I've been a subscriber for years now. A regular - if not daily - reader. And I've never left a comment.

Just wanted to leave an 'atta-boy' for Ferguson. I don't watch his show, but loved the clip. Not that there isn't room for comedy, but it's nice to see people be serious about serious things for once.

I missed his show on Monday (apparently when this aired) and I am so glad Salon gave me a chance to see it. This isn't the first time Craig Ferguson has given us a peek at his integrity, but it was certainly a nice long look. I admire and respect him for what he did here: not only baring his own problems so that others might benefit, but for having a conscience, showing it, and acting on it. He's a good man. I wish him all the best.

I always believe that it's the scars of life that most often build character and compassion (assuming you've had it in the first place; otherwise, scorn and bitterness). It's easy to admire this man for using his show for something of personal value rather than just for his career, but what I admire more is how he communicated his point. It wasn't funny of course, but nor was it angry or pitiful or self-loathing or tear-wrenching or self-grandizing. It was a simple and direct explanation of this change in his moral fiber and why.

I don't know where Craig Ferguson will find himself in the history of television, but I do appreciate that people with character and convictions as well as entertaining, slip through the cracks of the corporate greed system that is mainstream media. They're usually the ones that an audience grows committed and attached to, because they're genuine. The audience feels that they know the man, that he's a friend to share time with before they go to bed (like Carson). I must confess, I don't watch his show too often (too late for me), but from what I've seen, Craig Ferguson seems very genuine.

(BTW, be fair to Craig Kilbourn- just an entirely different type of philosophy toward entertainment. I think CK was less suited to this kind of program than CF.)

brave, funny, humble. this is a good man folks. that's what they look and sound like.

That was friggin' brilliant. Maybe the smartest, most heartfelt thing I've ever seen on TV. My opinion of Ferguson went up 1000%. Thanks for the clip.

I TiVo every show of Craig's because I love his humor and his candor. I find it interesting that, despite his hilariousness, some of my favorite shows of his have been serious, such as the eulogy to his father last year.

This man is a class act. He puts all other hosts to shame with his humor, his genuine interest in his guests, and his refusal to get laughs at the expense of those in trouble. This monologue made me proud to be one of his fans.

His monologues are the best in late night tv. He doesn't do the topical one liners that need a drum roll. He has raised the bar.

This clip was great. But he's been doing that caliber of work for the past year.

He recently got a truly awful review at the LA Times.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-ca-monitor18feb18,1,6914823.story

It was by Jon Caramanica who is has also written for Salon.

dealt with a very serious subject with humor and fearless integrity. i'm going to have to start watching this show.

When he said that Britney Spears is just a baby herself, I felt tears come to my eyes.

Anybody know how to get him nominated for an Emmy? This deserves it, hands down.

Craig Ferguson's monologues tend to have a unique, anecdotal quality; he's a wonderful storyteller. I've loved the opening since the start (when it still had the theme song), though I don't get to see the show as often as I used to now. Thanks for posting this.

Ferguson is brilliant and funny, with a very compelling sweetness and charm.

I've been meaning to buy his book for a while; think I'll do that now!

One of the lamentable trends in media/entertainment is the downward spiral into crudeness and cruelty. It's not uncommon to hear it said that the marketplace tends to lead to the lowest common denominator. Since I started watching Craig, I've often felt that this is not necessarily so, and he shows how it can be done.

This grownup, reasonable, entertaining and thoughtful monologue only highlights the extent to which our popular culture has otherwise become a carnival of humiliation.

A 25 year old woman with a hundred million dollars, 2 kids, a divorce and a bunch of drug problems is in fact a baby. Maybe the money part doesn't matter, but C'mon she's 25. Wasn't John Keats dead by then? How long does childhood last in America?

Back in the 90s, and it had the same theme: Buy my therapy or go to hell.

The fact is that Rational Recovery works better than the Twelve Step Zombie-Style version of "recovery."

And I hate using that word. Because "recovery" implies disease. And there is no disease. There is only addiction. You are either addicted or not. That's all.

" Buy my therapy or go to hell."

I'm not sure I heard the part where Ferguson expressed, overtly or covertly, an absolute adherence to his personal experience of addiction and it's challenges for all and sundry, lest everyone be lost (metaphorically or otherwise). Can you point to that? I ask because I heard Ferguson say, on a couple of occasions, that his counsel was related, ultimately, to how the experience passed only for himself, which seems to me to be how, largely, most sympathetic counsel is passed (whether such counsel is accepted or not).

My understanding is that he alluded (strongly) to AA as a place to start, but I'm still uncertain as to where he advocated that (or some other procedure) at the expense of all else.

As an aside, as a sibling to a couple of addicts, I think it is fair to classify alchoholism as a disease, though I don't imagine either of us will convince each other of what is and isn't a disease, and whether addiction qualifies.

Anyway, thanks, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts if you get a chance.

No kings,

Robert