Best and worst \ Comparing shows

Here are my subjective evaluations of the shows that make up my favorite time of the TV schedule:

OVERALL

Best show: “The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson” on CBS. He hasn’t learned to talk in an Indiana accent, but that’s about the only thing the Scotsman has yet to accomplish since emerging as the dark-horse candidate for Craig Kilborn’s job five years ago. Versatile, literate, spontaneous, a man who has seen the world, Ferguson is a latter-day Jack Paar, but built for the long haul.

Worst show: “Last Call With Carson Daly.” NBC has been screwing around with “Last Call” for years, and it just seems to get worse. Currently it’s a low-budget, heavily edited interview show mostly shot at soundstages and hotels. Anyone could host it.

MONOLOGUE

Best: Tie between “The Jay Leno Show” and “The Colbert Report.” Colbert can take a single idea and carry it for five minutes — and all the while he’s channeling that character of his. Leno serves up jokes like a tennis-ball machine, but who does it better? No one.

Worst: David Letterman’s. Actually, Jimmy Fallon’s standup routine is probably weaker.

INTERVIEWS

Best: Ferguson. Craig lets his life story — growing up near Glasgow, emigrating to LA, getting sober, dealing with anger — inform and enlighten conversations. He shifts easily from laughter to intimacy with his guests and avoids scripted gags or other gimmicks.

Worst: “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.” Good news for Jimmy: Conan wasn’t any better with guests six months in.

BEST STUNTS

“The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien.” From the host’s fantastic “feud” with Newark Mayor Cory Booker to the portable drum set that rode Max Weinberg out of the studio, Conan and his writers are earning their promotion.

BEST USE OF TAPE

“Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Video has become an essential part of late-night comedy, but “JKL” does the most and gets the most out of it.

BEST RATINGS SPIN

ABC’s “Nightline” often declares victory over Dave and Conan by comparing its half-hour rating to their hour number. But if you use Dave’s rating from 11:30 p.m. to 12 midnight (before his audience starts going to bed), he wins handily.

BEST NEW-SHOW PROMO

The one where George Lopez is getting advice from President Barack Obama, who spurns Lopez’s entreaties to become his sidekick.

BEST GUESTS

A tie — they all seem to get the same guests.

— Aaron Barnhart, The Kansas City Star