This is my very first blog post on our new site, so cheers to that! It’s been quite a journey putting this site together with Autumn and Rebecca, but it’s been worth it. We genuinely hope everyone loves what we’re about and that you’ll continue to join us on this adventure.
Given that this is my first post, I thought a lot about what to write about. Then something crazy happened last week—an adventure with the Doctor… sort of. So, what better topic than my wild journey to get on the Craig Ferguson show where the Doctor from Doctor Who, Matt Smith, was the guest?
As a special treat for my niece Erica and cousin Marshall, who were visiting us all the way from Maine, my Mom, Stepdad, and I took them on their first trip to Los Angeles. On our first day, we did all the touristy things: the Chinese Theater, Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, a Movie Stars Home Tour, and the Dolby Theater—standing on the stage where they film the Oscars was amazing!
While exploring Hollywood, we bumped into a guy on the street offering tickets to shows. I got really excited when he mentioned tickets for the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. I’m a huge fan, partly because I love his Scottish accent and he’s a fellow Whovian. So, of course, I said yes and called my sister Autumn to check out who the guests would be.
She laughed and said, “You’re going to be so upset when you find out who’s going to be there tomorrow!” I had a feeling it would be someone amazing. Recently, Craig Ferguson had hosted a Doctor Who panel at Comic-Con, so it wasn’t a huge stretch for an actor from the series to show up on his show.
“Matt Smith!” she said. I was thrilled. Even though we didn’t have tickets for that day, my niece and cousin, both fans, were determined to get on the show as well. Erica said it was her dream to see Matt Smith, so we had to make it happen.
Later that day, we bumped into the same ticket guy again and managed to swap our tickets for the next day. However, we found out that only two of us could go because my cousin was too young. So it ended up being just Erica and me.
The next morning, we put on our best outfits—comfortable and cute—and headed out early, hoping to beat the crowds. We arrived around 1:30 PM and found a line, but it wasn’t too bad. We felt pretty good about our chances.
As more people arrived, it got hotter and hotter, but everyone in line was friendly and chatty. Soon, Craig Ferguson’s interns appeared with clipboards. We found out we had standby tickets, not guaranteed ones. So, we were separated into a standby line, which grew and grew. Eventually, our chances of getting in started to look slim.
But standing in line wasn’t a total loss; I met some interesting people, including an intern with similar interests, a guy who worked for a major ketchup company, and an old soul who had taken dancing lessons from Gene Kelly. He shared fascinating stories, including how Gene Kelly introduced him to magic, which became his career for the next 75 years.
It became clear we weren’t getting in, and the announcement confirmed it. Only half the crowd was let in, but we were promised front-of-the-line priority tickets for another time. Disappointed, we decided to leave and grabbed lunch at “Vegetarian Grill,” where we maintained a positive outlook.
We then headed to LA’s famous Farmer’s Market. Walking in felt like entering a magical world—brick streets, dancing water fountains, quaint shops, and music everywhere. It was like Disneyland without the rides. While exploring, we spotted a few of Craig Ferguson’s interns who surprised us with another offer. They were looking for people to fill extra seats for the show! How and why this happened, I’m not sure, but it felt meant to be.
All four of us agreed to “help” them out. Next thing we knew, we were walking back to CBS Studios, despite feeling a bit self-conscious from our melted makeup and messy hair. Nonetheless, our LA adventure was leading us to see the Doctor!
We were taken in through the Artist’s entrance, which was super exciting for someone like me who loves behind-the-scenes stuff. Inside, the studio was more ordinary than I imagined. We were seated in the back, and soon the show started. A comedian warmed up the audience, making it a lot of fun.
Craig Ferguson’s set looked exactly as it does on TV. Craig himself was warm and witty, doing his usual routines. Commercial breaks were much shorter than on TV. Then, it was time for Matt Smith to come on. The audience was buzzing with excitement. He looked great with his short buzzed hair and grey suit, and he talked about leaving Doctor Who and his future plans.
After Matt, Teri Polo came on. She was engaging, but it was clear everyone was there for Matt. Craig and Matt’s off-camera interaction showed they were good friends, sharing a few hugs before Matt left.
When filming ended, Craig chatted with the audience briefly. He was very friendly and seemed like a genuine guy, which the interns had confirmed.
We left through the Artist’s entrance, feeling like the luckiest people in the world. So there you go—my strange adventure that led me to the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and the Doctor, all without a plan.
Did anyone catch the episode? What did you think of Matt Smith?
