Craig Ferguson Discusses Anthrax Scare on ‘Late Late Show’

The comedian Craig Ferguson seemed to be in good spirits on Tuesday evening when he wrote on his Twitter account, “Ack! Someone mailed my show white powder & claimed it was anthrax. I’m not a big fan of that sort of thing.”

But Mr. Ferguson, the host of CBS’s “Late Late Show,” was not entirely kidding, and explained what happened in a monologue recorded Tuesday and planned for broadcast early Wednesday, according to remarks released by CBS.

“Today someone sent an envelope packed with white powder to the show,” Mr. Ferguson told the studio audience at “Late Late Show,” which is produced in Los Angeles. “I offered to test it, but they said no. The police did test it and it’s not dangerous, so you have no excuse to leave.”

“Nowadays,” Mr. Ferguson continued, “white powder in the mail is a bad thing. I called CBS security and they said, ‘We’re busy.’ So I told them I am a personal friend of Drew Carey and they sent somebody over right away.” (Mr. Carey, who gave Mr. Ferguson an early break on his ABC sitcom “The Drew Carey Show,” is now host of “The Price Is Right” on CBS.)

Later in the program, Mr. Ferguson said, “I was going to come out and talk about the earthquake, but I can’t do that now. Because the earthquake only scared millions of people on the East Coast, but the white powder did something much worse — it scared me.”

CBS did not immediately provide any additional details about the package or who might have sent it. The Associated Press reported that two people were temporarily held at the “Late Late Show” studio after being exposed to the powder on Tuesday afternoon and were released after a hazardous materials team determined it was benign. Detective Gus Villanueva of the Los Angeles Police Department told The A.P. that the powder came in an envelope sent from overseas.
On his Twitter account, Mr. Ferguson offered his thanks to the F.B.I., the Los Angeles Police Department and Fire Department and the CBS security staff.
Last week, Mr. Ferguson’s CBS late-night colleague David Letterman, who hosts the network’s “Late Show” and whose company Worldwide Pants produces “Late Late Show,” was threatened on a message board used by Al Qaeda. While the F.B.I. is investigating that incident, Mr. Letterman joked about it on his program on Monday, telling his audience: “They’re questioning, they’re interrogating, there’s an electronic trail — but everybody knows it’s Leno.”

NBC Pins The Rock for '80s Pro-Wrestling Drama

If NBC is going to get back on the top turnbuckle, this will be the show to get it there. The network is developing a drama about the "golden age" of wrestling during the 1980s, when beasts like Hulk Hogan and The Iron Shiek made it cool to wear tights and put a man's head between your legs (although to be fair, a lot of New Wave music made that cool, too). Dwayne Johnson, aka former wrestling star The Rock, will executive produce, and he's awesome so I have no doubt this too will be awesome. It will be just like Mad Men, but with less talking and more Camel Clutching. [Deadline Hollywood]

… Syfy, the network that loves to hate its viewers, has released the premiere dates for a few of its fall shows. Sanctuary bows on October 7, Scare Tactics scares on October 10, and Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files fakes it on October 19. They've also got this original movie called Zombie Apocalypse that sounds pretty awful on October 29. Can't wait. But when do the networks' shows that are actually good (loose definition) end? Glad you asked! Finale dates: Eureka (September 19), Alphas (September 26), Haven (September 30), Warehouse 13 (October 3; 2 hour finale). In December, Syfy's 4-hour Neverland original movie will air. I get the feeling this is about Peter Pan and not Michael Jackson, so it will probably be boring. There. Don't say I never did anything for you. [Syfy via press release]

… After TNT heard that Syfy announced its premiere dates, it remembered that it has shows, too. And premiere dates! Leverage swindled a fourth season that will start on November 27. The Closer's season 7 drops November 28. You can watch season 2 of Rizzoli & Isles on November 28. And Southland walks its fourth beat on January 17. [TNT via press release]

Casting News
… Andre Braugher (Men of a Certain Age) is in talks to recur on NBC's Law & Order: SVU as one of the Law parts. [Deadline Hollywood]

… Greg Grunberg (Heroes) already crashed a plane into Hawaii on Lost, but he's still returning to the island(s) state. He'll guest star on CBS' Hawaii Five-0 for a mini Heroes reunion with cast member Masi Oka. They'll reminisce about that one good episode they had. [TV Line]

… ABC's upcoming Charlie's Angels is recruiting Isaiah Mustafa, aka The Old Spice Guy. He'll play the former fiancée of one of the broads. [TV Line]

… NBC's upcoming Prime Suspect has bolstered its cast with the comedic stylings of Jay Mohr. He'll play an assistant DA, because DA's are hilllllarious. [EW]

Washington Monument Indefinitely Closes After Earthquake Causes Cracks

WASHINGTON –  After reports of the Washington Monument possibly leaning due to a 5.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Virginia Tuesday, the National Park Services has revealed an inspection found cracks in the stones at the top of the Monument. 

The NPS released a statement after completing a secondary inspection that structural engineers will evaluate the cracks Wednesday to determine the best way to repair the Monument before reopening it to the public. 

The Washington Monument grounds have been reopened except for an area about 100 feet outside of the plaza. 

The initial reports of the Monument leaning due to the earthquake have previously been called false by U.S. Park officials