The Late Late Show with James Corden

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Season 1
  • Network: CBS
  • Series Premiere Date: Mar 24, 2015
Season #: 7, 6, 5, 4, 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20

Critic Reviews

  1. Sioux City Journal
    Reviewed by: Bruce Miller
    Apr 7, 2015
    60
    Corden isn’t as facile as Fallon, but he also isn’t as fawning. Instead of bringing guests out one at a time, he bunched them (a good move) but didn’t have enough experience to pull both into all conversations.
  2. Slate
    Reviewed by: June Thomas
    Mar 24, 2015
    60
    The show relied heavily on pre-taped sketches: First came an overlong, cameo-heavy bit about Corden’s unlikely path to the late-night lineup.... Corden bears an odd resemblance to a golden retriever—friendly, approachable, and desperately eager to please.
  3. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Robert Bianco
    Mar 24, 2015
    60
    That's a lot of "new" happening at once, and this first-night attempt to carry on a three-way conversation did come across as a bit forced and awkward--though to be fair, it also produced something of a scoop, as Hanks prompted Kunis to admit she and Ashton Kutcher are married.
  5. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Alessandra Stanley
    Mar 24, 2015
    60
    Mr. Corden, a portly British performer, was energetic, amiable and cheerfully self-assured, but not particularly special.
  6. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    Mar 24, 2015
    60
    It all felt safe and predictable, a warm goodnight salvo without any of the tartness or twistedness of Ferguson or of the show’s lead-in host, David Letterman.
  7. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Mar 24, 2015
    50
    Corden comes across as natural and likable, including the self-effacing little song with which he closed the show.... Still, having landed that golden ticket is one thing; possessing the imagination to make it last is going to require not just good fortune, but based on first impressions, some ongoing tinkering with the assembly line.
  8. Las Vegas Weekly
    Reviewed by: Josh Bell
    Apr 2, 2015
    40
    Corden is inoffensive and upbeat, so it’s hard to hate him, but it’s hard to imagine him building a dedicated following, either. Unlike Ferguson, who made his little corner of late night into something unique, Corden is just marking time until viewers fall asleep.

Awards & Rankings

91
#91 Most Discussed TV Season of 2015
74
#74 Most Shared TV Season of 2015

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 49 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 49
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 49
  3. Negative: 15 out of 49
  1. Mollyscot
    Mar 28, 2015
    0
    I find it frustrating and quite sad that CBS had the chance to follow on from Craig with another unique, intelligent and unpredictable hostI find it frustrating and quite sad that CBS had the chance to follow on from Craig with another unique, intelligent and unpredictable host yet, instead, chose to follow the growing trend of dumbed down TV for the attention deficit, celebrity obsessed, "don't ask me to think" audience.

    We have more than enough of this formulaic dross already. Frenzied audience, whooping and hollering with evangelical hysteria for no apparent reason. Check. Embarrassingly unfunny opening monologue. Check. Pointless house band. Check. Pre-recorded sketches with celebrities doing "hilarious" stuff to show us they are oh so self-effacing and down to earth (pre-approved by their publicists and lawyers of course). Check. The host fawning over the guests du jour with sycophantic waffle "I just loved your new movie/book/album", "You are a legend/my hero/EVERYBODY loves you" and my personal favourite "Just listen to them.." (wide camera shot of brain dead audience on their feet clapping,chanting, whooping, …) Check.

    This latest offering is just more of the same; produced, packaged and tied in a neat little bow. Late night Fallon, Kimmel, Leno, Letterman and yes, I'm looking at you too, Ellen. There is enough day time and evening dumbed downed fluff to fill a pillow the size of the Atlantic. Could late night TV not at least try to be a haven for some sort of integrity? What are the advertisers afraid of? Do they think their particular brand of insomniac medicine dulls the senses that much? Corden, at least, takes proctology to new heights; with each and every star utterance he either guffaws like a demented banshee or gazes open mouthed like a teenager in love.

    It is as pointless to compare this to Craig Ferguson's show as it is to compare "Twelve Angry Men" to "Fifty Shades of Grey". I am, however, reminded of one scene from the former LLS. The opening sequence, Craig and Secretariat, their faces mere inches from the camera, both just staring wide eyed. Seconds pass. Nothing happens. Finally Craig says "We're seeing who blinks first". Pointless, infantile, laugh out loud genius. Groucho Marx would have loved it. It will be interesting to see which, if any, of the networks blinks first.    … Full Review »
  2. IraSchlamazel
    May 5, 2015
    3
    When announced, I couldn't understand the choice of James Corden. Little known in the States but for those devoted BBC America fans, hisWhen announced, I couldn't understand the choice of James Corden. Little known in the States but for those devoted BBC America fans, his inclusion was confusing. Then came the premier and it all became clear- The Graham Norton Show! This is essentially The Graham Norton Show for American audiences. Does it work? To a certain extent. The problem is The Graham Norton Show in it's current incarnation is beginning to wear a bit thin after 8 years, and the Late Late Show w/ James Corden is also wearing thin- after only a little over a month! It's all so formulaic and predictable- the jokes are the most obvious, the pre-taped bits seem written by 9 year old girls (performing "Grease" in the crosswalks of Beverly Boulevard and Genesee Avenue in Hollywood was a painfully silly idea that went on for a painfully long time)- the humor is just so juvenile it seems its main audience will have been in bed asleep for hours before the show comes on!
    When it was Craig Ferguson, there wasn't a predictable second on his show- extremely intelligent, fast witted and just plain laugh out loud fun! Every morning (thanks to DVR) we'd start the day with Craig and Geoff Peterson. We tried waking up with James, but noise does not equal energy and the lack of anything more than a slight chuckle just makes me want to go back to bed. New morning routine- light classical music and stronger coffee. The Late Late Show is just piling up on the DVR and it's getting harder and harder to get through them. I may just have to give up. Bottom line: CBS would have been wise to sign Tom Lennon as the replacement- he just seems a more natural fit with the energy and quick wit needed to fill Craig's enormous shoes (though sadly, not Tom's actual feet!)    … Full Review »
  3. anaelena
    May 21, 2015
    4
    Since i was previously DVR'ing Craing Ferguson ,i decided to give it a try with the new host.I like James Corden and I started to watch himSince i was previously DVR'ing Craing Ferguson ,i decided to give it a try with the new host.I like James Corden and I started to watch him with an open mind. At the begining i enjoyed it and i could n't wait to watch the next episode, however i am starting to get sick of his schizophrenic ways of hosting the show... way too much compliments to the guests, trying to be on the right sides of things ,etc. and i can't put my finger on in what it is with the show that it's running thin . i guess, that piece of dancing in the middle of the street (Grease) was my breaking point . It was way too long and ridiculous . I guess, i am going to hang in there until Colbert comes along. I truly miss Craig Ferguson , Geoff and Secretariat...but i guess they are busy solving crimes. :D… Full Review »
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