S22.E04: Hillary Clinton, Jeff Goldblum, Gerard Butler, Jack Whitehall, Gregory Porter

[Athena]

Quote

Graham Norton is joined by Hillary Clinton, discussing What Happened, her account of 2016's US presidential election, Jeff Goldblum, appearing in Thor: Ragnarok, Gerard Butler, appearing in Geostorm, and comedian Jack Whitehall. Plus music from Grammy-winning jazz and soul singer Gregory Porter.

[dusang]

I cannot fathom a more inappropriate couch for Hillary Clinton to sit on.  Could they not have paired her with Judi Dench or someone?  Even last week's couch with Nicole Kidman!!

[MissLucas]

I don't see what's inappropriate about this couch. Looks like the normal mix: actors, comedian, musician. With the exception of Gregory Porter I've seen them all on the show before and they were all doing quite well. I also think she'll arrive later like Jane Fonda did last week - possible wild shenanigans should be over by then and Norton will focus on her.

[dubbel zout]

I think Hillary is interviewed separately; I saw a photo from the set where she was alone. (It made the news because Hillary is in a boot due to an ankle injury.) Also, I imagine that time-wise, Hillary can't stay for the entire show.

Edited October 19, 2017 by dubbel zout

[sum]

24 minutes ago, dubbel zout said:

I think Hillary is interviewed separately; I saw a photo from the set where she was alone. (It made the news because Hillary is in a boot due to an ankle injury.) Also, I imagine that time-wise, Hillary can't stay for the entire show.

That's what I heard. Her part would be taped separately & a few days earlier than the rest.

[Quof]

Well that's no fun. I bet Hillary would love Jack.

[dubbel zout]

Besides time factors, there was probably a security element that kept Hillary separate.

[HoboClayton]

And to make sure no one asks her off script questions. 

[MissLucas]

Well, the Hillary segment was fine and mildly entertaining. But brace yourself for Jeff Goldblum, I laughed tears.

[Matt K]

That was a weird episode in all the right ways.  And Gregory Porter's performance was great. 

[ChicagoCita]

Did anyone catch the link to the entire Hillary interview? I hope it's available in the U.S.

[StatisticalOutlier]

19 hours ago, MissLucas said:

But brace yourself for Jeff Goldblum, I laughed tears.

That damn BBC America shows Graham Norton only once, without repeats, and the rain killed my satellite for the whole thing.  I was really looking forward to Jeff Goldblum.  I don't know if it was on this show or another, but I had it in my mind that he's a fabulous guest on a show like this.  Boogers.

[Quof]

Quote

there was probably a security element that kept Hillary separate

But why?  Obama, and Mrs. Obama, regularly appeared on talk shows like Ellen, Kimmel, Fallon, etc and mixed with the regular people. 

[sum]

For those who are able to access BBC iPlayer, full Hillary interview link 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p05k646v/the-graham-norton-show-series-22-4-extra-hillary-rodham-clinton-full-interview 

Quote

Graham chats to the former First Lady, senator and presidential nominee – they discuss everything from the bruising presidential campaign to the devastating election night and its consequences, both personal and political. Hillary talks frankly about her responsibility for the failed campaign, about misogyny and propaganda, about President Trump's "diplomacy by tweet," about his behaviour in the infamous TV debates, and about resilience, recovery, and her hopes and fears for the future.

[kassygreene]

The iPlayer is strictly UK, as the page will tell you if you ain't there.  The episode isn't up at this Time Of Writing, but it will be on BBCAmerica.  You can sign in there with Facebook or Google+ or some other choices, let the site sign you in to your provider (mine is Xfinity), and you can watch episodes.  The full interview isn't there either, but it might be later today.

[Quof]

I love that Hillary never said "his" name.  You know that pisses him off.

[attica]

Ok, I want Jeff's sparkly turtleneck. I'd also like to sit in Porter's lap while he's singing. He makes a very nice noise. Gerard was the only throwaway,  imo.

HTC is well known for having a good sense of humor; I agree she'd have enjoyed Jack.

I've never heard 'booze bank' as slang for liquor store; I am adopting it forthwith. 

[dubbel zout]

6 hours ago, Quof said:

Quote

there was probably a security element that kept Hillary separate

But why?  Obama, and Mrs. Obama, regularly appeared on talk shows like Ellen, Kimmel, Fallon, etc and mixed with the regular people. 

After watching the episode, I see there was an audience. Given the state of the world, I thought maybe Hillary might have different security needs. It seems she doesn't.

Gregory Porter did a spot-on imitation of Jeff Goldblum. I always like hearing Porter sing: He's got such warmth in his voice.

2 hours ago, attica said:

Gerard was the only throwaway,  imo.

I'll say. I'm sorry for Jack Whitehall that Jeff Goldblum dominated things when the three of them were on the couch—I really like Whitehall—but Butler could have lifted right out.

[meep.meep]

6 hours ago, Quof said:

But why?  Obama, and Mrs. Obama, regularly appeared on talk shows like Ellen, Kimmel, Fallon, etc and mixed with the regular people. 

Might have been the SS being particularly antsy about doing this in a foreign country.  Graham made some crack about the audience "really wanting to be here."  I assumed they were all searched or had to wait a really long time.

Porter can really sing!  Jeff Goldblum is so strange.

[MissLucas]

Porter doing Goldblum was an unexpected final highlight - made up for the lack of the red chair. And Goldblum cracking out the lozenges was just so randomly hilarious (as was Butler's not so silent struggle with the thing afterwards).

Edited October 22, 2017 by MissLucas

[theatremouse]

I found it fascinating how Porter both went out of his way not to compliment Goldblum, but also went out of his way not to disparage him either. And then the impression was hilarious.

[athousandclowns]

I really enjoyed Hilary and hope I can find the full interview someplace.  I've always liked weird Jeff Goldblum and Gregory imitating him "bum rushing " him was very funny.  Not enough Jack ( Travels With My Father made me an even bigger fan) 

I am of the belief that Graham is one of the the best talk show hosts/  interviewers around  

[Bruinsfan]

Jack Whitehall was oddly muted, which was a disappointment as he's usually the life of the couch. But Gregory Porter made up for it, he was both hilarious and sang beautifully. (Goldblum's piano work sounded quite nice to my untrained ears as well, but I imagine Porter gets to work with Jazz greats regularly. Anyway, I'd pay a cover charge to hear him play in a club and not be disappointed if that was the level of performance.)

[Mumbles]

Yeah, I found Jeff Goldblum tiresome and his spazzing shtick very affected and mannered.  He sucked up all the attention, all the time. (“I met my [much younger]wife at the gymnasium, where she was doing wonderful things.” Euh boy.) Gerald Butler was an very good sport about basically not getting a word in edgewise. Goldblum wouldnt even let Gregory Porter have his few minutes of attention on the chair without mugging.

A few years ago David Duchovny did a spot on imitation of him on Saturday Night Live on a Celebrity Jeopardy sketch, really nailing the he-may-seem-smart-at-first-but-he’s-kind-of-dumb aspect of his personality.

He seemed to be a good piano player and I can’t tell if he was mugging while playing because mercifully the camera kept away from him.

Hillary Clinton interviews are painful to watch for me because I find her inauthentic in them but this might have been the best one I’ve seen with her because she seemed very much at ease, and Graham is a warm host.

[peeayebee]

1 hour ago, Mumbles said:

Yeah, I found Jeff Goldblum tiresome and his spazzing shtick very affected and mannered.

I don't think that's a shtick. That's just how he is, at least how he's been in every single interview I've seen him in. And I like it. I will say, however, when he started to describe the plot of his movie, I thought he was on drugs or something. He said something about ... gosh, I can't remember the actor now, but it seemed out of the blue. Anyway, I find him so interesting and entertaining. I do agree that he dominates, so that may be why Jack Whitehall was relatively quiet. 

Gregory doing the Goldblum impression was hilarious and impressive. 

Gerard Butler. Meh. I just went to IMDB to check if I've actually seen him in any movies. His first movie (1997) was Mrs. Brown, which I saw, but of course I don't remember him. His next film was the Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies, but I don't remember him. I saw Reign of Fire (2002) but don't remember him there either. Finally, there's Coriolanus (2011). I'm just kinda surprised that for him being such a big name, I've seen him in so few movies. I guess 300 is his claim to fame.

I enjoyed Hillary's segment. I like her. My sister and I watch the Graham recordings together, but I knew she wouldn't want to watch this one. And she didn't.

[attica]

15 hours ago, peeayebee said:

Gerard Butler. Meh. I just went to IMDB to check if I've actually seen him in any movies. His first movie (1997) was Mrs. Brown, which I saw, but of course I don't remember him. His next film was the Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies, but I don't remember him. I saw Reign of Fire (2002) but don't remember him there either. Finally, there's Coriolanus (2011). I'm just kinda surprised that for him being such a big name, I've seen him in so few movies. I guess 300 is his claim to fame.

He played Mr. Brown's younger brother Archie; I don't think he had more than two scenes. I liked him in Rocknrolla. I saw that movie he did with Aniston on the video screen of the dude sitting next to me on a plane, without audio. Which really was enough (and really, I was only interested in the video because a bunch of it was filmed in my town and I wanted to location-spot.). I never saw 300, but I now live in a town that was, but is no longer, called Sparta, and everytime I drive past the Sparta Cemetery, I imitate Gerard's accent and declaim loudly: "We. Are. Spaaaaaaartahhhh!" Anybody who is in the car with me will roll their eyes; I don't mind.

[dubbel zout]

Butler's abs were more the most impressive thing about him in 300. Heh. I find him forgettable as an actor.

[attica]

I thought he did a good job in Coriolanus, tbh.

[Bruinsfan]

Now now, Burt Reynolds is more or less retired. Someone had to step in and headline all the crappy movies!

[Mumbles]

Hah! re Burt. For every Boogie Nights and Deliverance, there's a Cop and a Half and that awful thing with Kathleen Turner.

Early in his career, Butler did a charming, poignant little movie called Dear Frankie with Emily Mortimer. It didn't get a big release in the US, I was alerted to it by UK friends. It was well received over there. Worth checking out if you can find it. It set me up as the person who says "Aw he's not that bad" when Butler comes up.

[dubbel zout]

I agree he was good in Coriolanus. I think he's probably one of those actors who needs good actors to pull him up, i.e., he can't elevate the material he's given by himself. (Though having Shakespeare as your writer gives you a leg up right there.) I also think he's hamstrung by his choices of roles, which isn't entirely his fault. But in general, he's forgettable.

[Ms Lark]

On 10/23/2017 at 10:05 PM, Mumbles said:

Yeah, I found Jeff Goldblum tiresome and his spazzing shtick very affected and mannered.  He sucked up all the attention, all the time. (“I met my [much younger]wife at the gymnasium, where she was doing wonderful things.” Euh boy.) Gerald Butler was an very good sport about basically not getting a word in edgewise. Goldblum wouldnt even let Gregory Porter have his few minutes of attention on the chair without mugging.

I used to like Jeff Goldblum until his BS about his super young, incredibly bendy wife. Grossed me out; clearly he's just another dirty old man with enough $$$ to keep a young woman interested in that sort of thing (i.e., $$$) around. Lost me as a fan right then and there. Stop talking, Jeff! Ewww.

[Bridget]

On 10/22/2017 at 9:14 PM, athousandclowns said:

 

I am of the belief that Graham is one of the the best talk show hosts/  interviewers around  

On my bucket list: attend a taping of his show.

Fallon, Kimmel, my beloved Colbert and the rest of them can learn SO MUCH from Graham. I realize TV standards in the US are far more restrictive and we'd never get anything like Graham's show. The closest thing is Watch What Happens Live - and even then, there's only so many games I can take before I want to hear Andy/callers ask proper questions.

I believe that the guests are much more laid back with Graham as they are able to drink on stage and not worry about their language, which makes it far more entertaining, I have literally stopped watching American late night chat show hosts because no one compares to Graham...even when I have no idea who some of his guests are!

[supposebly]

I only ever laughed as much with Craig Ferguson's show. So, no I don't think it's just the booze or the language. They bleep it and played with the restrictions a lot there. It's the host.

[StatisticalOutlier]

On 10/28/2017 at 8:48 PM, Ms Lark said:

I used to like Jeff Goldblum until his BS about his super young, incredibly bendy wife. Grossed me out; clearly he's just another dirty old man with enough $$$ to keep a young woman interested in that sort of thing (i.e., $$$) around. Lost me as a fan right then and there. Stop talking, Jeff! Ewww.

I find him entertaining, and absent other information, I assume his wife is with him, and having children with him, voluntarily.

It occurred to me that he's been married to two Olympic athletes.  That can't be very common, especially if you're not an athlete yourself.

Jack Whitehall is a very pleasant looking man.  At the end, when they were moving the camera down the couch as Graham thanked the guests, it was startling to go from Whitehall's baby-smooth skin and beautifully coiffed hair to a grizzled Gerard Butler.

[dubbel zout]

Nit pick: Geena Davis was an Olympic hopeful; she didn't make it to the Games as a part of the U.S. archery team. 

[meep.meep]

How soon they forget.....Gerard Butler was the Phantom of the Opera

It's possible that he has never said no to any job

[StatisticalOutlier]

On 11/16/2017 at 3:24 PM, dubbel zout said:

Nit pick: Geena Davis was an Olympic hopeful; she didn't make it to the Games as a part of the U.S. archery team. 

Not picking a nit, man.  Thanks for the correction.