TV On 5th anniversary, shut-down 'Late Late Show' reruns first Corden episode with Tom Hanks

Source: USA Today

March 24, 2020 at 04:32

James Corden acknowledged his fifth anniversary as host of CBS' 'The Late Late Show' as the show, like its late-night colleagues, remains shut down due to the coronavirus threat. / Terence Patrick, CBS

This is not how James Corden wanted to commemorate the fifth anniversary of his start on CBS' "The Late Late Show."

Instead, because of the production shutdown hitting all of entertainment due to the coronavirus epidemic, he filmed a short video at home Monday before a replay of his first 2015 episode. Ironically, that show's featured guest was film legend Tom Hanks, the first big Hollywood celebrity to reveal a positive coronavirus test. Mila Kunis also appeared.

The normally cheery Corden, who put his imprint on late night with festive group interviews and his cultural phenomenon "Carpool Karaoke," was decidedly subdued during the self-filmed video posted Monday on the show's YouTube channel and scheduled to run before the first-episode rerun (12:37 EDT/PDT).

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Corden, filming himself in front of a white curtain at his home, acknowledged the changes to the program – and to the culture – that have resulted from the pandemic. "The Late Late Show," like all other late-night talk shows, has shut down regular production as a health precaution.

"We had so many big plans for tonight, for the show we were going to give to you, and for obvious reasons we cant give you that show right now," he said. "So, we thought we would play … our very first episode."

Corden reflected on how he felt before that first show. "(I)f I think back to it, I'm filled with nerves and excitement and a feeling of when that curtain opened and I walked out for the first time, I didn't know if I was going to fall flat on my face or if this was all going to be OK."

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Corden offered his best wishes to Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, who are recovering from coronavirus in Australia.

'The Late Late Show' host James Corden, center, takes a selfie with guests Thandie Newton, left, and Niall Horan after one of his signature group interviews on the late-night talk show. — 'The Late Late Show' host James Corden, center, takes a selfie with
guests Thandie Newton, left, and Niall Horan after one of his signature
group interviews on the late-night talk show. Terence Patrick, CBS

"Our thoughts go out to him and Rita in Australia right now. And our thoughts go out to all of you, wherever you are. This is the strangest, strangest time," Corden says, trying not to choke up. "And all we've ever wanted to do on our show is bring you some light in the dark, in the corner of your room every night. And we're going to do our best at some point to continue trying to do that."

In the meantime, Cordon expressed appreciation to viewers for tuning in nightly.

"Thank you for these last five years for letting me talk to you every night. I never expected it to be quite the journey that it’s been," he said. "Stay safe out there."