Craig Ferguson Accused of Exchanging Money For Audience Members

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On Tuesday night, Craig Ferguson delivered one of the most brilliant episodes of his five-year term at CBS's Late Late Show. The remarkably intimate show featured one long conversation between the host and British comedian-actor-author Stephen Fry and, for the first time in his run, no audience. Ferguson described the one-night change as a brave experiment in format, but now RadarOnline is reporting that the audience-less show was actually an experiment in cost-cutting.

According to RadarOnline's report, the 12:35 A.M. show relies on a third party to find and pay audience members to attend:

The Craig Ferguson Show is currently using a service for their audience procurement. They have 100 seats, of which 10 are reserved for house guests, and 30-40 members are through requests for tickets. The rest of the seats, about 50-60, are each paid for by the show. At around $20 per person, that's almost $1,000 per hour-long taping, which is one expensive laugh machine."

At present, no other network late-night show pays its studio audience members, although NBC was rumored to be casting fans to sit through the Tonight Show with Jay Leno's March 1 premiere. CBS has not yet commented.

· EXCLUSIVE: Craig Ferguson Show Paying Audience Members! [Radar]



Comments

  • Pat says:

    He is so funny. who'd have thought he'd have to pay for an audience.

  • Alex says:

    A friend is a professional audience member and the only shows that don't pay are Leno and the Price is Right. Kimmel, Fallon, Judge Judy, Doctor Phil, etc. all use services.

  • Jack Frost says:

    All the shows use services to make sure seats are filled.
    Empty seats look bad on camera, which is why the Oscars have seat-fillers.
    Nothing new or even remotely scandalous here.

  • Marc Eastman says:

    It's a bit of a goof as a story really. Lots of show do it. There aren't several different companies working the service because no one is using it. The show tapes at sort of a weird time - usually 5pm or 3pm - in the scheme of competition and prime tourist appeal. Besides which, it isn't an amount (assuming the story is accurate) that really breaks the show's budget.

  • think ink says:

    I'm sorry, but that sounds ridiculous. First, Craig Ferguson has tons of followers, including thousands on twitter. I'm sure there are more than 40-50 requests for tix, and certainly more than 10 VIP requests. Second, why would they want to cut costs when he's winning his timeslot, and his costs are already rock bottom (no band, no sidekick, no costly bits)? He's delivering every night, all by himself. Third, even if CBS wanted to cut costs, $1000/night is a drop in the bucket. Their primetime shows cost millions per episode. Fourth, the idea of paying audience members, as Alex rightly points out, is common. Why try to trump up the idea that it's just the Craig Ferguson show? And last, do you really think CBS would piss off David Letterman, the producer of the show, over $1000/show? I think Craig Ferguson is putting on some really good shows, and this was particularly interesting. Not sure why some blogs are attacking one of the few people doing really original & thoughtful television.

  • Sandra says:

    Well, everyone I know who has attended the show has paid. In the beginning stages it was no secret that the audience was paid. Craig said that in his book. But now, its such a small theatre and he has such a large following, that I can't imagine they have to pay everyone to come in there...unless Radar is counting candy as payment.

  • The Truth says:

    ...? And? You ARE aware that this is done on many, many shows. Even if Mr. Ferguson does do this, there is nothing new or bad about it. Write articles about things that matter.

  • lucas says:

    as do a lot of the game shows. I did paid time on Don't forget the Lyrics and Deal or No deal a lot when I first moved to LA.
    as for all the talk about ticket request etc. part of the reason they pay folks is to ensure the seats are filled. when you are getting freebies there's no contract to show up in the end. so if you change your mind you ditch. and they can't fill the seats cause they didn't know until 10 minutes before they are supposed to start.

  • John Boy says:

    Do any of you ever read the other comments before you post your own? Geez.

  • SunnydaZe says:

    I have to ask> Do any of you ever read the other comments before you post? I mean, Geez... Stop repeating stuff that's already been said, stupids.

  • Sandra says:

    By the way, I think this article is very mean spirited and hateful towards Craig. He did one of the best shows I've ever seen on Tuesday, and now you try to ruin that for people? I understand journalistic integrity, but what you have "reported" is irrelevant, ridiculous, and, honestly, makes you seem like a poor sport, and a jerk.

  • bg says:

    Pathetic attempt to generate scandal out of common television practices. Anonymous source sounds like he has an axe to grind. CBS is cheap, but even $1000 is not going to bust the budget. (Assuming I even believe everything in this story. Which, by the way, I don't.)

  • HAF says:

    Oh, Craigy, don't waste the money, I'd come to the show every night!

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