PASADENA, Calif. -- Craig Ferguson says he truly became a talk show host the night Johnny Carson died.

Ferguson, who recently celebrated his first season as host of CBS' The Late Late Show (12:35 a.m. on OMNI1 and CBS), was on the air about a week or so when the King Of Late Night passed away last January.

Ferguson's veteran producer, Peter Lassally, who has worked with both Carson and David Letterman, encouraged Ferguson to wing it that night and go with his emotions.

He's been doing it ever since, telling stories (which he first runs past his six-man writing staff) instead of the usual monologue jokes. "This show is unscripted as a show can be," said Lassally. "Craig speaks from his heart."

Ferguson also feels the show came of age when he disobeyed Lassally and took off his tie. "I just felt I was overdressed," said Ferguson. "Everyone else (at that hour) is either in pajamas or leather."

Ferguson feels he's old enough to relax and not take himself or his guests too seriously. "I'm 43, got a bit of money and I'm somebody's parent. This isn't the most important thing in my life."

He loves goofing on celebrities, including Mick Jagger, Larry King and Dr. Phil, especially in a series of wild impressions thrown together with wigs and props.

Although Ferguson insists it's all "just a laff," the bits are both silly and savage.

When Dr. Phil saw himself sent up, he asked the Scottish-born host, "Are you sure you stopped drinking?"

Coming up with 15 minutes of frantic comedy five-nights-a-week is a mammoth challenge, he concedes.

"Chris Rock said to me, 'You do this !@#$% every @!%$* night? Are you crazy?'"

He singled out Sinead O'Connor and John Malkovich among his favourite guests so far, although critics preferred his infamous exchange with Mimi Rogers. (Ferguson had the audacity to ask the first Mrs. Tom Cruise if she and the future couch-jumper had ever consummated their union.)

If you missed the exchange and the answer, she's his guest again tomorrow night.