I read a piece similar to this in The Word recently. I agree, it's a weird that comedians are the new face of light entertainment. Then again, they were the old face. I totally buy Tony Robinson as the host of Time Team. It works. Even if his entre into doco was dubious, being 'the history guy' in religious doco because of his 'history' connection via Blackadder. The thing to remember about Tony Robinson is that he was a light entertainment guy before he broke through on Who Dares Wins, and even that was a lucky break for someone a half-generation older than that period's graduating class of the OxBridge Mafia. And he wasn't of the OxBridge Mafia.
I love Michael Palin hosting travelogues. Partly because he took the piss out of them so well, being Brian Norris in the Brian Norris's Ford Popular sketch, was Reg Pither in Reg Pither's Cycling Holiday sketch, was Scott of the Sahara in the Scott of the Sahara sketch… and everyone took the piss out of Alan Whicker in the Whicker Island sketch. But I also think he has the right mix of intelligence and humour. And yes, I think it's important in such a role of discovery and revelation. It's akin to the 'innocent abroad' genre so prevalent in stand-up and written comedy.
As for Stephen Fry - a polyglot and the closest thing to a renaissance man in modern media - I criticise the Fry in America series for everything other than Fry. It packs too much into too few episodes. It doesn't always reveal the kind of stuff you'd expect from someone as clever and knowledgeable as Fry. Still. What if it were hosted by some Big Brother reject? Or a talentless pop star? (A talented pop star I'd have hosting any day.)
So. I'd agree that it'd be a shame to employ career-fallow aging comedians if they weren't good at what they do. But I actually like what these guys do - in the case of Fry, a bit more than I like the forum for doing it.
ianboxcutter
· 4 months ago
I agree with the Fry in America documentary. He spent several weeks or months going around all of the states in America, and got only six hours of show out of it? It would have been brief at twice as long!
Then again, I have the book, and even there, he spents only a few pages on each state. It strikes me as a grudging way of making his trip tax-deductible.
On another subject, May I Recommend.
There's a new space opera that's becoming quite watchable. Keep an eye out on the interwebs for Defying Gravity.
murrayNE
· 4 months ago
Yet to watch "Fry In America", but regarding the taxi he's driving - he actually owns his own London cab, and drives it in London, so it isn't so unnatural a construct for Mr Fry.
murrayNE
· 4 months ago
Reality television rates better than documentaries because it has such a moral edge:
All Comments
I love Michael Palin hosting travelogues. Partly because he took the piss out of them so well, being Brian Norris in the Brian Norris's Ford Popular sketch, was Reg Pither in Reg Pither's Cycling Holiday sketch, was Scott of the Sahara in the Scott of the Sahara sketch… and everyone took the piss out of Alan Whicker in the Whicker Island sketch. But I also think he has the right mix of intelligence and humour. And yes, I think it's important in such a role of discovery and revelation. It's akin to the 'innocent abroad' genre so prevalent in stand-up and written comedy.
As for Stephen Fry - a polyglot and the closest thing to a renaissance man in modern media - I criticise the Fry in America series for everything other than Fry. It packs too much into too few episodes. It doesn't always reveal the kind of stuff you'd expect from someone as clever and knowledgeable as Fry. Still. What if it were hosted by some Big Brother reject? Or a talentless pop star? (A talented pop star I'd have hosting any day.)
So. I'd agree that it'd be a shame to employ career-fallow aging comedians if they weren't good at what they do. But I actually like what these guys do - in the case of Fry, a bit more than I like the forum for doing it.
Then again, I have the book, and even there, he spents only a few pages on each state. It strikes me as a grudging way of making his trip tax-deductible.
On another subject, May I Recommend.
There's a new space opera that's becoming quite watchable. Keep an eye out on the interwebs for Defying Gravity.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/13/2...