What A Score!

“Carpool Karaoke” continues to snag A-list talent … and even the First Lady

- Yolanda Crous

A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AGO, Americans had never heard of James Corden. What a difference a first season makes. The multi-hyphenate host’s infectious charm, coupled with the creative team’s almost preternatural ability to create viral bits, has catapulted the Emmy-nominated Late Late Show with James Corden into the talk show pantheon. “We’ve had some surprising success coming out of the gate,” executive producer Rob Crabbe says modestly. “Going into the second season, we just want to keep the momentum going.”

One of the biggest reasons for the country’s collective Corden crush is “Carpool Karaoke,” a regular segment with a straightforward premise: put the Tony-winning host in a car with a pop star, play the artist’s greatest hits and let the magic unfold. “It’s pure joy to watch,” says Matt Roush, senior TV critic for TV Guide Magazine. “It plays into what every fan does—listen to our favorite songs from our favorite people and sing along in the car.”