S16.E07: Shirley Bassey, David Walliams, Catherine Tate, Richard Ayoade, Annie Lennox

[maraleia]

 

The guests on Graham's sofa: the one and only Dame Shirley Bassey, comedian and children's author David Walliams, comic actress Catherine Tate, director and IT Crowd star Richard Ayoade, and music from the great Annie Lennox, who performs God Bless The Child.

 

[joelene]

Haven't finished yet (Lennox is singing) but this is terrific. Wasn't familiar with Shirley Bassey the person before, only the singer, but she and Walliams are hilarious together. And of course Catherine and Richard are always great. There really wasn't a dull moment.

Edited November 8, 2014 by joelene

[Corgi-ears]

It was indeed a hilarious episode, but there was a dull moment: when Annie Lennox was on the couch droning on about having done yet another cover album.

I also had trouble understanding the last red chair story. Did Capt Picard get electrocuted in the balls? (A sentence I never thought I would write.)

[joelene]

You're right, that was dull, but I hadn't gotten to that bit yet when I wrote my post. That is my defense! And yes, I believe he was electrocuted in the balls!

[peeayebee]

Very enjoyable show. I didn't know David Walliams, but he was so funny and charming. Everyone got along so well. Shirley Bassey is gorgeous, and her voice still sounds great.

[heebiejeebie]

Enjoyable enough show but hardly riveting.  Someone there really has their heads up their asses when it comes to bookings.  It makes no sense to crowd the couch over and over again.  As full of herself as Annie was (and what was that?  she usually is quietly wry and self-deprecating, there was  a bit too many little "me" moments in the little time she was there).  And I found the inclusion of Bassey sort of made the show stutter a bit.  Walliams, Tate and Ayoade deserve their own set and would have done just fine and the momentum could have built to its natural pitch.  I love Bassey but she could have done the whole show or not.  Sorry but I find this late coming shit tiresome no matter who it is.  When it causes this pile up on the couch the show just loses that organic gliding build of amiability and conversation that Graham ring masters to beautifully. 

 

This has been a trend since all last season and I have no idea what is prompting them to book so many people over and over again.  Movie schilling casts are one thing, (but they book them and then add more people!).

 

I was reminded about Little Britain and think David and Matt as Sia and her dancer might be even funnier than Saunders and French. 

[dubbel zout]

As full of herself as Annie was (and what was that?  she usually is quietly wry and self-deprecating, there was  a bit too many little "me" moments in the little time she was there).

 

I was disappointed with Lennox, too. I loved Bassey's "That's why we're here!" when Lennox seemed astounded that she and Bassey had albums out at the same time. Yes, it's a stunning coincidence, Annie. *rme* I'm also predisposed to dislike her new album because she's been obtuse, to say the least, when discussing "Strange Fruit." She calls it a song about civil rights, but completely ignores the fact that it's about a lynching. I don't need for her to have a profound understanding of slavery in the U.S., but if she's going to sing that song, particularly, she has to have a better understanding of its context and meaning.

 

I agree the couch was a bit overstuffed, but I do think everyone got his or her moment. It helped that Dame Shirley came late (though I understand why that annoys).

[attica]

Yeah, the whole trying to make "Strange Fruit" as a meta discussion about anything is boggling. It's about lynching. That's it. That's plenty, frankly. And that's why it's awesome (one of the reasons, anyway). What's the problem with just recognizing that? ...Weird. 

 

I want to love Annie way more than I ever end up doing. She's got a great instrument, but I often feel like she misses the mark with her arrangements, undercutting some emotional heft the songs would have. Like here, I thought the key she chose for "God Bless the Child" was too low. She could hit the notes, but it just felt like a muscle stretch rather than a righteous wail.

 

Shirley, on the other hand, knows her stuff and she knows her schtick and if she ever wanted to give us something other than what we want, she probably doesn't anymore. She loves that we want the whole Shirley Bassey Experience. Get all up in your sequins and feathers, gurl! The horn section's all warmed up!

 

I wonder how much of Richard Ayoade is ironic and how much is just plain weird. I don't mind either way, I just wonder.

 

Walliams was great. He knew his job on the sofa, and he did it with brio.

[peeayebee]

I wonder how much of Richard Ayoade is ironic and how much is just plain weird. I don't mind either way, I just wonder.

I wonder too. He was always funny when he was talking, but what bugged me was when other people said something funny, he'd just smile and, I think, rock on the couch, looking at the floor. It's something a shy person would do. Maybe he's shy, not good in groups. It just seemed like he was always "on," or maybe just self-conscious.

Edited November 18, 2014 by peeayebee

[theatremouse]

he'd just smile and, I think, rock on the couch, looking at the floor. It's something a shy person would do. Maybe he's shy, not good in groups. It just seemed like he was always "on," or maybe just self-conscious.

Interesting observation. I usually would associate that sort of behaviour with not being "on" (in a situation where he'd usually be expected to be on) rather than the other way around. Like if he were so awkward he didn't realize he was doing something that wouldn't look good on television.

[peeayebee]

It kind of looked like an act to me, but I can't decide how to take him. It could be that he's shy, but my first impression was that he was behaving in accordance with his type of humor, kind of deadpan, reserved. 

 

 

I like it when people show real appreciation for others' jokes and anecdotes. It's like when a punchline deserves a belly laugh, but someone just smiles and says, "That was amusing."

[heebiejeebie]

 

I agree the couch was a bit overstuffed, but I do think everyone got his or her moment. It helped that Dame Shirley came late (though I understand why that annoys).

 

See but that just highlights the point of too many people and not a real conversation in my opinion.  For me, while I hate when there is an attention hog, everyone should have gotten their moment about 15 minutes in and then sit back and be organic and off point (schilling whatever brought them on the show).  Instead we had the show nicely gold star what were basically five asses on a couch that for me will always be built for three.  For this show, I just don't find the toddler tee ball approach  - you all get to play-- to be an accolade.  It's a bit like going into surgery for an appendix removal, waking up to be a quadruple amputee and the surgeon telling you cheerfully "hey at least you survived".

 

Okay the show wasn't that bad.  But is was Good Fallon Tonight show bad.  And that ever so slightly makes it in the fail category for me.  The show simply works with three at the level my time is worth.  Mileage obviously varies.

[HelenBaby]

I was furious at Annie Lennox's version of "God Bless the Child" because it sounded unlike any version I've ever heard. In fact it sounded like she put a new tune to familiar words. I was yelling at the tv for her to just stop it.

Edited November 21, 2014 by HelenBaby

[paramitch]

My problem with this episode was that it seemed badly put together as a tribute episode, but honestly, I just don't think Bassey is worth it and was nonplussed at the huge deal of it all.

 

The evolution of the night seemed to be:

 

1. Graham gives speech about guests but spotlights Shirley Bassey
2. Guests show up and talk about how awesome they think Shirley Bassey is (even when many have blatantly no idea of her work beyond 'Goldfinger')
3. Shirley Bassey shows up late and talks about how much she loves herself (supported by Graham)
4. Graham then asks guests to talk more about how amazing Shirley Bassey is
5. Shirley Bassey sits and looks gratified, confused, or vaguely bitchy as needed

 

Look, I get that she's done some amazing and underappreciated jazz work, but I found this episode really embarrassing for all involved. Shirley came across as vain and utterly self-involved while the guests good-naturedly tried to pretend (in varying degrees) that they knew ANY other songs beyond "Goldfinger." Just, no.

Edited December 18, 2014 by paramitch