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Brick Wall Comedy

A Wee Bit o' Revolution

Craig Ferguson

Comedy Central · 2009 · 80 min

A manic hour of Scottish logic, drug rehab, and James Bond critiques.

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Freshly minted as an American citizen, Craig Ferguson takes the stage with the chaotic, loose-limbed energy that made his late-night tenure a cult favorite. He treats stand-up less like a polished routine and more like a manic storytelling sprint. The hour leans heavily on his personal history, moving from the terrifying childhood logic of banana consumption to his mother’s specific brand of insanity and his own experiences in drug rehab. He also dedicates a solid chunk of time to critiquing the modern James Bond for simply not being hairy enough compared to Sean Connery.

Filmed at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston, a venue Ferguson affectionately praises as an overpriced death trap with dripping asbestos, the special premiered on Comedy Central in 2009. His late-night television run was hitting its peak, and his memoir about naturalization had recently hit shelves. While some reviewers found his wide-eyed delivery a bit forced, the loud local crowd feeds on the lack of polish, embracing a set built on junkies, family dysfunction, and a genuine enthusiasm for his adopted country.

The set list

5 bits

  1. Photograph with President George W. Bush

    Addresses the awkwardness of being photographed with the deeply unpopular president after the White House Correspondents' Dinner, quipping that he will tell his son the photo was taken 'before the trial.'

  2. Sean Connery and movie casting

    Riffs on Sean Connery's Scottish accent in unlikely roles like a Russian submarine commander in 'The Hunt for Red October' and his casting opposite Christopher Lambert in 'Highlander', before devolving into a tangent about his aging genitals.

  3. First trip to America and Blue Öyster Cult

    Recounts visiting cousins on Long Island as a 13-year-old in the 1970s and smoking a joint at a Blue Öyster Cult concert.

  4. Drug abuse and going to rehab

    Candidly and humorously addresses his past substance abuse and time in rehab, advising audience members to check their HMO if they haven't been.

  5. Achieving the American Dream

    Details moving to Los Angeles in 1995, auditioning for an inappropriate role, landing 'The Drew Carey Show', making money, buying a car, getting married, and getting divorced.

How it plays

Tone
Irreverent, dirty, self-deprecating, and patriotic.
On stage
Twitchy, bouncy, and animated with wry observational humor, mixing silliness with raw autobiographical candor.
Pace
High-energy and physical; described as having the bouncy, twitchy energy of an addict on stage, moving with rapid momentum.
About
American citizenship and patriotism, Scottish heritage vs. American culture, Aging and bodily changes, Past drug and alcohol addiction and rehab, Pop culture and Hollywood casting, Marriage and divorce

What the critics said

Praised for Ferguson's winning stage presence, infectious energy, and hilarious autobiographical storytelling, though critics noted that his topical celebrity riffs felt dated and less fresh than his personal stories.

In the room: Enthusiastic and engaged crowd at the Wilbur Theatre.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: tvguide.com, letterboxd.com, imdb.com, mymoviefinder.com, dvdtalk.com, eclipsemagazine.com, rottentomatoes.com, thecomicscomic.com, en.wikipedia.org.

Backstory

Filmed on the East Coast leg of his 2008 tour shortly after officially becoming a naturalized United States citizen, and following his keynote address at the 2008 White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Details

Released
Taped
2008, Wilbur Theatre, Boston
Runtime
80 min
Where
Comedy Central
Director
Shannon Hartman
Topics
After
I'm Here to Help (2013)

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