S19.E04: Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Keeley Hawes, Joe and Jake

[Athena]

 

Together on Graham's sofa are Hollywood star Meryl Streep, playing the socialite turned tuneless opera singer in Florence Foster Jenkins; her co-star in the film, actor Hugh Grant; and actor Keeley Hawes, promoting new drama series The Durrells. With music from British Eurovision hopefuls Joe and Jake, performing You're Not Alone.

 

[dusang]

Florence Foster Jenkins is the name of the movie that Meryl & Hugh are promoting, not a guest.

[dubbel zout]

If only she could be a guest! Hee.

[dusang]

I swear to God if someone wrote an entire book about the etiquette of the couch I would read it cover to cover -- why do some celebs practically sit on top of each other while others leave room for six people between them?  Hugh and Meryl know each other and they were like awkwardly far apart -- it was mesmerizing!!

 

Also, Keeley's heels were so high her foot looked broken in some shots.

[Mumbles]

 

I swear to God if someone wrote an entire book about the etiquette of the couch I would read it cover to cover -- why do some celebs practically sit on top of each other while others leave room for six people between them?  Hugh and Meryl know each other and they were like awkwardly far apart -- it was mesmerizing!!

 

I noticed that too and I have to wonder....maybe it's because they don't like each other? Because even when they were taking the selfie with the kids, they were apart from each other in a situation that demands closeness.  And Keeley Hawes kept her distance too.

 

And it wouldn't surprise me because while I think he's a silver fox and pretty funny, I'm betting Hugh Grant is a massive jerk. He even ADMITS that Julianne Moore and Drew Barrymore hate him. And that's why I find him interesting - not many people are that honest about people hating them. He's a good guest on this show because Graham doesn't kiss his ass so he just rolls with it. In fact, tonight really epitomized why I love Graham as a host - huge stars, a not-so-huge star, and two kids, and he treated them all the same.

 

I have seen Keeley Hawes on this show before and the lack of impression she makes is strangely remarkable. I remember the last time being bored by her, and again this week. Maybe it's just because she's not well known in the States. Or maybe it's just that she had the bad luck of being booked on a show where the other two guests are very interesting.

[maraleia]

 

I have seen Keeley Hawes on this show before and the lack of impression she makes is strangely remarkable. I remember the last time being bored by her, and again this week. Maybe it's just because she's not well known in the States. Or maybe it's just that she had the bad luck of being booked on a show where the other two guests are very interesting.

This was Keeley's first appearance. Graham said it at the beginning of the show.

[Mumbles]

Then I stand corrected.

[dubbel zout]

Grant had a historically hostile interview with Jon Stewart on TDS Grant was promoting DId You Hear About the Morgans? It was hilarious yet really uncomfortable to watch.

Edited April 22, 2016 by dubbel zout

[dusang]

Grant had a historically hostile interview with Jon Stewart on TDS Grant was promoting DId You Hear About the Morgans? It was hilarious yet really uncomfortable to watch.

 

Oh yeah, Jon Stewart has said publicly that Hugh Grant is the only interviewee he would never have back.

[sugarbaker design]

Hugh and Meryl know each other and they were like awkwardly far apart -- it was mesmerizing!!

 

 

Awkward?  I thought everyone looked comfortable.

 

Hugh is an asshole from way back.  If Julianne Moore and Drew Barrymore hate you, something must be seriously wrong with you.

Edited April 22, 2016 by sugarbaker design

[attica]

Keeley Hawes is among my favorite actors. She does a ton of really interesting, varied work in a non-showy way, so it's easy to overlook her. She's comparatively tall, so directors always have to fiddle with blocking so that she doesn't appear to tower over her leading men. (Hubby is very tall, so that's lucky!) I feel like this booking didn't show her in her best light; it might've been better for her to be with someone on the sofa she'd at least worked with before -- and she's worked with everybody from The Dench to The Dinklage!

 

I'm on the Eurovision email list; it's fun to see the ramp-up. I love how much GN loves all that kitsch.

 

However much Meryl isn't fond of her performance in TFLW, I am. (although I think I get what her objections were) Whenever it's particularly blustery out (especially if I'm by the seaside), I can be relied upon to cry out loud in mock despair, "I am the Frrrrrrench Lefftenant's Whooooooooooore!" Yes, people look at me funny, but who cares!

 

I share Hugh's disdain for camping. In my view, vacation should be less work than real life. And I make no apologies for my affection for modern plumbing.

[dusang]

Awkward?  I thought everyone looked comfortable.

 

Hugh is an asshole from way back.  If Julianne Moore and Drew Barrymore hate you, something must be seriously wrong with you.

 

I haven't actually watched the show beginning to end yet, I've just seen a few clips.  In one Meryl leans over to whisper something in Hugh's ear and they are so far apart even leaning toward each other there's like half a foot of space between them.  It was awkward.  By comparison, when she was on with Mark Ruffalo, with whom she has never worked, she was close enough to kiss him.

 

However, there's also the clip of Hugh acknowledging how many of his former (female) costars hate him so that probably explains the distance.

 

I've also heard stories from the set of Notting Hill where Julia Roberts teased/mocked Hugh during their "sex" scene (I can't really remember if there's even a shot of sex or if it's just in bed post-coital) -- he was shirtless and she allegedly sing-songed "someone's been working out and it's not Huugh!"  I think I might like Julia Roberts!

[StatisticalOutlier]

In fact, tonight really epitomized why I love Graham as a host - huge stars, a not-so-huge star, and two kids, and he treated them all the same.

 

That's a good point.

 

I can't believe I enjoy the red chair like I do.  I think it's kind of mean to pull the lever, and I hate seeing people being mean to others, but there's just something about that red chair.  Like when that last woman just said "Hi" and GN said, "I just can't" and pulled the lever.  I thought it was hilarious and I don't know why.

 

And I did love it when Meryl Streep was declining to tell him which performances of hers she didn't like and Graham Norton said, "Let's guess!" 

 

Actually, I was hoping someone would blurt out, "Ricki and the Flash!  What the hell WAS that?"

[dubbel zout]

Keeley Hawes has a great pair of legs. She was also a delightful guest.

 

that last woman just said "Hi" and GN said, "I just can't" and pulled the lever.  I thought it was hilarious and I don't know why.

Because her voice was so grating. I can't blame Graham for not wanting to even try. Hee!

Edited April 23, 2016 by dubbel zout

[TexasGal]

Keeley Hawes was also hilarious listening to the Lara Craft sounds. From mortified, to trying to explain them to just giggling.

I think the thing with Graham is that even when he's saying or doing something that SHOULD seem mean, like flipping red chair people on first sight, he still just seems so good natured about it. Plus, I think people kind of want to be flipped in the red chair. There have been plenty of times he let someone walk and they ask to be flipped.

[peeayebee]

I thought it was a good show. I'm not familiar with Keeley Hawes, but she seems nice. I just looked over her IMDB page. She's been in a lot of stuff!

 

Maybe Hugh Grant is a jerk, but I always find him entertaining, smart, and funny. Their movie looks like fun.

[dubbel zout]

Maybe Hugh Grant is a jerk, but I always find him entertaining, smart, and funny.

 

His self-deprecation goes a long way toward making him charming, IMO.

[attica]

I think the thing with Graham is that even when he's saying or doing something that SHOULD seem mean, like flipping red chair people on first sight, he still just seems so good natured about it.

 

It's a very English thing, as well. As a rule, the English are much more sarcastic and (what some here would call) mean with each other, just as a matter of course. And because everybody's like that, nobody takes offense. Americans are (as a rule) much more earnest and make more of an effort to be nice.

[theatremouse]

I swear to God if someone wrote an entire book about the etiquette of the couch I would read it cover to cover -- why do some celebs practically sit on top of each other while others leave room for six people between them?

I don't discount Hugh and Meryl may dislike each other, but I think part of the reason everyone seemed far apart in this one is because recently they've regularly had more than three guests on from the start and the couch has been incredibly crowded lately. I enjoy when it's three, but that does inherently cause extra space on the couch. I figure, if it's there, and wide enough, and won't impact the camera blocking, there's no reason they should squeeze together on one side of the couch. Even if I'm sitting with people I like, if a couch is wider, we sit farther and evenly distribute across the space.

[SmithW6079]

An enjoyable show, but not one of the best. I felt like the third guest got a bit shortchanged, because Meryl and Hugh were promoting the same movie.

I don't normally listen to the musical guests, but Joe & Jake were adorable. It was refreshing to see how excited they were about their success. Such nice, clean-cut young men.

Edited April 24, 2016 by SmithW6079

[dubbel zout]

I liked them a lot better than Jedward.

[maraleia]

For those who haven't seen these shows you should watch the first three seasons of Spooks or what we call in the US MI-5 and Ashes to Ashes. Keeley is superb in both shows.

[DkNNy79]

I know Keeley from various period movies, specifically "Wives & Daughters."  Also, she's married to Mathew MacFayden, Darcy from Pride & Prejudice (Keira Knightley version).

 

I do find Hugh to be very charming, so it sucks to hear that he's probably a jerk.  I love British humor.  I also just think they are so much more clever when talking.

Edited April 25, 2016 by DkNNy79

[MissLucas]

Well I suppose if Drew Barrymore really did hand Hugh Grant notes I can understand that things went downhill from there on. Though I suspect he can be a jerk without justification, as others have said the whole self-deprecation act he's got going does make up for it a bit... as long as you don't have to deal with him directly.

 

I had not known Keeley Hawes before but thanks to this episode I checked out 'The Durrells' and it is a great show full of quirky humor.

[Vandy10]

On ‎4‎/‎24‎/‎2016 at 7:50 PM, attica said:

It's a very English thing, as well. As a rule, the English are much more sarcastic and (what some here would call) mean with each other, just as a matter of course. And because everybody's like that, nobody takes offense. Americans are (as a rule) much more earnest and make more of an effort to be nice.

Must be an Irish thing then too. ;)