Series synopsis
Craig Ferguson: American on Purpose is an American documentary television series that premiered on CNN on May 30, 2026. It stars Craig Ferguson.
Craig Ferguson travel coast-to-coast to explore the defining ideas, and contradictions, at the heart of the United States. Guided by his distinct humor and point of view, Ferguson examines the country's founding ideals while reflecting on his own experience becoming an American citizen. Along the way, he visits iconic locations and unexpected corners of the country and encounters a wide range of voices from comedians and entrepreneurs to historians and everyday Americans.
Premise
Craig Ferguson travel coast-to-coast to explore the defining ideas, and contradictions, at the heart of the United States. Guided by his distinct humor and point of view, Ferguson examines the country's founding ideals while reflecting on his own experience becoming an American citizen. Along the way, he visits iconic locations and unexpected corners of the country and encounters a wide range of voices from comedians and entrepreneurs to historians and everyday Americans.
Premise: Life, liberty, and the pursuit of answers.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Craig Ferguson as Self
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 5 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 5 | May 30, 2026 | June 27, 2026 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Becoming American Since boyhood in Scotland, Craig dreamed of becoming American; two decades after becoming a citizen, he meets with fellow immigrants and naturalized citizens KT Tunstall and Salman Rushdie to explore how dreams like theirs shape our nation. |
May 30, 2026 |
| 2 |
Capitalism Craig explores our capitalist system as he ventures into the economic wilderness to launch his own business, asking if it drives the American dream today; actor Tiffany Haddish, entrepreneur Daymond John and influencer Vivian Tu weigh in. |
June 6, 2026 |
| 3 |
The First Amendment As a comedian and an American, Craig defends the first amendment every day; he speaks with a comic, a cartoonist, two Founding Fathers and a free-speech absolutist to explore the intent, limits and threats to this sacred freedom. |
June 13, 2026 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | CNN |
|---|---|
| First aired | May 30, 2026 |
| Last aired | May 30, 2026 |
| Status | continue |