When I’m worried about something and I can’t sleep, I count those nice guys instead of sheep, and I fall aaaasssleeeepp counting those niiiiiiice guys.
James Corden made his debut as the new host of CBS’ “The Late, Late Show” on Monday night and it was an undeniably endearing, energetic and star-studded hour of television. Tom Hanks sang and danced his way through a retrospective of his film career (four words: “Joe Versus the Volcano”). A pre-taped segment featured the likes of Eddie Redmayne, Chris Rock, Lena Dunham, and Joel McHale longing for the gig as well as Jay Leno putting Corden through TV host boot camp.
Meryl Streep showed up just long enough to probably win an Emmy and there was even a moment of what passes for breaking news in certain circles: Under Corden’s relentless coaxing, Mila Kunis revealed she and Ashton Kutcher have indeed married! Or maybe she didn’t! But it was adorable!
Because Corden’s adorable. Honestly, he is. At 36, the British actor is a genuine award-winning star of stage (Tony award for “One Man, Two Guvnors,”), screen (the Oscar-nominated “Into the Woods”) and television (BAFTA for the BBC’s “Gavin and Stacy”). Yet he could not have seemed more guy-next door accessible if he arrived with a tray of homemade cake pops.