A small, but important thing happened on late night television last night. In the sea of vacuous nonsense and gratuitous back slapping, an island of normalcy appeared like a mirage on the electronic horizon.

Sadly, it was the death of Craig Ferguson's father, Robert, that set in motion an evening that left me moved and feeling as if I had spent time with a bereft friend, who needed to vent his grief and hurt while I just sat and listened.

The late, late show is my favorite offering in the wee (cheeky-monkey) hours of the morning. Craig Ferguson is intelligent and charming and willing to just stand there and expostulate on just about anything, which he does with wit and grace.

The loss of his father left Ferguson with the most basic dilemma of a public figure, that being whether to gamely troop onward with little or no notice, or to make an issue of his private suffering. Mr. Ferguson brought us gently into his circle of pain, leaving his usual skits and sound effects and simply offering that this day was one for remembrance and to honor his father. It was not maudlin, nor was it too overtly personal - this was not some convoluted 'reality' show or some cheap trick - this was a man in the public eye, inviting his audience to share a rare, sad moment without apology or affectation. For this, I respect and honor him.