--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a terrible interviewer. I'm not a…" description: "\"I'm a terrible interviewer. I'm not a journalist - although I have a Peabody Award - and I'm not really a late-night host. What I am is honest.\" — Crai..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/craig-ferguson-664_awards_i-m-a-terrible-interviewer-i-m-not-a-jou_1702224.jpg" --- # I'm a terrible interviewer. I'm not a journalist… ![“I'm a terrible interviewer. I'm not a journalist - although I have a Peabody Award - and I'm not really a late-night host. What I am is honest.” quote by Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/craig-ferguson-664_awards_i-m-a-terrible-interviewer-i-m-not-a-jou_1702224.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/craig-ferguson-664_awards_i-m-a-terrible-interviewer-i-m-not-a-jou_1702224.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e99/craig-ferguson-664_awards_i-m-a-terrible-interviewer-i-m-not-a-jou_1702224.jpg) > “I'm a terrible interviewer. I'm not a journalist - although I have a Peabody Award - and I'm not really a late-night host. What I am is honest.” [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A candid confession that his strength lies in honesty rather than formal journalism or hosting credentials. **In simple terms:** Honesty is his core skill. Key Takeaway Prioritize authenticity over titles. Themes media authenticity self‑awareness Mood wry self‑deprecating Type professional personal When to use this quote - interviews - public speaking - personal branding Key Concepts communication integrity Questions to Reflect On - How does honesty shape audience trust? - When is authenticity more valuable than expertise? A Different Perspective Risk of being perceived as unprofessional. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awards/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Host](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/host/) [Host Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/host-honest-1160880/) [Interview](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interview/) [Interviewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interviewer/) [Interviewer Journalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interviewer-journalist-1160881/) [Journalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalist/) [Late night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late-night/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Terrible Interviewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible-interviewer-1160879/) ## Related quotes > [I do a show. It comes on late at night on TV. And if that means I'm a late-night talk show host, then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-do-a-show-it-comes-on-late-at-night-on-tv-and-if-that-means-i-m-a/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [If you look at my life before I went into television, the struggle I went through coming out would be surprising to most people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-cohen/if-you-look-at-my-life-before-i-went-into-television-the-struggle-i/) [Andy Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-cohen/) > [David Letterman is the best late-night talk show host right now, hands down, and has been since he first took the desk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/david-letterman-is-the-best-late-night-talk-show-host-right-now-hands/) [George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/) > [You know it's funny that none of the regular late-night shows now use guest hosts the way Johnny did. No one talks about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-shandling/you-know-it-s-funny-that-none-of-the-regular-late-night-shows-now-use/) [Garry Shandling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-shandling/) > [I think that everything looks a little scarier at night, when the sun goes down. And I know I kind of want a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-think-that-everything-looks-a-little-scarier-at-night-when-the-sun/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [What we do have is nothin' but time. Welcome to the Shawshank Redemption of late night!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/what-we-do-have-is-nothin-but-time-welcome-to-the-shawshank/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [If we are now holding late-night talk-show hosts to the same moral accountability as we hold politicians or clergymen, I'm out. I'm gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/if-we-are-now-holding-late-night-talk-show-hosts-to-the-same-moral/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Don't ever rope me in as a late-night talk show host. I don't want to be one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/don-t-ever-rope-me-in-as-a-late-night-talk-show-host-i-don-t-want-to/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Late night is no different than making a film, really, except that it's faster, and if you do a crap one, you can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/late-night-is-no-different-than-making-a-film-really-except-that-it-s/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [It's very interesting to know what people are doing while you're working on late-night television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/it-s-very-interesting-to-know-what-people-are-doing-while-you-re/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [The only thing that I would say to anyone doing late night shows is - it took me a couple years then - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/the-only-thing-that-i-would-say-to-anyone-doing-late-night-shows-is/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I don't think of myself of a late-show host any more than I think of myself of a game-show host. I mean, I've done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-don-t-think-of-myself-of-a-late-show-host-any-more-than-i-think-of/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [“Interviewer (Louise Tucker): What did you want to be when you grew up? Have you always wanted to be a writer? IllumBerg: When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-illumberg/interviewer-louise-tucker-what-did-you-want-to-be-when-you-grew-up/) [Natasha IllumBerg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-illumberg/) > [Interviewer: What is your greatest regret? Gorey: That I don't have one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/interviewer-what-is-your-greatest-regret-gorey-that-i-don-t-have-one/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [“Once told by an interviewer, "Everybody would like to be Cary Grant," Grant is said to have replied, "So would I.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-grant/once-told-by-an-interviewer-everybody-would-like-to-be-cary-grant/) [Cary Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-grant/) ## More by Craig Ferguson > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Sometimes people think you’re smart if you question the status quo, if nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/sometimes-people-think-you-re-smart-if-you-question-the-status-quo-if/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Sober alkies are often asked: "When did you hit rock bottom?" but a more informed question might be: "How many times did you hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/sober-alkies-are-often-asked-when-did-you-hit-rock-bottom-but-a-more/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Remember the band, Flock of Seagulls? They had their van stolen. I was like, They still have a van?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/remember-the-band-flock-of-seagulls-they-had-their-van-stolen-i-was/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [People spend thousands of dollars trying to keep their teeth straight. I just hope we can live in a world where we accept gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/people-spend-thousands-of-dollars-trying-to-keep-their-teeth-straight/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [Whoever I had become had to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/whoever-i-had-become-had-to-die/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [My pilot's license. I'm proud of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/my-pilot-s-license-i-m-proud-of-that/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [People are saying that Anderson Cooper could be the new Oprah. And then these people are struck by lightning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/people-are-saying-that-anderson-cooper-could-be-the-new-oprah-and/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I think comedy comes more from a low sense of self-esteem, and I certainly have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-think-comedy-comes-more-from-a-low-sense-of-self-esteem-and-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I'm so excited about the new iPad, I just iPeed my iPants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-m-so-excited-about-the-new-ipad-i-just-ipeed-my-ipants/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [For my birthday that year Anne gave me an inflatable atlas globe, along with a birthday card in which she wrote: I give you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/for-my-birthday-that-year-anne-gave-me-an-inflatable-atlas-globe/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [114 isn't as old as it used to be they say its the new 104.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/114-isn-t-as-old-as-it-used-to-be-they-say-its-the-new-104/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I have to do a show which is of interest to me, or else I'm lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-have-to-do-a-show-which-is-of-interest-to-me-or-else-i-m-lost/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [The first ads for medical marijuana have started airing on television in California. The ads are quite expensive. It costs a lot of money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/the-first-ads-for-medical-marijuana-have-started-airing-on-television/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I wanted to be a rock star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-wanted-to-be-a-rock-star/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) [Explore all 421 Craig Ferguson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) ## More Awards quotes > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [I love awards, especially if I get them. It's up to the courage of the filmmakers to make art in cinema, not just business.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gazzara/i-love-awards-especially-if-i-get-them-it-s-up-to-the-courage-of-the/) [Ben Gazzara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gazzara/) > [I'm not a great believer in awards-of course the fact that I've never won one has nothing to do with it at all!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/i-m-not-a-great-believer-in-awards-of-course-the-fact-that-i-ve-never/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [“Stop spending money to be nominated for worthless awards with no substance and no worth to your career. If you have to spend money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-weisman/stop-spending-money-to-be-nominated-for-worthless-awards-with-no/) [Loren Weisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-weisman/) > [I'm process-orientated. Awards, by their nature, are results-orientated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-jenkins/i-m-process-orientated-awards-by-their-nature-are-results-orientated/) [Barry Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-jenkins/) > [I can't imagine anyone thinking, 'Oh good, it's awards season!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-can-t-imagine-anyone-thinking-oh-good-it-s-awards-season/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [It feels fantastic, I never thought I would get anything, I've won awards and things but I never thought I would get an OBE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-marsh/it-feels-fantastic-i-never-thought-i-would-get-anything-i-ve-won/) [Jean Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-marsh/) > [Well, I met Sandy Bullock at an awards thing a couple years ago, and she said to me, “If I were gay, you’d be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/well-i-met-sandy-bullock-at-an-awards-thing-a-couple-years-ago-and/) [Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/) > [Thi is the malady onf the humans, that they can hold on to that which is fleeting and of little consequence and call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fabry/thi-is-the-malady-onf-the-humans-that-they-can-hold-on-to-that-which/) [Chris Fabry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fabry/) > [I remember when I first won the Academy Award and how much I loved it. I just wish there was an award around that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-woodward/i-remember-when-i-first-won-the-academy-award-and-how-much-i-loved-it/) [Joanne Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-woodward/) > [The three of us just try put our heads down and stay creative. The awards truly are just cake. It's one of those things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-scott/the-three-of-us-just-try-put-our-heads-down-and-stay-creative-the/) [Hillary Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-scott/) > [As a Nobel Prize winner I cannot but regret that the award was never given to Mark Twain, nor to Henry James, speaking only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/as-a-nobel-prize-winner-i-cannot-but-regret-that-the-award-was-never/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [You don't want to make awards the reason you're doing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-nolte/you-don-t-want-to-make-awards-the-reason-you-re-doing-things/) [Nick Nolte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-nolte/) > [I don't care about awards and public image. We know the business of entertainment. We worship our work, we worship our clients and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailender-singh/i-don-t-care-about-awards-and-public-image-we-know-the-business-of/) [Shailender Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailender-singh/) [Browse all 1,232 Awards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awards/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm a terrible interviewer. I'm not a journalist - although I have a Peabody Award - and I'm not really a late-night host. 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