With ‘American on Purpose,’ Craig Ferguson wanted to celebrate America’s unusualness and humanity

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When Craig Ferguson ended his run as host of CBS’s “The Late Late Show” in December 2014 – something he’d announced back in April – many wondered if it was because he hadn’t been chosen to replace David Letterman. (Stephen Colbert ultimately got that job.) Some people found it hard to believe anyone would willingly leave such a good position, especially after nearly ten years, even though the 12:30 timeslot wasn’t the most prominent. Ferguson was simply excellent at what he did, making the decision even more surprising.

He explained in 2016 that it’s strange about that type of TV show. As soon as production started, everyone immediately focused on how to reach the end, but he never aimed for that endpoint in the first place. He wondered why that always happens.

After leaving late-night television, Craig Ferguson has remained busy with a variety of projects. He’s hosted game shows, including the current CW version of “Scrabble,” bringing a playful energy to the role. He’s also been performing stand-up comedy on tour through June and hosted the history panel show, “Craig Ferguson: Join or Die.” His podcast, “Joy,” allows him to share personal stories and thoughts in a way similar to his old show’s free-form monologues. Additionally, he published a memoir titled “Riding the Elephant,” detailing his life experiences and observations.

Craig Ferguson’s new CNN show, “American on Purpose,” which also shares the title of his memoir, explores what it means to be American. Premiering Saturday, the five-part series coincides with the 250th anniversary of the United States and playfully examines core American concepts like free speech, capitalism, and immigration. Through a mix of interviews, quirky segments, and documentary-style scenes, Ferguson takes a comical yet thoughtful look at American ideals, featuring everything from monster trucks and lowriders to haggis tacos – a creation of Ferguson and chef Marcus Samuelsson.

“I prefer things to be simple,” Ferguson told me during a recent video call. “I always work better when there’s less structure.”

Ferguson told the producers he wouldn’t create a show that simply criticized America. He felt there were already plenty of programs doing that, and he wasn’t interested in making something negative or overly nationalistic. He wanted to create a celebratory show, and emphasized that the program he makes for CNN will reflect his own optimistic perspective – one that’s thoughtful, but not simplistic. He believes he’s achieved that balance. This quote has been shortened and edited for easier reading.

A friend from England recently became a U.S. citizen and told me the naturalization ceremony was a fantastic experience. He was especially impressed by the diversity of the other new citizens and how kind everyone involved was. I’m curious – what was your experience like?

My naturalization ceremony took place at the Pomona Fairgrounds in 2008. There were almost 2,000 of us becoming new citizens – 1,999 Mexican Americans and one Scottish American. It was an incredibly moving and wonderful experience. I often wish my friends who were born here could feel what I felt that day, because it’s easy to get caught up in daily cynicism and forget what makes this country special – freedom, the chance to start over, and the idea that people with very different backgrounds and beliefs can coexist. That’s truly beautiful. As an immigrant, I still feel a deep sense of gratitude. I’m not ignoring the flaws of the United States – every country has them, and every country has a difficult history. But I choose to focus on what I love about this place. It’s a country that inspires, and in my opinion, we’re still number one. There’s nothing else quite like the unique and unusual character of America.

The show has a hopeful tone. Do you share that optimism when you think about the future of our country and the world?

Like everyone, I have my ups and downs. But I felt really hopeful after spending time with historians who work with the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. When I mentioned that people think the country is more divided now than ever before, they just laughed. They pointed out that this level of division isn’t new – the country has always been full of arguments. In fact, that’s kind of the point! The founders themselves often intensely disliked each other, just as much as politicians do today. I actually find that really reassuring. I’m not ignoring the problems we face, but this isn’t a show about dwelling on negativity. It’s like being a musician and choosing to write a happy song. If people ask why I’m not writing something sad, I explain that I can do that later. It’s okay to create something positive and upbeat sometimes.

What did you discover in the course of making the show?

There were a lot of surprising discoveries. In Los Angeles, I spent time with lowrider car builders and learned about the fascinating history of that culture – how it developed alongside the rise of the automobile, but was uniquely shaped by Mexican-American traditions. Another incredible experience was in the Everglades, where I met Gladesmen and discovered that many were descendants of Scottish farmers who were forced off their land in the Highlands. They migrated to Canada and eventually ended up in Florida, with some tracing their roots to just 100 miles from my hometown. It’s amazing when you consider that Americans would likely be considered outsiders in most other countries. In fact, around 40% of the U.S. population can trace their ancestry back through Ellis Island – it’s a truly remarkable statistic.

When did you get interested in history?

Living in Scotland, you’re constantly aware of the past. There’s so much history here. I became fascinated with American history because of its strong connections to Scotland. In fact, the ideas behind the Declaration of Independence really started with the Scottish Enlightenment. It’s amazing to realize that the philosophical movement coming out of Edinburgh in the 1700s directly influenced the American revolutionaries – it felt like a natural extension of Scottish history, not just something that ended with movies like “Highlander” or “Shrek.”

There’s a road movie element to the series. Do you take trips around the country on your own time?

I truly believe you can’t understand the United States until you’ve driven across it a few times. A road trip from New Orleans to Maine, or Florida to Washington state, would be incredibly insightful. What sparked this project was seeing so many documentaries – often more in Britain than America – that offer a superficial understanding of the country. They’ll present one quirky person, like someone living on a boat in Florida, and claim that represents all of America. That person might be interesting, but they’re just one piece of a much larger puzzle. It’s like saying Hitler was a vegetarian – technically true, but it doesn’t tell you the whole story.

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2026-05-29 13:32