RDJ is usually quite touchy about his past and personal life. Craig's ability to approach those subjects and keep him somewhat comfortable is impressive.
Well, it's a negative part of his life and interviewers try to bring it up just for the sake of views; prying into his life when it has nothing to do with a movie or what he's promoting. But you're right, with Craig there's no agenda and he's always respectful. He's had it much worse than RDJ but they have similar experiences so they feel comfortable making light of it. You definitely wont see too many interviews like this..
As Russell Brand once told Craig..."you've got a Rat Pack style masculinity. You're very at ease....women will find you very attractive and men will think you're a good guy."
Craig is unique in his usage of potentially uncomfortable or unwanted comments, in that he rarely resorts to them without first taking a hit himself, or only as a way to fire back at a guest who has said something that warrants punishment. In this example, the "other activities" were used after RDJ has quite judgmentally criticized a large group of people for enjoying a hobby (which today is a lot more mainstream and a lot less misunderstood). You can't get upset at a host for bringing it up and putting you on blast seconds after you put somebody else on blast. Craig is very clever. He is only ever cunningly adversarial to the guests when they open fire. Another example is RDJ making a joke about Craig most likely having not seen the movie they were talking about, and only seeing trailers or reading a summary. Craig plays along with it for a while, only to fire back at RDJ by bringing up a scene that RDJ was not personally involved with, making a joke about how RDJ most likely hasn't seen the movie they were discussing either, accusing him of having knowledge of only the scenes that he was part of. That was the moment RDJ realized that Craig isn't Jimmy Fallon. He smiles and laughs probably the most genuine laugh he has had on a late night show to date, because the interviewer got him back with his very own weapon. It took him a while to catch up to speed, and he even tried to assume control using the fact that Craig spent a bit too much time discussing the following female guest, which was a faux pas on his part, to which he admitted by staying silent for about 2 seconds, only to make a statement that even though he may have gotten off track and that's his fault, he isn't about to let RDJ walk all over him anyway, saying "She should be in that Sherlock Holmes movie too". And once again, RDJ gets staggered, because nobody does that to him. Nobody confronts him in interviews. Everybody either folds, or is openly adversarial towards him in order to bring in cheap views. Nobody just banters with him, much less is able to keep up with his charisma and wit. But Craig can, and Craig does.
"See how he tied it all together? That's the sign of a brilliant mind." Robert is so intellectually stimulated in this interview, I love it. Craig is a master.
Craig wasn't like the other late night show hosts because he had conversations with his guests not just interviews. I liked that about his show. I think most of his guests also appreciated and enjoyed that, instead of the usual prepared questions and answers like all the others.
You see so many comments saying best talk show ever, Craig's uniqueness is the best and will be missed and so on and they always get to top comment... But I've never seen anyone articulate what makes the show so cathartically special, and you did it perfectly. Thank you :)
pure comedy and non political. The only show I watched the celebrity guests. In other shows like Conan, I'd only watch the monologue and the skits before the guests.
It's amazing because RDJ looks like he's bored most of the time on talk shows, but he looks like he's actually having a good time here. Nicely done Craig 👍👏
In the first interview there is this certain part of RDJ's reactions where he doesn't really seem to understand what he has walked into and in the second he gets it completely. It's too bad there weren't a few more.
They are both recovering drug / alcoholics, both funny men so have common ground. RDJ probably feels pretty safe with Craig - he's not going to set him up like one or two journalist have done before.
Spartanm333 I believe your thoughts were insightful and nicely said. To piggy back on your thoughts: That may be why many of his guests and personalities did well with Craig, because they felt safe, with him, whether they laughed about things or shared something of themselves. That' speaks volumes about Craig Ferguson.
He seemed uncomfortable when he brought it up to start with but as soon as he said "I was too!" he seemed fine. Thats one of his things that you're not allowed to talk to him about, like Billy Bob and his music career.
you should watch RDJ's interviews with Zach Galifianakis when they were promoting Due Date. RDJ is very comfortable around Zach and they're both hilarious together
hahah xD you're the only one to point out the hell I'm dealing with every day. I swear, there would be many more compilations if I wasn't watching it while making it haha! Good one bro!
Hahah! probably a good thing! if you would be putting out more compilations, then I would'nt get anything done either! Appreciate the effort you're putting in tho:)
"How do you feel now, Mr. Bond?" My favorite moment ... as much for how funny Craig is as how RDJ seems to genuinely laugh, seems to be having fun ... 19:10
Craig may actually be the best, funniest late night talk show host I've seen. Awkward Pause is one of the best gags! Carson was a genius, but Craig is genius in a totally different way.
Craig’s second interview with RDJ is what made me discover him in the first place-I loved RDJ so much & looked up all his interviews lol. It was hilarious & their chemistry was amazing! It turns out Craig had amazing chemistry with all his guests! I started watching Craig every night until the last night of his show & he was the best!
Seriously, I just finished ANOTHER viewing of this video upload. The whole length. And I seriously feel like the two of them, as a traveling show, would sell out. It would leave everyone in stitches and mentally exhausted with the speed, but man. They would kill it. Felt a bit like how fast the John Mulaney & Nick Kroll "Oh Hello!" show was.
I never liked RDJ before as he always came across as arrogant but this shows he is just awkward and for the first time ever, he has a true friend who is the same and has been through some of the same stuff. I like him now. Once again Craig has done a master stroke with a famous celeb and shown who they really are. He was a true genius and a magician. Please come back!!!!!
Watch an interview where RDJ isn't promoting a film and you'll find that he's not arrogant at all, actually very humble. Just knows how to put on a good show when he's doing promotion.
"Yes yes I remember people do things and other people do things and... stuff happens and.." "That's a hell of a review you're making" 😂 that part always gets me!
Did Downey Jr. get to mumble sarcastically "Son of a bitch!" in the beginning part of the second interview? Right around 11:40! Hilarious! I love the banter between these two.
@Miss reign and all RDJ interviews forbid discussing his drug days, so Craig not only got around that, he humanized RDJ and allowed it to be "past forgiven" while still showing respect.
I like this one. It’s like they were feeling each other out, with Downey being a bit more reserved in the beginning but quickly gaining respect for how quick on the draw Craig is. I could be misinterpreting but that’s my take on the first interview. Good one.
This is great! Craig and RDJ work so well together! In that second visit, RDJ looks a lot like Jean Michel Jarre from around that same time period. It's uncanny!
They’re very similar if you think about it: both take the air out of the room because you want them too, and yea RDJ might have hint of Hollywood elite behind him but still the two of them truly are a serendipitous comedic duo.
Craig has an interesting way of using peer support, or his lived experience, with comedy to relate to a lot of guest with a similar addiction past who come on his show. RDJ is someone who is very sensitive about people bringing that up. Craig is the only person that I have seen where he's been able to connect with RDJ and put him at ease because he's speaking from his level, not above him.
I don't think he'd look at it like nonsense. It was a genuine, incredibly difficult personal struggle that he overcame. Not really something for you to minimize or judge.
Thanks for the collection. Craig is especially great when he has someone equal to his ability to think on the fly like when he has the great Billy Connolly.
@@thebrazilianatlantis165 which shows her lack of understanding, haha. A better way to phrase it would’ve been: “That’s like going to a gun range because you’re afraid of guns.”
RDJ has come along way. He just made the movie that will guarantee his future. His role in Oppenheimer is superb, & he’s cute & now sober, as anyone who had to have a great time but had to clean up his act.
RDjr appears to be putting Craig in his place about comments about Tom Cruz but I’m amazed at Craig’s reaction with genuine humility, comedic, but genuine. I think RDjr gets it in the 2nd interview. Let’s have fun here!! Drop the Hollywood pretense and have nonsensical fun!!
