S22.E20: Good Guest Guide

[attica]

Quote

Graham Norton presents his very own guide on how to be a good guest with a set of easy-to-remember rules for any star thinking about appearing on the Graham Norton show. Graham uses classic clips from his back catalogue featuring the world's biggest stars to illustrate his advice. He also hears the personal thoughts of a selection of his guests on how they faced the challenge of the most prestigious sofa in television. Including Ricky Gervais, Miriam Margolyes and Dame Julie Walters.

I liked this!  I especially got a kick out of Julie Walters referring to her couch-mate as '50 pence.'

[dubbel zout]

I loved that too. As a clip show, I liked this format better than a more straightforward compilation.

[Clanstarling]

10 minutes ago, attica said:

I liked this!  I especially got a kick out of Julie Walters referring to her couch-mate as '50 pence.'

That made me laugh. Even though I'd seen all of the clips, I thought they were all still funny.  Particularly Ian McKellen's story (and imitation of) Maggie Smith, and Ben Miller's Mick Jagger story (and Michael Caine impersonation). I've seen Miriam Margolyes' story about the stranger a few too many times, I'd rather have watched her school Will.i.am, which I thought was hysterical when I saw it.

1 minute ago, dubbel zout said:

I loved that too. As a clip show, I liked this format better than a more straightforward compilation.

I thought so too.

Edited March 24, 2018 by Clanstarling

[StatisticalOutlier]

I loved this episode.  Having seen most of the clips before didn't shave off any of the hilarity this time around, and the format was a winner.  I was rolling. 

But I'd never seen the fly in the drink one, and had to re-watch Kristen Wiig's reaction a couple of times.  I love those unguarded moments.

I know Ricky Gervais isn't popular in some parts (including these, I believe), but I really like him on this show.  He's so at ease, sitting there with his hands on his belly.  The progression of the discussion of taxidermy with Tinie Tempah seemed genuine and spontaneous, like they were sitting on MY couch.  That's what I love about the show.

[Clanstarling]

12 hours ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

I know Ricky Gervais isn't popular in some parts (including these, I believe), but I really like him on this show.  He's so at ease, sitting there with his hands on his belly.  The progression of the discussion of taxidermy with Tinie Tempah seemed genuine and spontaneous, like they were sitting on MY couch.  That's what I love about the show.

I like Ricky Gervais on talk shows, when he's more or less being himself. Not a big fan of his work in general. I used to be (loved Extras), but it got a little old.

I love how, almost always, the guests have fun interacting with each other. Being lubricated helps it along. They're too tense on American talk shows.

[attica]

I really would recommend against a raglan sleeve for Graham going forward.  That sweater did him no favors.

[TexasGal]

I didn’t realize how used to Graham’s beard I’d gotten, when they showed earlier clips of him without it I was surprised for a second.

OMG, 50 Pence.  Loved it.

[Quof]

Quote

Not a big fan of his work in general. I used to be (loved Extras), but it got a little old.

The British version of The Office is infinitely better than the American version. 

[Clanstarling]

18 minutes ago, Quof said:

The British version of The Office is infinitely better than the American version. 

I deliberately left The Office out of my (one item) list because I didn't care for either version. For some reason, they never clicked for me. Maybe too close to home???

Edited March 25, 2018 by Clanstarling

[MissLucas]

Having watched insane amounts of talk show clips over the past couple of weeks (things were not good) I think what makes Graham's show such a success is the mixture of him being incredibly gracious* and being a master at orchestrating the different personalities on the couch. Which considering that he's often got some of the biggest egos in show-biz there is an amazing feat.

* I couldn't think of a better word - what I mean is that it's very, very hard to find a clip where you can see even an inkling of animosity towards a guest. He really takes the host thing seriously. I love a lot of other talk shows and their hosts but nobody does this particular aspect of the format so perfectly.

[dubbel zout]

Graham is also willing to go off the cards, where a lot of U.S. hosts stick to the script, as it were. It also helps that all the guests are usually there for the entire show, so there isn't just that five-minute segment for them to promote whatever they're promoting.

[attica]

On a shallow note, I'm going to recommend that Graham eschew raglan sleeves from future show-wardrobe. Some people's shoulders look good in them; Graham's do...not.

[StatisticalOutlier]

So what do people think of Graham's raglan sleeves?  @attica?  Any thoughts?

[Bruinsfan]

On 3/24/2018 at 6:53 PM, Clanstarling said:

 I've seen Miriam Margolyes' story about the stranger a few too many times, I'd rather have watched her school Will.i.am, which I thought was hysterical when I saw it.

The gold standard for me is her reaction to Dominic Cooper's story about accidentally exposing himself while serving customers at a coffee shop.

[attica]

"I still think it was the right thing to do!" is the line that makes that anecdote sing for me. It's an unexpected conclusion indeed.

[StatisticalOutlier]

I'll add that in the first clip they showed, Jack Whitehall is so handsome it almost takes my breath away.

[peeayebee]

I wasn't really looking forward to a compilation show, but this was fun. I enjoyed seeing Graham in something other than his flashy suits (and I didn't notice the raglan sleeves).