When the host is an answer
Tonight's Pointless saw a round in which contestants were asked to name an artist who had one of the top 40 best selling albums in the UK in 2015. One contestant gave the name of none other than Pointless host Alexander Armstrong who had released an album called A Year of Songs. The answer turned out to be pointless. Armstrong was delighted to find out his album was that big a seller..
Wednesday, 18 January 2017
Forgotten comic stars
Some comedy performers after their death go on to legend status like Morcombe and Wise others seem to be forgotten for one reason or other.
Dustin Gee
After appearing on Russ Abbot's Madhouse, Gee started a partnership with Les Dennis which saw them get their own programme on BBC1. Dustin Gee died at the young age of 43 in 1986 after he collapsed when he was appearing in Panto. Gee had an number of famous admirers including Billy Connolly who told Les Dennis that he regretted never meeting him and John Cleese thought Gee's take on Basil Fawlty was the best he had seen.
Dick Emery
Emery was a superstar on the of his character and catchphrase based comedy. the most famous phrase being 'Ohh... you are awful but I like you'. Emery died in 1983, but his shows have been very rarely repeated. However you can see his influence on the likes of Harry Enfield and Harry Hill.
Mary Feldman
Feldman made his name on At Last the 1948 Show with future Pythons John Cleese and Graham Chapman and Tim Brroke-Taylor future Goodie. The show featured the famed Yorkshiremen sketch. Feldman would later star in his own BBC series to much acclaim. Feldman would later then move to Hollywood where he star in Young Frankenstein for Mel Brooks. When making the film Yellowbread with Graham Chapman Feldman died in his Mexican hotel room aged 48 in 1982. Nowadays Feldman is more known for his work for other people rather than his own material.
Some comedy performers after their death go on to legend status like Morcombe and Wise others seem to be forgotten for one reason or other.
Dustin Gee
After appearing on Russ Abbot's Madhouse, Gee started a partnership with Les Dennis which saw them get their own programme on BBC1. Dustin Gee died at the young age of 43 in 1986 after he collapsed when he was appearing in Panto. Gee had an number of famous admirers including Billy Connolly who told Les Dennis that he regretted never meeting him and John Cleese thought Gee's take on Basil Fawlty was the best he had seen.
Dick Emery
Emery was a superstar on the of his character and catchphrase based comedy. the most famous phrase being 'Ohh... you are awful but I like you'. Emery died in 1983, but his shows have been very rarely repeated. However you can see his influence on the likes of Harry Enfield and Harry Hill.
Mary Feldman
Feldman made his name on At Last the 1948 Show with future Pythons John Cleese and Graham Chapman and Tim Brroke-Taylor future Goodie. The show featured the famed Yorkshiremen sketch. Feldman would later star in his own BBC series to much acclaim. Feldman would later then move to Hollywood where he star in Young Frankenstein for Mel Brooks. When making the film Yellowbread with Graham Chapman Feldman died in his Mexican hotel room aged 48 in 1982. Nowadays Feldman is more known for his work for other people rather than his own material.
Tuesday, 17 January 2017
Pointless Theresa
During the first round of tonight's Pointless, contestants were asked to identified from a group of photographs of politicians who had lead their party in Prime Minister's question time. One offered the name of someone whose name she had heard of but did not know what they looked, Theresa May!!!
During the first round of tonight's Pointless, contestants were asked to identified from a group of photographs of politicians who had lead their party in Prime Minister's question time. One offered the name of someone whose name she had heard of but did not know what they looked, Theresa May!!!
Monday, 16 January 2017
A change for A Question of Sport?
News has emerged that A Question of Sport is reportedly is going to radically overhauled. The show has been seen failing to gain a more youthful audience so therefore changes have been demanded, with guest panelists to be picked to reflect a greater range of society. It is also rumoured that Sue Barker who has been hosting the show since 1997 taking over from the legendary David Coleman. A Question of Sport has outlasted many would be rivals like ITV's Sporting Triangles in it's nearly 50 year existence.. Perhaps the shows most famous moment came in 1987 when Emlyn Hughes during the Picture Board round thought a mud caked jockey was a man only to be told that the person in the photo was Princess Anne and that she would be appearing the next week. Whether the new look for the show pays off is a question for the future.
News has emerged that A Question of Sport is reportedly is going to radically overhauled. The show has been seen failing to gain a more youthful audience so therefore changes have been demanded, with guest panelists to be picked to reflect a greater range of society. It is also rumoured that Sue Barker who has been hosting the show since 1997 taking over from the legendary David Coleman. A Question of Sport has outlasted many would be rivals like ITV's Sporting Triangles in it's nearly 50 year existence.. Perhaps the shows most famous moment came in 1987 when Emlyn Hughes during the Picture Board round thought a mud caked jockey was a man only to be told that the person in the photo was Princess Anne and that she would be appearing the next week. Whether the new look for the show pays off is a question for the future.
Sunday, 15 January 2017
Leaking online
The final episode of the current series of Sherlock has leaked online, the episode had been shown at a preview to the press on Thursday. The incident recalls the time when the first episode of the episode of the revived Doctor Who was leaked in a smiler manner. Will the leak drive viewing figures down or will viewers tune in as always? We will find out soon.
The final episode of the current series of Sherlock has leaked online, the episode had been shown at a preview to the press on Thursday. The incident recalls the time when the first episode of the episode of the revived Doctor Who was leaked in a smiler manner. Will the leak drive viewing figures down or will viewers tune in as always? We will find out soon.
Saturday, 14 January 2017
No white up please
Sky have announced that it will not show Urban Myths:Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon a comic drama which explores the idea that after 9/11 Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson and Marlon Brando undertook a road trip from New York to Los Angles. Taylor is played by Stockard Channing and Brian Cox playing Brando. playing Jackson and the reason why the programme is white British actor Joseph Fiennes. This led to members of the Jackson family to attack the casting of Fiennes and hence the programme was dropped. Though the Jackson family really should accept that in the last years of his life Michael Jackson's facial had for whatever reason had changed drastically. So can casting directors be blamed for casting actors who in a way at least look like the person they are playing.
Sky have announced that it will not show Urban Myths:Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon a comic drama which explores the idea that after 9/11 Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson and Marlon Brando undertook a road trip from New York to Los Angles. Taylor is played by Stockard Channing and Brian Cox playing Brando. playing Jackson and the reason why the programme is white British actor Joseph Fiennes. This led to members of the Jackson family to attack the casting of Fiennes and hence the programme was dropped. Though the Jackson family really should accept that in the last years of his life Michael Jackson's facial had for whatever reason had changed drastically. So can casting directors be blamed for casting actors who in a way at least look like the person they are playing.
Friday, 13 January 2017
3 unsuccessful game show comebacks
With the news of The Crystal Maze's return it is worth noting that some shows that come back to a rather muted reaction.
The Kyprton Factor
After a 14 year gap, ITV brought back the show that tested it's contestants all around abilities. The first series stuck to the 5 rounds of the classic however the famed physical ability round saw just 2 contestants compete at a time instead of all 4. The revised show got a second series but was axed again in 2010. Host Ben Shepard would have better luck with the next game show he would host Tipping Point.
Treasure Hunt
In 2002 BBC2 screened a pilot week of episode of the one of the most definitive shows of early Channel 4 hit Treasure Hunt. With new hosts Suzi Perry and Dermot Murmagan the week did well enough to justify a full series, However in 2003 it fell victim to some erratic scheduling and viewing figures dwindled. The show was quietly axed.
It's a Knock Out
Channel 5 revived the show that saw towns compete against each other. With representative's wearing out sized customes while trying to complete a challenge. the show started off well in the ratings but after a massive decline Channel 5 axed the show in 2001.
With the news of The Crystal Maze's return it is worth noting that some shows that come back to a rather muted reaction.
The Kyprton Factor
After a 14 year gap, ITV brought back the show that tested it's contestants all around abilities. The first series stuck to the 5 rounds of the classic however the famed physical ability round saw just 2 contestants compete at a time instead of all 4. The revised show got a second series but was axed again in 2010. Host Ben Shepard would have better luck with the next game show he would host Tipping Point.
Treasure Hunt
In 2002 BBC2 screened a pilot week of episode of the one of the most definitive shows of early Channel 4 hit Treasure Hunt. With new hosts Suzi Perry and Dermot Murmagan the week did well enough to justify a full series, However in 2003 it fell victim to some erratic scheduling and viewing figures dwindled. The show was quietly axed.
It's a Knock Out
Channel 5 revived the show that saw towns compete against each other. With representative's wearing out sized customes while trying to complete a challenge. the show started off well in the ratings but after a massive decline Channel 5 axed the show in 2001.
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