Craig Ferguson Passes Citizenship Test

LOS ANGELES — No need for any more honorary citizenships for talk show host Craig Ferguson. He's going to be the real deal.

The "Late Late Show" host announced Monday that he got a perfect score on his citizenship test, taken Friday in Los Angeles. The Scottish-born Ferguson will officially be sworn in a few weeks from now.

"All of you people born here, if you had to take that test _ well, Canada would be building a fence right now," he said on his CBS show Monday.

It started as a joke last June, when Ferguson received a letter from the mayor of Ozark, Ark., granting him "honorary citizenship" of the town for his kind words about its catfish. Ferguson started a campaign to get the designation elsewhere and is now an honorary citizen of 16,109 communities nationwide.

Deciding to become a citizen of the nation at large required him to take a test with such questions as "What month is the new president inaugurated?" and "Who is the chief justice of the Supreme Court?"

He made it. And in the true American spirit, was already joking that President Bush's final State of the Union address "was like a farewell, special edition of 'Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?'"

"I'm getting cocky for someone who is not yet a citizen, aren't I?" he said.

Comments

[Ginzaman]

He realizes that here torture is legal, right? Is he sure he wants to be a citizen? Of course if he's a dual citizen then it's no big deal.

[aristippe]

Every American should have to pass a citizenship test. If you fail you get booted.

[NoahVail]

I wonder if he will be buried here, or in Scotland. I can see his tombstone now, and can imagine what his Scottish kin will say...

"Here lies a Scotsman, an American, and a very funny man..."

"Ach, who'd ever think..." he murmered, "there'd be enough room fer two men in that one wee grave..."

[Poised]

Congrats to Craig, a genuinely funny fellow. Quick witted and his physical comedy is great -- a raised eyebrow, a gesture, a posture can convey so much.

He sometimes talks about his very drunken youth in Glasgow where he became a drummer in a punk band. His stories of recovery are really a hoot. When Lindsey or Britney or some other drunk drugged out star was first in the news, Craig stood up for them, wishing them well, refraining from making jokes. He's a class act.

He received an Emmy nomination for the show he did the day after his father died, dedicating the entire show to talking about his dad and discussing grief with psychologist Drew Pinsky and another guest whose actor husband had just died unexpectedly. At the end of the show, he joined a small band on stage and drummed and drummed his father to heaven. Most touching, honest hour of tv I've ever seen.

Welcome to citizenry, Craig, with all its joys and frustrations. Hope you stay around for a long long time.

[Weathermaker]

Well, America just got funnier these days...

[uglybetty]

Love Craig !!!
He's the funniest one on late nite !!!

[ClaudiaJean]

Do we get to vote someone OUT of the country now that we've accepted Craig Ferguson as one of us (SO happy to have him; very bright, very funny, very talented man. Not only does he host his own show, he wrote a great novel and composed the theme song to the show... )

I have a list of people I'd like to start booting out....

[peachfuzz]

Love him! Congrats!

[hollywoodgop]

That's great news! Really wonderful to hear that! Uh, who's Craig Ferguson?

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

Weelcome Mr. Ferguson, just don't be bringin' any of that headcheese into our country.

[bayouwaterdog]

Definitely a plus for the USofA. Craig--we love ya!

[colinmeister]

Will he renounce his U.K. subject status, or will he go for dual nationality? The latter would presumably be more attractive.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

Meala-naidheachd ort!

[donxh]

Craig will be a good loyal American.

[raptor]

A fine addition.