Late shows and robots have been co-exisiting peacefully since the 1950s -- thanks to B movies -- but tonight marks a new,
Terminator-type evolutionary moment. Tonight at 12:35 a.m., on CBS's
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, we're introduced to the host's brand-new robot sidekick...
Like so many other elements of this CBS late-night talk show, the robot sidekick idea began as a one-shot remark, a playful moment, a germ of an idea that refused to die. That's how The Late Late Show got "What Did We Learn On the Show Tonight, Craig?" as a low-key ending, and Wavy the Cajun reptile and other sassy puppets, and intentionally staged "awkward moments," and so much more.
With the robot sidekick, things evolved from Ferguson bemoaning, as usual, his show's low-budget, bare-bones presentation: poor lighting, no band, no sidekick. He began musing about a robot sidekick, then invented a name for him: Geoff Peterson. Then, after diving onto Twitter, he sought out a REAL inventor -- Grant Imahara from Discovery Channel's Mythbusters -- and persuaded him to design a robot sidekick for real.
We've already been treated to the rough trials, and seen the sidekick accidentally decapitate a dummy stand-in for Helena Bonham Carter. We've learned of the "history" of late-night TV robotics, including a reasonable (and playfully disrespectful) explanation for Jay Leno.
We've also been told the three laws of Skele-Robotics, which reveals that someone on the writing staff is a die-hard sci-fi purist, a.k.a. geek.
The three laws, as enumerated, are direct echoes of Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics -- more proof that this nonsensical idea has come to fruition by being taken way too seriously, which is part of the fun.
Expect surprises tonight, and a special guest narrator - and Imahara himself, on board to reveal the "finished" Geoff Peterson. The fact that this inspired lunacy occurs less than a week after the show won a Peabody Award makes it that much more absurd.
But proper perspective has always been a Ferguson strong suit. As his puppet alter ego Wavy told the viewing audience the night those coveted awards were announced:
"I do know that this is the second time that Ferguson has won a Peabody Award -- the first time being at sleepaway camp when he was 10.
"But I do believe," Wavy added with his wide-mouth smile, "that was for a completely different endeavor."
Had Geoff been up and running, he would have laughed loudly at that one.I know I did.