Why Craig Ferguson for Boston Pops July 4th Show?
 

We watched the fireworks and concerts on TV last night -- first D.C. and then the Boston Pops.

We wonder why Craig Ferguson hosts the Boston one. He looked and acted as if he was DRUNK!

They can and should do better for that otherwise wonderful event.

I agree. I too was surprised to see him hosting.

Craig Ferguson is a recovering alcoholic of many years.

I didn't see that show but I think he's incredibly funny. Guess I can see why he might not appeal to an older demographic.

Agree that the choice of Ferguson is always mysterious - how can someone usually so clever be both over-the-top and boring at the same time?

As for fireworks, FWIW and IMVSO (in my very subjective opinion), I still liked Boston's actual fireworks better than NY's and DC's - much as I would have loved to be at any of those places last night. DC and NYC were YUGE, but there was something institutional-patriot-corn about DCs, and NYC's was the Broadway-corn version of that, although one of the six bouquest of munitions was always a little late, which was entertaining.

Boston's, although on a much smaller scale, was artful, coordinated with sense and mood of music, and expressed a range of things besides Spectacular Spectacular. Yeah, I'm a firework snob who doesn't get that they're supposed to be Big and Loud and .... well, maybe that's why they choose Ferguson.

The show was on CBS and Ferguson's show is on CBS. So, out of the stable of hosts on CBS, maybe he was the only one who wanted the job?

He is a recently naturalized citizen and a huge supporter of the US (felt it helped him turn his life around). He has hosted before - and that's his normal demeanor.

The fireworks in NYC are much better but the whole thing is very staged. Boston Pops is much more a celebration of the people - and I love watching it.

He started hosting the year he gained citizenship. He is very patriotic and takes his citizenship quite sincerely and to have someone like him, a new citizen host was a win win. It worked and he's been back ever since.

I have been a fan of him and the decision that he host. But I have wondered lately if he may have slipped a wee bit off the wagon. His antics are sometimes hard to read. But he seems a good man with sincerity and a joy for patriotism.

nytraveler, your fireworks are not better then ours!!!!

Cyanna:

You said it well. I'm interested to see that there were others who agreed with us.

I don't much care if Feguson's a new citizen, "patriotic" (that's debatable, if he's drunk when he's on the job here!), or what. They can and should do better. But, if people want that, then I guess they deserve what they get! We'll pass, thanks.

Yes, we kept wondering why Macy's would waste so much money just having several barges ALL doing the SAME THING! Why not some artistry, perhaps using one to "hand off" to the next, to create an exciting series of some kind?

NYC/Macy's approach seems to be just BIGGER, LOUDER, and MORE, MORE, MORE -- even if it got boring enough that we tuned them out and went to Boston's to wait for them.

D.C.'s were okay, with the lovely monuments in the background, but I personally could have done without the first couple of performers. However, I admit bias in favor of instrumental/symphony/band music vs singers who "sing" words that seem mostly indecipherable.

obxgirl:

"I didn't see that show but I think he's incredibly funny. Guess I can see why he might not appeal to an older demographic."

He didn't do much that was "funny" here. He just acted like a drunk, really. Sad, especially on a patriotic, beautiful program like this one was.

As for the demographic, I can enjoy humor, too, when it's real humor and not just stupid. He was just... stupid... IMHO.

I wrote the network, too, but I doubt it'll do much good.

Hey, to each his own.

I was on the road last night and didn't see this years show, but did catch the televised fireworks. I think he has done a wonderful job in the past. If this year he didn't, I would address your concerns with the BSO/Pops in addition to the network.

>>As for the demographic, I can enjoy humor, too, when it's real humor and not just stupid.<<

Retired, For the record, I didn't say that an older demographic couldn't enjoy humor, only that Ferguson's humor might appeal to a younger group of people.

I didn't think Ferguson did anything humorous at all. It's just a hosting gig and he wasn't on camera very much at all. I'm young and I don't "get" him. I didn't know his back story but he appeared drunk and disheveled to me. He kept squinting like he was in front of a very bright light, but Toby Keith, who was standing next to him, wasn't squinting at all. Weird.

He was disheveled - that's what happens when you do a live show for that length of time and it's 90 degrees. Toby Keith had a hat on - which might affect the squinting.

I don't know if Ferguson was drunk or not - hope not - but he has been the host for several years - it;s nothing new. And he's not there as a comedian - just a host - so not trying to be funny.

Craig Ferguson was the host of the network program not of the real Boston Pops concert. The network portion was pretty lame, with canned music accompanying the fireworks.

Too bad that the national broadcast has changed the format. On the other hand, this stuff doesn't come cheap, so the additional money is probably very welcome.

obxgirl:

"...Ferguson's humor might appeal to a younger group of people."

Could be, but I saw little or no "humor" in anything he said or did on this occasion.

Hey -- you liked him and we didn't. No harm. Heck, we dislike MOST of the so-called "humor" we see on TV these days. Much of it seems totally dumb, and often is based on little more than crudeness and overly obvious attempts to be funny. No problem. We can switch to another satellite channel or turn it off! ;)

First of all, Craig Ferguson has hosted this show for the past three years and has done a good job. He is hosting, he's not doing a comedy act. I do agree that he seemed a bit preoccupied, but I think its because he is on tour with his comedy show at the same time. Secondly, he has been a outspoken American patriot forever especially since he has become a citizen. Something that not enough folks do these days! Lastly, he was not drunk. I think it is a shame that one would make a statement like that who has no proof of his truthfulness. I guess that's why there are blogs so folks can say whatever they want while hiding their identity! I believe if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all! P.S. Ferguson has proven to be a very unique and talent entertainer. Better than all the other stuff out there lately!