Sunday night theater fans will get to enjoy three hours of James Corden’s unique brand of affable humor when the comedian hosts the Tony Awards. The comedian at the helm of The Late Late Show has been on U.S. television screens for less than two years — he took over the show last Spring, replacing Craig Ferguson — but he’s already known for his viral videos. More than 100 million people have watched him do carpool karaoke with Adele, and he’s hosted a steady stream of celebrities in rap battles and traffic singing sessions. Corden’s extensive theater background makes him an instinctively good choice for hosting the Tony Awards. His time on stage also provides some little-known facts about Corden.
His Go-To Cocktail is the Eastern Standard
Corden is a Brit by birth, but his favorite drink isn’t necessarily a pint in a U.K. pub. When asked by Vogue in its “73 Questions” video segment to name his go-to cocktail, Corden said the Eastern Standard. Refinery 29 printed a recipe for the refreshing summer drink made with gin, lime, and sugar, cucumber and mint, all mixed in a cocktail shaker.
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He Won a Tony Award in 2012
Corden’s humor and late-night hosting prowess are not the only qualifications he brings to his Tony Awards role. He brought home a statue for Best Leading Actor in a Play in 2012 for his role in One Man, Two Guvnors. As The New York Times reported, Corden faced stiff competition from some well-known names: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Frank Langella, John Lithgow, and James Earl Jones. Guvnors was not Corden’s first Broadway appearance — he also starred in The History Boys in 2006. Boys won the Tony for Best Play that year.
Vulture also reported that Corden performed in the film adaptation of Into the Woods, another musical theater performance, before he was chosen to replace Ferguson, whose tenure at The Late Late Show had lasted for 10 years. The shifting of gears at The Late Late Show was just one of several major transitions in late night television in the past few years, as David Letterman and Jon Stewart both retired from their iconic roles as hosts of The Late Show and The Daily Show, respectively. Stephen Colbert and Trevor Noah stepped in to helm those shows.
He Imagined Being a Theater Star at Age 17
Unlike other late-night hosts, who came up through sketch comedy or standup, James Corden got his start on the London stage. Vulture reported that his ego almost got the best of him at the time, as he imagined he would be plucked from his spot in the back row — where at times, he didn’t even have a microphone — and sent onto a path to stardom.
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His Favorite Movie is a Jack Nicholson Classic
Corden told Vogue that the romantic comedy As Good As It Gets is his favorite film — but it was the 1980s mega-hit E.T. The Extra Terrestrial that made him cry. His favorite television show was not a comedy or tearjerker: it is the political drama The West Wing.
The One Thing He Would Do to Better the Earth Would Alter Lives
When asked one thing he would do to change the planet, Corden said he would make sure everyone on earth had clean water. Back in March, 2016, MTV reported that Corden was one of many celebrities who took to social media in support of World Water Day. Corden took a selfie with his hands in the shape of a “W” in solidarity with the estimated 663 million people in the world who do not have clean water.
The Late Late Show With James Corden airs late nights on CBS.
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