y'all see TV's Craig Ferguson talking about his visit to Alabama?

[Syrinx]

He said some nice things about us. It was very refreshing.

As you may know, he did four shows at the Stardome this weekend. He talked about the fact the Stardome is kind of a combination planetarium/comedy club. He said he'd like to get a planetarium for his tv show, but they can't afford it. ;)

Craig said he was a bit apprehensive about visiting Birmingham, because the media have convinced him that he would be surrounded by banjos and things. But he said he "LOVED it."

He said that people were so friendly. Genuinely friendly, not "Hollywood friendly." He visited a place called the Salem Diner in Homewood. When he walked in, people excitedly said "Hey, there's that guy from TV!" He was feeling real cocky, until the next guy walked in, and everybody proclaimed "Hey, there's the guy from the hardware store!"

He also said that the Salem Diner has the best Philly cheese steak he's ever tasted -- including ones in Philadelphia. He really seemed to like Homewood, because of a relative lack of big-box retailers and especially of Starbucks. Speaking of the preponderance of "mom and pop" businesses, he said it was like a step back in time, "before capitalism got so commercial."

I winced when he expressed surprise that Birmingham seemed so "modern," but all in all, it was a refreshing bit to see -- positive comments about Alabama on national television -- and not from a right winger.

I hope I'll be able to find video of the monologue. I'll post a link if and when I do, and if anyone else finds it first, please post in this thread. In the meantime, here are links to two clips from one of his shows at the Stardome in Hoover. I haven't watched these yet, but I hope they are funny. ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvo9MIrczHw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ocj0Tk42ICI

PS -- I bet Mr. Ferguson chose to visit the Salem Diner, because it was featured in Friday's entertainment supplement in the Birmingham News. You know, the one with Craig on the front page. :)

[Syrinx]

1. video link

rtsp://real.sportsline.com/g2demand/entertainment/mini/latelate/monologue/20070319.rm