Three years after he signed off CBS’s “The Late Late Show,” James Corden is having the time of his life hosting the World Cup after show for Fox, “After Hours With James Corden.” On the latest episode of the “Daily Variety” podcast, the multihyphenate discusses the joy of indulging in his lifelong love of football and why the call from Fox Sports was the one hosting gig that he’s been offered in recent years that he couldn’t turn down.
“After Hours” debuted on the first day of the tournament, June 11, and is airing nightly at 11 p.m. through the final game on July 19. Corden’s set is right next to the studio for Fox Sports’ World Cup anchor team including Rebecca Lowe, Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimović. The “After Hours” set is decorated like a clubhouse, with all manner of soccer memorabilia — photos of star players past and present, balls, cleats, flags, pennants and of course, the many scarfs that fans don to show their loyalty to favorite clubs. Another eye-catching element is the life-size wax figure of soccer great Pelé that is on loan from Madame Tussauds in London.
For Corden, the opportunity to get the “Late Late Show” team back together for a finite assignment revolving around a subject that he knows well was impossible to turn down, once he gave it some thought. He’s working with “Late Late Show” executive producer Ben Winston, EPs James Longman and Eric Pankowski and former head writer Ian Karmel, who mixes it up at a big table with Corden and British soccer great Rio Ferdinand.
“I didn’t realize how much I’d missed producing an hour of live television every day,” Winston told Variety. Corden notes that he and Winston produced a similar after show for the U.K.’s ITV during the 2010 World Cup. The offer from Rob Wade, Fox Entertainment CEO, came to him more than a year ago. He’s been offered all manner of hosting gigs since bowing out of “Late Late Show” that were of no interest to him. But the chance to weigh in nightly on a World Cup tournament in the U.S. — that was special.
“I wasn’t completely convinced and on the hook, if I’m honest. I certainly wasn’t in a rush to host anything. I really felt like hosting shows was something I’d probably said goodbye to when I stopped ‘The Late Late Show,’” Corden told Variety. “And then the more I thought about it and the more I thought, ‘Man, the great thing about this is it’s so definite in its time. It’s not like you’re going to sit and go, oh, we’re going to get picked up for a second season. How’s it doing? It’s about something very specific that I love. And the more I thought about it, I thought, you’re an idiot to even consider turning this down.”
The timing was dictated by the tournament, of course, but it turned out that the stars aligned for Corden to recruit the “Late Late Show” alumni that would allow him to work at a high level. “The thing that’s made it really, really joyful is how many old faces are back just doing this for five weeks,” he said. “It’s been glorious.”
With the benefit of distance, Corden reflected on his decision to wrap up “Late Late Show” in April 2023 after eight years behind the desk. He’s proud of the show and its legacy. He has, of course, watched from afar in the U.K. all the controversy and drama envelope his former CBS schedule mate, Stephen Colbert, whose show ended amid enormous pressure exerted against CBS by the Trump administration. And now ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel is in the crosshairs of Trump and the FCC. Corden said he could feel a big shift in landscape coming even in 2023. “Late Late Show” wrapped up barely one week before production shut down with the start of the writers strike on May 2, 2023.
“I remember when I when ‘The Late Late Show’ was wrapping up, we had about a week to go and very kindly, we’d been invited to talk at the Paleyfest about the show. And I was stood backstage with David Staff, who runs CBS Studios, a wonderful man who I just love and adore, and I consider him a friend still and always will. And we stood backstage and there was this clip reel running on the screen. And, and he said, ‘It’s so sad, isn’t it?’ And I said, ‘I don’t think it is sad, actually.’ I said, ‘If I’d signed that contract that you offered me,’ which took a lot of willpower to walk away from, you’d have come to me and said, ‘We need to cut $10 million from this budget,’” Corden recalled. “And as soon as you need to cut $10 million from a budget, the only way you do that is by making your team smaller. And as soon as you make your team smaller, you change the entire environment of the team that are making that show. And I said, ‘I don’t think it’s sad at all.’ And he went ‘Two years? It would have been in six weeks.’ That’s where it was at,” he said. “I feel just incredibly proud of what we did and of what we accomplished when we did it.”
Corden’s career has been a rollercoaster. He first gained fame in the U.K. for his role in the sitcom “Gavin and Stacey,” which he co-wrote. He later moved into hosting, taking over “The Late Late Show” in 2015 after Craig Ferguson. His run was marked by viral segments like Carpool Karaoke and Crosswalk the Musical, which became global sensations. He also hosted the Tony Awards several times and starred in films like “Into the Woods” and “The Prom.” Leaving the late-night landscape was a calculated move, as he wanted to return to the U.K. and spend more time with his family. The World Cup show allowed him to ease back into television without a long-term commitment.
Fox’s “After Hours” is a departure from the typical after show format. Instead of a straightforward recap, Corden and his panel — which includes former English footballer Rio Ferdinand and rotating guests — discuss the day’s matches with humor and deep soccer knowledge. The clubhouse set is designed to feel like a fan’s living room, with comfortable seating and memorabilia. The show also features comedic sketches, including a recurring bit where Corden attempts to break a soccer record or pranks the Fox Sports commentators. The presence of Ian Karmel, a stand-up comedian and former head writer for “The Late Late Show,” ensures that the tone remains light and irreverent.
The show has been well-received by critics and audiences. The New York Times called it “a delightful addition to the World Cup coverage,” and ratings have been strong for a late-night program. For Corden, it’s a chance to reconnect with a format he loves: live television. “There’s nothing like the adrenaline of live TV,” he said in a recent interview. “When you see people laughing in real time, or you see a mistake and you have to recover — that’s what makes it exciting.”
Looking ahead, Corden has not announced any plans beyond the World Cup. He continues to develop projects through his production company, Fulwell 73, which he co-founded with Ben Winston. The company has produced several documentaries, including “The Beatles: Get Back” and “Adele: One Night Only.” Corden also has a podcast, “The James Corden Show,” but has kept a relatively low profile since leaving CBS. The “After Hours” gig may be a one-off, but it has reminded both him and the industry of his talents as a live entertainer.
As the tournament heads toward the final on July 19, Corden and his team are gearing up for the biggest shows yet. The semifinals and final will bring intense excitement, and “After Hours” will be there to capture the emotions. Whether Corden returns to a regular hosting gig remains to be seen, but for now, he’s enjoying every minute of being back on set with his old friends, doing what he does best.
Source: Variety News