CRAIG FERGUSON did not wait long to line up his next gig. The latest of many swift late-night transitions for 2014 finds the exiting “The Late Late Show” host nearing a pact for a new syndicated series.

    Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Ferguson is finalizing a deal to host a new talker for Tribune-owned stations. Somewhat surprisingly, the new show will not be part of late night, likely airing at

    7:30 p.m. That will alleviate a lot of similar competition for Ferguson, though the earlier start time is relatively untested waters for the format.

    It will also tape in Ferguson’s current studio at CBS’ Television City lot and be quite similar to his current series, with occasional guest interviews. Tribune Broadcasting did not immediately respond to THR’s request for comment.

    It is not the only thing on Ferguson’s plate. Before he signs off of his post-David Letterman hour in December, he’ll have already premiered FremantleMedia North America and Debmar-Mercury’s syndicated game show “Celebrity Name Game.”

    News recently broke of Ferguson’s likely CBS replacement. The network is circling British actor-comedian James Corden to take over “The Late Late Show,” though it has yet to make any formal announcement. CBS and Ferguson announced his exit shortly after the news that Stephen Colbert would move into Letterman’s “The Late Show” slot in 2015.

    It’s not immediately clear if Geoff Peterson, Ferguson’s animatronic skeleton sidekick, is part of the deal.

    (SD-Agencies)