Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/784242
for a little while. I mean all of them, if I'm honest; I've really enjoyed them all. CM: Who do you listen to in your free time, if you have any? JC: I've been listening to this kid Gallant, he's really good. And I've been listening to the "Dear Evan Hansen" soundtrack, which is a musical that's opened on Broadway that I really like. CM: And also congratulations on being named the host for the Grammy Awards; that's amazing. What direction are you thinking of going for the show? JC: I'm sort of trying to think right now about what it should be, because it's really not a tradi- tional hosting gig. The artists are the stars; they're the thing, they're the event. So I'm sort of trying to think what I can do to put my stamp on it. But mostly I just really want to bring a sense of joy and enthusiasm to it if I can. CM: I wanted to know a little bit about your background and your Tony Award and how you transitioned from that into what you do now. JC: I don't know really. It just sort of all came along in a bit of a blur. I was asked to host ["The Late Late Show"] and I was incredibly touched and honored that I was asked to do so and it just sort of happened. I didn't really know that I would be any good at it. I was sort of sure that I wouldn't. But thankfully, people seem to like what we've done. CM: Well, you're very genuine and I think that resonates with people. I think people can sense if someone is being artificial or not. JC: I really feel very lucky to do such a show and I really try to make it the best it can be everyday. I just always hope it's good enough. CM: How hard is it to learn all the lyrics for all of those songs? JC: Some are easier than others. Sometimes I have to listen to them a lot and sometimes I've got them straight away. I have a weird sort of thing where I tend to remember lines fairly easily. CM: Are you ever surprised when you get to know your guests? Are they different than you expected them to be? JC: Mark Wahlberg was on the show, and I was completely blown away by how open and kind he was. Mostly I'm here thinking, 'I'm sitting here with [these celebrities.']…If you're going to go to work and sing Broadway songs with Neil Patrick Harris and then interview Sienna Miller and Tom Ford…that's a dinner party I'd love to go to. CM: So are you like this at home with your family? Are you fun or do you turn off and become a grouchy… JC: No, I can be in a mood as much of the next guy. But that's where you want to have all your energy: with your wife and your kids. It can be hard sometimes because the show can be quite all encompassing. I just sort of consider it a privilege to be tired. I have a job I feel so incred- ibly lucky to do and I'm rewarded very well for it. Comics For Kids featuring James Corden and ben- efitting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County takes place March 18 from 5:30-10:30 pm at the Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach and includes a silent auction, benefit drawing and live auction. For tickets, go to www.bgcmc.org/events/comics-for-kids/. 146 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 1 7 Corden's hosting duties go beyond his CBS gig: he has also hosted the 2016 Tony Awards and the 2017 Grammy Awards. Photo: © 2016 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved