To be honest, I don't particularly like Michael Parkinson's interviewing style on his chat show. I think he's too easy-going and sycophantic, although it's nice to see an interviewer who has researched his guests properly...
I have nothing against Parky himself, who always come across as a decent, grounded fellow -- but it's lucky a chat show survives on the standard of its guests, because Parkinson's had some big names and a handful of classic moments since 1971: from the fantastic Muhammad Ali chats, to the TV gold of Parky being attacked by Rod Hull's Emu puppet, and the uncomfortable silence of Meg Ryan...
It was the last "proper" episode last night (a glorified clip-show is on next week), so Parkinson was given a 2-hour special by ITV, where he re-interviewed some of his favourite guests...
Billy Connelly has been one of Parky's most interviewed celebrities and returned for another natter, although there's really little of interest in Connelly's personal life left to explore. That said, Connelly's always an easy watch and at least he's had the good sense to wash the purple dye out of his goatee!
Michael Caine was next. A legend of the silver screen who's similarly been interviewed so many times you feel like you know him. He was ultimately left to tell some interesting facts about the genesis of the words "caddy" and "marmalade"!
David Attenborough followed, who's one of my television heroes. For me, this man is natural history. His voice has guided me through countless wildlife documentaries and, at 81 years of age, he deserves all the plaudits he gets. I enjoyed this interview much more than the others, particularly his stories about turtles on the Galapagos islands. A genuine national treasure.
David Beckham came next and, despite not being a football fan, he was at least someone who inspires a multitude of questions. It was interesting hearing his thoughts on his sacking by Steve McClaren, England's bad performances, his opinion on multi-millionaire teenaged footballers, and his move to L.A. Beckham's overexposed, but he comes across as a likeable, ordinary, family man. I like him.
Peter Kay arrives, injecting fun and pizzazz into the show, which was curiously low-key with the three old men and introverted Beckham. Unfortunately, he wasn't afforded a proper interview -- he just arrives to raise the spirits by making everyone wear party hats, got out a cake and poured some cordial. And did anyone else get the impression Connelly felt upstaged, Caine was irritated, and Attenborough was mostly perplexed? Spoilsports.
Short shrift became the order of the day, with Judi Dench arriving and singing a comedy song (written by Michael Ball) that was a bit lacking in spirit. A few clips of Mrs Brown (co-starring Connelly) and a brief 5-minute chat, and she was finished with.
The final guest was Dame Edna Everage, another iconic guest of Parkinson's over the years. She performed a little song with Laurie Holloway (Parky's piano player), and then didn't get a chance to do anything, as Parkinson immediately had to wrap-up the show.
At 2-hours, I don't think the last show was particularly well-handled. There were 7 guests (8 if you count Jamie Cullum's turn on the piano), but only 4 were interviewed properly, laving the others to look like stragglers with a "party piece" to perform. I'd have preferred 5 guests with a proper 20-minutes chat each.
It was also a curiously unemotional close, as Michael Parkinson himself didn't wet an eye (even at the very end), and the existence of a clip-show next week as the "real" ending somehow undermined the whole show. That, and the fact Parkinson actually came to an end once before, in 1982, before being resurrected by the BBC in 1998.
I don't think Parkinson will be back again this time (certainly not in 20 years time!), so we say a fond farewell to the classiest British interviewer. I may not like his occasionally fawning style, but you can't criticize the calibre of his guests, his professionalism, and achievement in the field.
Who do we have to take his place now? Jonathan Ross is fun, but too antagonistic and self-centred. Graham Norton exists only to poke fun and be cheeky with a certain type or celeb. There really aren't any old-school interviewers left!
So cheerio, Parky! Enjoy your retirement. The memories will last a lifetime... and doubtless that Emu attack will be repeated forever.
16 December 2007
ITV1, 9.00 pm
I have nothing against Parky himself, who always come across as a decent, grounded fellow -- but it's lucky a chat show survives on the standard of its guests, because Parkinson's had some big names and a handful of classic moments since 1971: from the fantastic Muhammad Ali chats, to the TV gold of Parky being attacked by Rod Hull's Emu puppet, and the uncomfortable silence of Meg Ryan...
It was the last "proper" episode last night (a glorified clip-show is on next week), so Parkinson was given a 2-hour special by ITV, where he re-interviewed some of his favourite guests...
Billy Connelly has been one of Parky's most interviewed celebrities and returned for another natter, although there's really little of interest in Connelly's personal life left to explore. That said, Connelly's always an easy watch and at least he's had the good sense to wash the purple dye out of his goatee!
Michael Caine was next. A legend of the silver screen who's similarly been interviewed so many times you feel like you know him. He was ultimately left to tell some interesting facts about the genesis of the words "caddy" and "marmalade"!
David Attenborough followed, who's one of my television heroes. For me, this man is natural history. His voice has guided me through countless wildlife documentaries and, at 81 years of age, he deserves all the plaudits he gets. I enjoyed this interview much more than the others, particularly his stories about turtles on the Galapagos islands. A genuine national treasure.
David Beckham came next and, despite not being a football fan, he was at least someone who inspires a multitude of questions. It was interesting hearing his thoughts on his sacking by Steve McClaren, England's bad performances, his opinion on multi-millionaire teenaged footballers, and his move to L.A. Beckham's overexposed, but he comes across as a likeable, ordinary, family man. I like him.
Peter Kay arrives, injecting fun and pizzazz into the show, which was curiously low-key with the three old men and introverted Beckham. Unfortunately, he wasn't afforded a proper interview -- he just arrives to raise the spirits by making everyone wear party hats, got out a cake and poured some cordial. And did anyone else get the impression Connelly felt upstaged, Caine was irritated, and Attenborough was mostly perplexed? Spoilsports.
Short shrift became the order of the day, with Judi Dench arriving and singing a comedy song (written by Michael Ball) that was a bit lacking in spirit. A few clips of Mrs Brown (co-starring Connelly) and a brief 5-minute chat, and she was finished with.
The final guest was Dame Edna Everage, another iconic guest of Parkinson's over the years. She performed a little song with Laurie Holloway (Parky's piano player), and then didn't get a chance to do anything, as Parkinson immediately had to wrap-up the show.
At 2-hours, I don't think the last show was particularly well-handled. There were 7 guests (8 if you count Jamie Cullum's turn on the piano), but only 4 were interviewed properly, laving the others to look like stragglers with a "party piece" to perform. I'd have preferred 5 guests with a proper 20-minutes chat each.
It was also a curiously unemotional close, as Michael Parkinson himself didn't wet an eye (even at the very end), and the existence of a clip-show next week as the "real" ending somehow undermined the whole show. That, and the fact Parkinson actually came to an end once before, in 1982, before being resurrected by the BBC in 1998.
I don't think Parkinson will be back again this time (certainly not in 20 years time!), so we say a fond farewell to the classiest British interviewer. I may not like his occasionally fawning style, but you can't criticize the calibre of his guests, his professionalism, and achievement in the field.
Who do we have to take his place now? Jonathan Ross is fun, but too antagonistic and self-centred. Graham Norton exists only to poke fun and be cheeky with a certain type or celeb. There really aren't any old-school interviewers left!
So cheerio, Parky! Enjoy your retirement. The memories will last a lifetime... and doubtless that Emu attack will be repeated forever.
16 December 2007
ITV1, 9.00 pm
