Craig Ferguson is taking a page from Gwyneth Paltrow's book. The host of CBS's "The Late Late Show" told his studio audience on Monday that he will leave the show in December.
"CBS and I are not getting divorced, we are 'consciously uncoupling,'" Ferguson said, referencing the term Paltrow used on March 25 when she announced her separation from husband Chris Martin. "But we will still spend holidays together and share custody of the fake horse and robot skeleton, both of whom we love very much."
Geoff, the aforementioned skeleton, and Secretariat, a pantomime horse, are recurring characters on Ferguson's show.
"During his 10 years as host, Craig has elevated CBS to new creative and competitive heights at 12:30," CBS Entertainment chair Nina Tassler said. "Craig's versatile talents as a writer, producer, actor and comedian speak to his great days ahead. While we'll miss Craig and can't thank him enough for his contributions to both the show and the network, we respect his decision to move on, and we look forward to celebrating his final broadcasts during the next eight months."
Ferguson's name was one of many mentioned to replace David Letterman when the veteran "Late Show" host announced his retirement earlier this month, but Stephen Colbert was later named to that job.
"The Late Late Show" debuted in 1995 with Tom Snyder as host, and Craig Kilborn hosted from 1999-2004. Ferguson took over in January 2005.
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