​James Corden, with new band leader Reggie Watts, took over CBS’ Late Late Show on Monday night, bringing a fresh new format to CBS’ audience and a slight lift in the show’s ratings.

Corden interviewed guests Tom Hanks and Mila Kunis together on his first show, in a format echoing The Graham Norton Show in the U.K., where all of the night’s guests will sit together instead of one after another in succession.

The British comedian brought CBS a 17 percent lift in Late Late Show ratings, beating out last year’s March 23 episode by 27 percent and NBC’s Monday episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Corden opened the show introducing himself, thanking his predecessor Craig Ferguson, promising to “look after the show” for him, welcoming his parents to Los Angeles and, naturally, ended the show by showing off his singing talents in the Late Night Ballad:


In a sketch called “Golden Ticket,” Corden also explained how he managed to snag the hosting role at CBS, which starred CBS’ Leslie Moonves, Simon Cowell, Joel McHale, George Lopez, Lena Dunham, Billy Crystal, Eddie Redmayne, Katie Couric, Chelsea Handler and a devastated Chris Rock. Late-night host Jay Leno taught him how to relate to an audience, speak American (it’s not petrol, it’s gas) and fake-laugh at celebrities’ anecdotes.

Even Arnold Schwarzenegger helped him pump up, Shia LeBeouf took him through a serious conversation and luckily for Corden, the angel that is Meryl Streep appeared to share her support.


And, of course, with a guest like Tom Hanks, Corden couldn’t resist re-living that famous film career in a hurried but hilarious sketch called “Every Tom Hanks Movie in 8 Minutes:”

The CBS Late Late Show with James Corden debut marks the beginning to the network’s late-night turnover, including Stephen Colbert’s debut as Late Show host this September.

[Image courtesy of CBS]

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