FRAZIER MOORE
AP Television Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Craig Ferguson is close to a deal to launch an early-evening talk show starting in fall 2015.

The outgoing host of CBS’ “The Late Late Show” would introduce his half-hour syndicated series on stations in a slot just before prime time, according to a source with knowledge of the deal who spoke on the condition of anonymity because that person wasn’t authorized to comment publicly.

Ferguson is expected to bring along his robot skeleton “sidekick,” Geoff, as well as executive producer Michael Naidus.

A Ferguson representative didn’t immediately respond Monday to a request for comment.

Ferguson, who has held a late-night berth on CBS for a decade, will step down in December.

In a separate venture, he will host a new syndicated game show, “Celebrity Name Game,” beginning next month.

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