Joy, a Podcast with Craig Ferguson
Episode: Lisa Ammerman
Date: August 26, 2025
Host: Craig Ferguson
Guest: Lisa Ammerman (former late-night television segment producer)
Overview
This episode of "Joy, a Podcast" reunites Craig Ferguson with Lisa Ammerman, a former segment producer from his CBS late-night show. The dynamic is warm, witty, and nostalgic as they reminisce about the late-night television era—its backstage shenanigans, highs and lows of celebrity interviews, shifts in media, and the politics of producing television. Lisa offers candid and often hilarious insights into what it was like wrangling talent, winning a Peabody, and surviving the unique pressures of nightly TV. The conversation covers their personal growth, professional pivots, and the evolving landscape of joy, privacy, and fame.
Key Themes and Discussions
1. Recalling the Late-Night Show Days
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Behind the Scenes Scramble: Lisa recounts the memorable emergency when actor Seann William Scott got stuck in traffic, leading her to appear on-air as a last-minute guest.
“Was I on the spot? Yes, but it wasn’t cruel. It was funny. I mean, I have a good sense of humor, obviously you do.” – Lisa (04:36)
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Craig’s Impromptu Producing Style: Craig reflects on the show’s legality-free zone for spontaneous fun:
“None of them are live. And so if you hated it and said, look, I didn’t like that, then I could have just said, I’ll kick it out…” – Craig (04:43)
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Legacy and Friendships: Ten years later, both marvel at the enduring friendships from that era:
“We still talk to each other… We have a decent relationship. So obviously it wasn’t that bad.” – Craig (05:22)
2. Securing Big Guests and Winning Awards
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The Desmond Tutu Episode: Lisa pulled off the booking of Desmond Tutu, narrating an eight-month pursuit and the logistical circus (including CBS helipads and an adventuresome intern) to make it happen.
“I got Desmond Tutu to the studio with a nice letter, but that was a team effort for sure.” – Lisa (06:05)
“After we had taped, I’m walking out to the helipad… one of our interns is in the helicopter. She was just… fascinated that there was, like, a helicopter on the roof…” – Lisa (08:15) -
The Show’s Peabody Award: Craig credits Lisa with their Peabody—she’s demure, but the story highlights her ability to create once-in-a-career moments.
3. Evolution and Demise of Late-Night TV
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Changing Media Landscape: Craig and Lisa discuss how late-night TV is being supplanted by podcasts and new digital norms:
"I think the whole...thing is probably gonna fold up. And don't you think they're kind of... they're big shows to keep going?" – Craig (09:50)
“Podcasts…Everyone was just talking and there was no video. And now, literally late night is all podcasts.” – Lisa (10:09) -
Pivoting to Podcasts: They compare new and old formats, with Lisa reflecting on her own transition to podcast production.
4. Producing, Booking, and Prepping Talent
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Role of the Segment Producer: Lisa details balancing research, guest booking, and psychological support:
“I’d get on the phone with that talent…and try and find common ground, because I knew once I got that…you guys could start chatting, conversational oil just sort of took over.” – Lisa (23:00)
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Managing Guest Comfort and Crisis: She recounts prepping both guests and Craig for maximum on-air chemistry and damage control when needed.
5. Workplace Camaraderie and Office Gossip
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Romances and Lifelong Bonds: The pair laugh about late-night relationships, marriages (“our show had more than one marriage”), and the behind-the-scenes social web.
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Favorite Colleagues: Several staffers get shout-outs for their warmth, quirkiness, or knack for improvisation—Josh, Megan O’Toole, Joe Bolter, and more.
6. Most Memorable Guests & Moments
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Unscripted Chaos: Craig and Lisa share tales of unpredictable on-air moments:
“The stuff that you got away with… Jeff, the robot. How'd you get to Cleveland? I took the train. Oh, steam.” – Lisa (27:37)
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Favorites: They each list memorable guests for warmth or unpredictability: Betty White, Kristen Bell, David Sedaris, Robin Williams (whose post-show hug “I have found a home” stands out), John Irving (famously taciturn), and drop-in regulars like Larry King, Tom Lennon, Tim Meadows.
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Dealing with Diva Guests: Both struggled to think of true "problem" guests; Lisa notes she shielded Craig from any bad behavior until the content was secure.
7. The Challenges of Fame, Privacy & Public Perception
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Fame’s Double-Edged Sword: Both are wary of modern celebrity and discuss the loss of privacy, citing viral moments and how anyone can become a meme overnight:
"You don’t even have to be famous now. You just have to be dumb…they were fucking everywhere." – Craig (58:39)
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Technology and Suspicion: AI, deepfakes, and social media make the stakes and potential for misrepresentation higher than ever:
“If you ever do anything dumb, you can just go, ah, that’s not true. That’s AI. I didn’t do that…” – Craig (60:16)
8. Life After Late Night
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Lisa’s Career: After leaving late-night, Lisa worked as a CBS executive, co-founded a podcast production company, and now programs cultural events at a New York club.
“And now actually… I started as a director of cultural programming at a members club in New York.” – Lisa (57:01)
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Craig’s Reflections: Craig discusses his discomfort with fame, ongoing stand-up career, and wandering creative spirit. Both note a stronger sense of personal boundaries and self-assurance over time.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)
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On Late-Night Camaraderie
“We still talk to each other… We just had coffee and we have a decent relationship. So obviously it wasn’t that bad.”
— Craig (05:22) -
On Producing a Peabody-winning Episode
“I got Desmond Tutu to the studio with a nice letter, but that was a team effort for sure.”
— Lisa (06:05) -
On The Changing Nature of TV
“I think the whole...thing is probably gonna fold up. And don't you think they're kind of...they're big shows to keep going?”
— Craig (09:50) -
On the Role of the Producer
"I’d get on the phone with that talent…try and find common ground, because I knew once I got that…conversational oil just sort of took over."
— Lisa (23:00) -
On Guest Chemistry
“My favorite was always when something bothered you and you just...threw out, like, everything.”
— Lisa (38:16) -
Robin Williams’ First Appearance
“He hugged me and he was like, I have found a home. And I was like, it was so lovely.”
— Lisa (33:17) -
On Today’s Fame and Internet Virality
“You don’t even have to be famous now. You just have to be dumb…they were fucking everywhere.”
— Craig (58:39) -
On Age and Confidence
“Aren’t you at that age now where you’re like, could give two fucks. I don’t care… If somebody doesn’t like something I said, I think I’ve been kind. I try to be a good listener, a good friend. If somebody is upset about something, I can’t. I’m sorry.”
— Lisa (63:28)
Segment Timestamps
- Reminiscing About Late Night Debacles & Dynamics: 03:27–06:05
- Desmond Tutu Booking & CBS Helipad Anecdotes: 06:05–09:01
- Reflections on Late-Night’s Demise & Podcasts as Successors: 09:47–11:19
- Inside a Segment Producer’s Brain: 22:29–24:00
- Office Romances & Favorite Show Staff: 24:00–27:37
- Notorious Guest Moments, Double Entendres, & Improvisation: 27:37–30:53
- Most Beloved & Tricky Guests: 30:53–33:17
- Behind-the-curtain: Fame, Protection, and Producer Role: 35:39–39:10
- Lisa’s Career Moves & Changing Attitudes to Fame: 56:00–58:38
- On AI, Public Life, and the Oddity of Modern Fame: 59:16–61:38
- Reflections on Aging, Joy, and Changing Beliefs: 63:28–65:01
Closing Tone
The episode is a masterclass in affectionate, gently self-mocking nostalgia. Both Craig and Lisa alternate between laughter, candor, and sharp observation about work, relationships, and the shifting definitions of joy. Listeners are treated to a rare, personal look at both the chaos and community underlying late-night TV’s golden years, and insight into the joys and hazards of living and creating in public.
“Look, we should meet and spill some real tea that we can’t talk about publicly very soon.”
— Craig (67:10)