Just like anyone else in life, artists have the freedom to change careers or their focus and do whatever they want to do. However, this can be challenging to the audience. When you are used to see an actor in a certain role or type of role, it can be a shock to see them doing something else. Or, more often, if an actor is in a role for a long time, they can get tied to that role. For me, Craig Ferguson will always be the somewhat evil Nigel Wick from The Drew Carey Show. Yes, I know that show ended seven years ago, and Ferguson has moved on to success with The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, but I still see him as Mr. Wick. Even knowing that he got his start in stand-up, it's even stranger to see him on-stage in his latest special Craig Ferguson: Does it Need to be Said?.

Ferguson tackles many topics during his 65-minute show, which was recorded in Nashville. Of course, he talks about being Scottish and is quick to point out that he isn't Shrek. He discusses the Scottish attitude towards sex, how the effected his development, and his surprise over his son's knowledge of sex. Free from the bonds of network television, Ferguson talks about the freedom of being able to use profanity and how these words are used in everyday life. Speaking of is show, he discusses the challenge of making fun of celebrities on a nightly basis and then facing the awkwardness of having them on his show. (Or not, if they refuse to come on.) A recovering alcoholic, Ferguson is very frank about his history and the effect drinking has on people. He touches on religion and then talks about how internet anonymity has made if difficult for people to censor themselves (which is where the show's title comes from).

The monologues from his show aside, I'd never seen Craig Ferguson do stand-up, so I really didn't know what to expect. (Actually, that's not true. I had expected his accent to get so thick at times that I wouldn't be able to understand him, but that was never the case.) The show got off to a really slow start, as Ferguson vacillates between anecdotes and jokes. While they were somewhat amusing, they were never truly funny. His delivery style wasn't very inviting, as he skipped from one topic to another in a very stream-of-consciousness fashion, giving the feeling that he was never truly done with one subject before he started another. Fortunately, he eventually settled down and the second half the show was much better. The material about celebrities may sound like something from Kathy Griffin territory (not that she isn't funny), but Ferguson puts his personal stamp on it as he talks about his experiences from his show. His bits on anonymity and the way that we treat one another was the funniest part of the special, most notably when he talked about how we won't say anything to someone's face in real life.

Watching Craig Ferguson: Does it Need to be Said? is like watching an animal raised in captivity romping through the forest. While I'm certain that Ferguson loves his TV gig, it's clear that he's having a blast telling jokes just for himself. The material is decidedly hit-or-miss, especially in the beginning, but there's a palpable sense of fun to the whole thing and people don't tell enough Fabio jokes these days.

Craig Ferguson: Does it Need to be Said? made Nashville seem like a pretty hip place on DVD courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment. The show has been letterboxed at 1.78:1 and the transfer is enhanced for 16 x 9 TVs. The image is very sharp and clear, showing no grain and no defects from the source materials. The colors look good and the image is never overly dark or bright. There is some blurring of the lights with quick camera movements, but otherwise the image is stable. The DVD carries a Dolby stereo audio track. With this track, Ferguson is always clear and audible. The audience's applause come from the left and right channels, but they never drown out the jokes.

The Craig Ferguson: Does it Need to be Said? DVD contains only two extras. "Craig Arrives in Nashville" (2 minutes) shows Ferguson getting off of a plane and then shows salutations from various Nashville residents. "Fan Rap" (1 minute) is a brief song about Ferguson (ostensibly) by a street musician.