Now that venerable Michael Parkinson has shuffled off into chat retirement, the only rival to Friday Night With Jonathan Ross is Al Murray's Happy Hour; a show that even has the gumption to compete against Ross in the same timeslot!
Here's a comparison of last week's editions of both shows:
Al Murray had "the Phils" as guests: Phil Collins, Fiona Phillips, Philip Glenister and the first UK performance of New Kids On The Block since they reformed. Of course, Collins is a music legend, but something of has-been in most peoples' eyes (if you're under 15: he sang the music behind the Cadbury's drumming gorilla advert.) Phillips will probably become a has-been now she's decided to leave the cosy GMTV sofa. And NKOTB were has-beens who've only reformed to milk cash from fans in their thirties.
Jonathan Ross had "the Steves" as guests: Steve Coogan, Stevie Wonder and.. well, Abi Clancy. Coogan spent most of his time talking about Alan Partridge and responding to tired rumours of a Partridge movie and being pigeon-holed by the Norwich DJ's success. However, thanks to a blossoming US film career where 95% of the audience don't even know about his British oeuvre, Coogan seemed more accepting of the predictable direction Ross' interview took. It was also nice to hear he isn't abandoning the UK and has a tour and sitcom imminent, too. Obviously, there was no mention of Hamlet 2, a recent Coogan comedy that flopped so badly in the US that it didn't scrape into the week's Top 10.
Abi Clancy was there as a fresh-faced bit of eye-candy, with a fashion show to plug (imaginatively titled "The Fashion Show"), and withstood a few digs at her relationship with beanpole footballer Peter Crouch. She seemed nice enough, really. One of those harmless glamour models it's best to just look at. You can't really hate a beautiful girl with a gentle Scouse accent and the brain capacity of a thimble -- can you?
Stevie Wonder was The Big Deal, obviously: a genuine legend of music giving a rare UK interview. He was on good form with interesting anecdotes and self-deprecating jokes. Ross and Wonder even jammed together in the show's finale; an event that bettered Murray's drumming with Collins in a fake pub… even if Ross wasn't a capable musician like Murray!
On paper, Ross had the best guests (well, just) -- but not as many. But Murray's show was much more enjoyable, though -- even with a layer of artificiality because Murray's always in-character as The Pub Landlord. As Caroline Ahearne discovered out in the '90s with Mrs. Merton, a character-based chat show allows you to get away more.
Ross relies on cheeky banter, mild crudity and playful sex-talk as a "leveller" with his celebs, whereas Murray is free to be direct-yet-lovable from behind the guise of a blue-collared bloke's bloke. A celeb could get irritated or confused by Ross' attitude toward them, especially if they're foreign, but it's easier for celebs to laugh along with a fictional character like the Landlord, because he's an endearing creation.
Murray managed some gentle digs at Collins' divorces (which the Genesis member warmed to after a frosty beginning) and capped it all with that joyous drumming session on kegs and optics. Incidentally, I've never liked Fiona Phillips and her boneheaded presenting style on GMTV, but she actually came across very well here. She also looked (whisper it) quite foxy. Well, if you like the older woman with a slightly insane smile.
Overall, the BBC are more likely to get the big names guests, especially now Friday Night is te UK's only established chat show with a bit of pedigree. Its our Letterman, Conan and Leno rolled into one. But Happy Hour is the funnier comedy alternative, even if it's an ITV show that gets clogged up with ITV celebs plugging ITV shows. But the sight of Murray's "Big Bob" gyrating to an audience-sung ditty is a damn sight more entertaining than the unfunny, overrated, useless and slightly creepy Four Poofs & A Piano.
Friday Night With Jonathan Ross -- BBC1, Fridays 10.35pm
Al Murray's Happy Hour -- ITV1, Fridays 10pm
