Me, Myself and I Craig Kilborn interviews Craig Kilborn Gear-September 2001

Letter from the guest editor

As the polished host of the award-winning Late Late Show on CBS, Craig Kilborn is a throwback to another era, and yet a fresh voice.  His face is seemingly everywhere, and you can't watch a film or open a book without seeing his influence played out across the larger creative landscape.  But if you look beyond the irreverent comedy, there's a deeper, more profound message.  In a candid interview we got the elusive star to open up with the only journalist he trusts: himself. Craig, how are you doing? Couldnt be better. You always seem to be "upbeat." I'm generally a happy person.  In my world, my bed doesn't have a bad side. Yeah.  You don't seem to suffer from the same neurosis as your fellow comedians.  There's a serenity, a calm...dare I say an "inner peace." I don't want to open up too much but...bingo!  You got me!  (Kilborn laughs a man's laugh) Why are you so content? I can't speak to that, so let Milton speak for me: "When he saw the breadth of his domain, Alexander [the Great] wept, for there were no more worlds left to conquer." I don't wan to overreact, but you are one fascinating interview subject. You said it, not me. Let's talk about your career.  You put ESPN's SportsCenter on the map, created and launched The Daily Show on Comedy Central and now you've made 12:30 the most profitable hour on CBS.  You're a maverick, a pioneer. Hey, if that means waking up at five every morning, putting my pants on one leg at a time and just trying to do the best darn show I can do, then yeah, I guess I am a maverick. Then why aren't you wearing pants right now? Next question. Okay...As a talk show host you break the mold.  That's not a self-depricating dork up there making fun of his pathetic sex life. Yeah, I could make those kind of jokes, but nobody's buying it.  It just doesn't ring true.  Speaking of ringing, that's my cell phone, can you hand me my pants? (I hand Kilborn his pants, an Italian garbadine $850, by Dolce and Gabbana, available at Fred Segal.) Hello...oh, hi baby. (It's Kilborn's girlfriend.  He's cooking for her tonight.) Sorry about that. I know you are a private man, but can you talk about her? I'd rather not. Why is that? Old-fashioned, I guess.  I chose this life, she didn't. You're a gentleman.  That's refreshing. Thanks. But what about all the flirting during your interviews? It makes for good TV. I'm talking about now.  You keep winking... It makes for a good print interview. But seriously, I've heard that, in your personal life, you're actually quite shy with the ladies. Oh, is this the part where you get me to open up? No.  But I've heard you've only really been inlove once-with a tall, slender woman from the Czech Republic. (For the first time, Kilborn seems vulnerable.  He shifts in his distressed leather club chair $3,500, by George Smith of Beverly Hills.) Her name was Petra.  We met in Prague.  She was the most intelligent, most beautiful woman I'd ever seen.  Her long, dark hair softly framed a face that would have made Botticelli put down his brush.  Her olive skin blushed at the sun's kiss and her eyes, strong yet innocent, saw only the truth.  We spent long hours walking along the Valtava, talking about everything, talking about nothing. You really loved this girl. She lived in-between the beats of my heart. That's beautiful. And...what an ass. Do tell. Have you ever been to Paris in springtime?  Have you ever seen a sunset dance off the placid blue Aegean?  Have you ever had an experience so profound that you saw the very face of God himself?  That was her ass. (Kilborn eyes well up and he sheds a man's tear.) What happened to her? I got drunk and hit on her hotter, younger sister. Wow.  You are shy.  Let's get back to your show, specifically what the press has dubbed "The Yellowstone Incident."  Needless to say, that joke got you in a lot of hot water. It comes with the territory.  If I don't ruffle a few feathers, twist a few nards, I'm not doing my job.