Contrary to popular belief, Craig Ferguson’s leaving his decade-long CBS late-night post had nothing to do with not being asked to succeed David Letterman after his retirement and more to do with his weariness of the network TV institution and his need to do something different. He’s still hosting the stars-driven trivia game show, Celebrity Name Game, and has returned to performing his stand-up on a more regular basis. The new comedy special from the Scottish born, American stamped talent, Just Being Honest, debuted on EPIX in September, and finds him offering insights and and relating personal anecdotes touching on everything from being entertained by Kenny G at a big Hollywood party (“and there was some kind of mix-up, because I was invited, so I went”) to his encounters with Mick Jagger starting with a phone call (“And Mick Jagger called me himself. And that’s not easy to do with that little hand, but he did it”). Craig Ferguson: The New Deal Tour, Fri., Dec. 4, 8 p.m., Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater, $53.50 and $78.50, 727-791-7400, AtTheCap.com.
This article appears in Dec 3-9, 2015.