I have a confession, and since I can't think of a clever or funny way to reveal it, I'll just blurt it out...

I have a late night talk show host crush on Craig Ferguson, who hosts The Late Late Show on CBS.

Wow. That felt good. It's like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

David, Conan, Jimmy, the other Jimmy? They're all funny (somewhat), but Craig is Funny. The others make me chuckle (Conan more than the rest), but Craig makes me laugh.

Okay, his humor is lowbrow, risque, and vulgar, but it's also fresh, dynamic, and spontaneous, and the second trio of traits almost always trumps the first trio.

Like the other hosts, he does a topical monologue every night, but unlike the other hosts, he delivers it with a flow and a degree of unpredictability. He may be reading from a teleprompter or from cue cards like everybody else, but it feels like he's winging it.

I think his interviews are better and more natural than anybody else's in late night. I love how he rips up the blue cards with the prepared questions on them and simply chats with his guests -- being chummy with the guys, being charming with the girls. It isn't an interview; it's a banter session.

I could go on and on, but I will limit myself to a short list of other things I love about the "Scottish Conan O'Brien guy":

• I love the way he rebels against his producers.
• I love that he does the prep work (mostly), but then throws it out in favor of entertaining his audience.
• I love how he complains about the show's small set (with its leaky roof) and lack of a band.
• I love that he plays dumb, but plays it so smartly.

Most of all, I love his show's openings, especially the ones featuring him lip-synching a catchy tune, with one or two assistants and an ensemble of puppets backing him up. It sounds ridiculous on paper, but it's absolutely hilarious on screen.

For your viewing pleasure (and to brighten your day), here are two of my favorite openings. The first is "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" by They Might Be Giants. The second is "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz.