was that like?

It was a wild time. It involved a lot of drinking and fighting, but I'm not sure if I was being a punk rocker or just Scottish.

4. You've had a lot of different jobs — milkman, construction worker, stand-up comic. If the hosting gig didn't work out, what would you be?

I was happiest as a construction worker. The hours are long, the work is hard, but at the end of the day, you feel like you've done something.

5. Favorite TV guests?

I have to say Betty White. It's always a pleasure to have her. And Drew Carey. We've been friends a long time, and it's so easy when you know someone.

Craig also did an interview for the September 28 issue of People magazine. Someone was cool enough to post scans of the article, which you can see here.

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Craig Ferguson interview and a new book review

Craig Ferguson spoke to reporters at a meeting of the Television Critics Association on Monday. He talked about aviation after getting his pilot's license last week and his career:

Craig Ferguson, who earned his pilot's license last week, says he loves aviation because it's the complete opposite of show business.

The host of CBS' ``Late Late Show'' says that getting ahead in entertainment means claiming to be able to do anything that's asked. In aviation, Ferguson says, a person has to tell the truth or risk death.

He likes to keep much of his life involved in more ``rational areas'' than entertainment, Ferguson told reporters Monday at a meeting of the Television Critics Association.

Asked to assess guests he's had on his show, Ferguson says his favorite was Betty White. His least favorite? An actor he declined to name. [Lynn Elber]

You can also read a summary/review of Craig's new autobiography American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot which will be released on September 22. The entire review is here, but I've posted an excerpt below:

Craig Ferguson, by his own account, is a Scotsman with a brogue and excellent teeth. A former punk-rock drummer. A recovering alcoholic. A sitcom star (well, supporting star) on Drew Carey's show. A film director-writer-leading man. A standup comic and overall "vulgar lounge entertainer."

Ferguson is also, of course, host of CBS' "Late Late Show," where he displays a gift for sly, often silly humour, a range of loony impersonations and a curious mind that, when he's interviewing, puts him in the rare league of Dick Cavett or even Bill Moyers.

Ferguson is also a proud American citizen (as of January 2008).

Any of this would serve as selling points for Ferguson's new memoir, "American on Purpose." [The Canadian Press]

Amazon removed gay authored books from sale rankings

Now this is outrageous:

The internet retailer Amazon has denied any anti-gay cause for thousands of books about gay and lesbian topics losing their sales ranking over the past few days after they have been labelled as "adult" books. The "adult" books include Dr Who star, John Barrowman's autobiography.

Amazon previously ranked all books based on sales but over the past few days, thousands of books on gay topics have disappeared from the list. Authors including E.M. Forster, James Baldwin and even Dr Who and Torchwood star John Barrowman have seen their books disappear.

In a statement Amazon said the issues were caused by "a glitch in our system and it's being fixed." (Pink News)

Hmmm. Seems like a pretty selective "glitch" if you ask me. There is an online petition you can sign.

Update: This story just gets stranger and stranger. An imbecile A hacker is claiming responsibility for this mess. Others are claiming this is a trial story Amazon has sent out to distract people. I think the most bizarre thing of all is that Amazon makes it possible to censor books in the first place. Nathaniel from Film Experience ponders:

None of this solves the real problem (why are there ANY systems that allow customers to decide for other customers what is appropriate reading material?) or answers the real question (Why did Amazon originally defend this as policy?)

John Barrowman set to write a sequel to his autobiography

John Barrowman is presently writing a sequel to his autobiography Anything Goes, along with his sister Carol E. Barrowman.

The book will be available in stores on October 1 and will be titled I Am What I Am.

According to the publisher, "I Am What I Am" will offer a "more in-depth exploration of John the man . . . his thoughts, opinions and experiences, and in particular [will] focus on achievements over the past couple of years." (Playbill News)

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Here's an extract of John Barrowman's autobiography

If you're really excited about John's autobiography, Anything Goes, here is an extract posted by The Daily Record:

"FROM the day I was born on March 11, 1967, I cried constantly, screaming in a pitch my family claims permanently damaged their ability to hear certain sounds.

My dad claims if I'd been the first one born, I'd have been the last one born.

Barrowman family lore is that I was worse than bad, and so over the years I've become okay with blaming my brother and sister for my insufferable infancy.

My brother Andrew was five when I was born and Carole, the eldest, was eight."

You can read more in an article on the Daily Record website.

Photo from www.legends-online.com

Sean Connery's memoirs will soon be published

According to theBookseller.com legendary Scottish actor, Sean Connery will release his autobiography this September to coincide with the 300th anniversary of the Treaty of Union between England and Scotland. The 100,000-word book will include hundreds of photographs, many of them previously unseen. The book will combine his life experiences and some of the history of Scotland. You can read more about the book in this artice.

Photo from www.amazon.com

Guess where John Barrowman will be this Valentine's Day?

According to Kent News, Torchwood star John Barrowman will be signing £18.99 hardback copies of his upcoming autobiography (which he wrote with his sister Carol) Anything Goes at Waterstone’s in Bluewater in Kent on Thurs., Feb. 14, from 5.30pm. I got the other book signing dates from Totally Torchwood:

Jan 24th – 11am signing at Waterstones, Birmingham High St
Feb 11th – 1pm signing at Waterstones, 421 Oxford St, London
Feb 11th – 6.45pm event at the National Theatre, London
Feb 12th – 1pm signing at Costco, Watford
Feb 13th – 1pm signing at British Bookshops, Brighton
Feb 13th - 5.30pm Borders Brighton
Feb 14th – 5.30pm signing at Waterstones, Bluewater Kent
Feb 16th – 1pm signing at Borders Cardiff

You can read an earlier post for more information on the book and how to pre-order it.

John Barrowman could be a dad really soon

According to Digital Spy, Torchwood star John Barrowman is planning to have a child with his longtime love and partner Scott Gill. A celebrity friend has agreed to be a potential surrogate mother for the couple, and John swears to reveal who the famous person is in his upcoming autobiography, Anything Goes. For more on the release date of the book and how to order it, you can check out a previous post.

Photo from www.johnbarrowman.com

John Barrowman's upcoming autobiography

In honor of the new year, all this month, I'll be posting lots of info on upcoming work in 2008 you can expect from Scottish actors, so you can check back from time to time. John Barrowman's latest project, an autobiography, is set to hit bookstores in the UK on Jan. 24. Entitled Anything Goes, the book will also have a companion audiobook (voice by John Barrowman himself!) which will be in stores on Feb. 4. You can pre-order both online at www.amazon.co.uk, which is offering both at reduced prices.