In this article, CBS CEO Les Moonves says that his two new late night shows — Colbert's and Corden's — cost less to produce that the shows being replaced. I'm sure Colbert's will cost less than Letterman's just because the star will be making less moola, as well as other reasons. But I don't see how The Late Late Show with James Corden can be costing less to produce than The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson unless Corden's working for scale.
Corden has a band. He has a larger writing staff and it has a few writers and producers who have to be getting paid real well. That opening film piece last night must have cost more than they ever let CraigyFerg spend on any one segment and more like that are promised. Ferguson's biggest expense was two guys in a horse suit. (I have an odd feeling we're going to see "Secretariat" wander onto Corden's stage one of these days looking sadly for his former owner.)
Oh, wait. Corden has one other thing Ferguson didn't: Product placement. Okay, maybe that's it.