Craig Kilborn's New Talk Show: A Movieline FAQ

Just last month Fox announced that Craig Kilborn would be returning to the airwaves for a syndicated half-hour talk show called The Kilborn File and -- surprise! -- it premieres on Monday. What kind of format will Fox use to showcase the former Late Late Show host's sardonic sense of humor and -- even more importantly -- why should you care about Kilborn's new joint? Continue to Movieline's FAQ to find out!

Remind me again: Who is Craig Kilborn?

He is an actor, comedian and talk show host responsible for headlining the Daily Show before Jon Stewart and fronting the Late Late Show on CBS before Craig Ferguson took over. You might also recognize Kilborn as the sleazy boyfriend of Ellen Pompeo's character in Old School.

Is he that creepy in real life?

Well, I don't know him personally, but back in January of 1998 he told Esquire that his Daily Show head writer Lizz Winstead "does find me very attractive. If I wanted her to blow me, she would." Kilborn was suspended by Comedy Central for the comment and Winstead, who had created the Daily Show, walked away from the series.

Will The Kilborn File air in every city?

No, just on Fox affiliates in major markets like New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Philadelphia. Check your local listings.

What time is his show scheduled to air?

Five nights a week at 6:30 PM in Los Angeles and 7:00 PM in New York. Check your local listings.

How long is the program scheduled to run?

The half-hour series -- which will air five nights a week -- will run for six weeks before Fox decides whether to roll out the series nationally.

What will the format be?

Kilborn described the show as "the first comedic topical show at dinner time." The show will comprise four acts, which will regularly feature a celebrity "power panel," a celebrity guest and the "5 Questions" segment that he used on the Late Late Show. Kilborn will joke about current events and offer "life tips" but will not cover politics.

Why won't he cover politics?

"I've never been one of those guys who have politics in their blood, although I do follow it privately," he told the LAT. "[...] As a child, I used to smoke a pipe and sit in my dad's lap watching 'Firing Line' with William F. Buckley Jr. But as much as I admired him as a political pundit, I also recognized at an early age that politics divides people, so my new show is going to be almost a no-politics zone, and some people tell me that will be refreshing. There's more than enough political voices out there."

Will Kilborn have a co-host or band?

Craig will have a sidekick: actress Christine Lakin, who is best known as Al Lambert from the '90s series Step by Step. While the show will not use a band, here is some Kilborn File musical trivia: the theme song was written by Kilborn's father, Hiram.

How about a sample joke? Just so that I can decide whether I want to tune in.

From a promotional clip shown on Fox New York, here goes: "Concerns over skyrocketing health care costs continue to rise. Last week, two Michigan kids caught playing doctor were charged over $2,000 in lab fees."

Laugh track?

Yes.

Why did Kilborn take a six-year break from television anyway?

"[To] hang out," the comedian explained to The Wrap. "I told my friends it was early retirement. I said it was the archetypal early retirement. I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish on television, in topical comedy. Late-night was getting crowded, so I left. I wanted to try other things. And I did. I had some interesting offers, but this is the one that got me the most excited."