I'm not entirely sure what to make of Craig Ferguson's Monologue.

Not the jokes, but the camera seems to be positioned slightly above him with a wide angle lens. 

It places him so much closer to the viewing audience than traditional late night monologues, which I’m presuming is the intention. Conan specifically had the size of his studio scaled down because comedy works better in an intimate environment. But Craig’s camera is so close it makes me question whether there’s an actual audience. To a degree it feels like I’m in a one on one conversation with the man and that I’m slightly taller than he is (which may be true, but I’m going to bet isn’t).

Even more interesting, when the camera cuts to his robo-sidekick, Geoff, it’s the same shot that would be used when the camera talks to Andy Richter, a one-shot cut slightly above the waist. Very flat, in the sense that a wide angle shot bends the image as noted in any 90s music/skateboard video (because we all know they are one and the same). 

In fact, every other shot on the show is set up like a traditional talk show. Why just the monologue shot? And why am I questioning this and not the fact that his sidekick is a robot?

Mr. Ferguson, if you’d be willing to graciously explain this decision, I’d be more than happy to publish it in issue 4 of The Annual. Until then I wish you all the best.