This was the worst set of panel guests on Buzzcocks, EVER.
Never Mind The Buzzcocks 2008 Page 4
What? Stephen Fry? He was great. The two on the other side were fun too (admittedly only because they were 'Amstell fodder'). But, I'd agree that Cage The Elephant twat sat next to Stephen shouldn't have been on - his attention-seeking totally ruined the show.
Simon Amstell sort-of controls this show now, in a way that Lamarr didn't need to. I think it's called "ambition". (Bill surely left due to the Amstell "surge". Phil is harder to be tamed.) Seeing Stephen was a joy on this show and Josie Long contributed some really nice bon-mots. This show is always worth watching because you never know how it's going to turn out. (Miss Bill Bailey though, but am writing a potential sitcom for him - barring legal action.)
Instead of picking guests who nobody has heard of (when I say nobody I mean me obviously) I hope the show goes back to getting has-beens again before long. People like Bobby Davro or Dale Winton are far better on these shows than twattish music nobodies.
I agree with that, actually.
Quote: Johnny Green @ October 3 2008, 11:55 AM BSTAs for Simon's haircut...Why? At first I was horrified but then he turned to his left and from the side profile it looked OK, but then he turned to the camera again and I was horrified once more. Why do it to yourself Simon?
At least he knows it. His joke about it at the start of this week's show was ace.
I have to say, I particularly enjoyed this episode - the girl from Destiny's Child was surprisingly great entertainment actually. Good to see her getting into things.
As always though, they managed to book one dick - this week it was Nick Grimshaw. Reportedly from what I hear 'Grimmy' takes the award for thickest Radio 1 presenter... and that takes quite some doing as Vernon Kay works at the station too!
The show is well and truly screwed right now. Sure, Stephen Fry was good, but that isn't enough. Without Bill Bailey it is like NMTB has a lame leg. It took him and Phil to counter the damage Simon Amstell has been doing since he took over. That may be a controversial view, but it is true.
Mark Lamarr had a type of dry, intelligent style of humour that, while not very exciting, drove the show along. He would give short, but believable, rants for a short period of the show which would always be delivered with perfection (in my opinion anyway). As well as this he would feed the musical guests lines in a subtle and clever way, which would ultimately make them appear funnier than they are. He would do the same to Bailey and Jupitus, but it would allow them to deliver their brand of comedy after being provoked. He would make his guests look good, and allow the comedians to do what they do best.
Amstell, on the other hand, is much more selfish. He takes up most of the show with his rants and ramblings (the second question of the first round 12 minutes into a 30 minute show is ridiculous), which are only funny when he has someone to use it on (a Donny Tourette or someone in the same vain). However, because of those constant long-winded ramblings, no one 'vulnerable' wants to go on the show any more. Guests are now, on the most part, boring, and as a result, Amstell nitpicks every little thing he can to get him more rant time, which of course drags the heck out of the show. Amstell is determined to make it 'The Simon Amstell Show', which is i suspect is one of the reasons why Bailey left. Amstell needs someone similar to Lamarr (Someone with the same dry humour, clever bile, and sense of rhetoric. Jack Dee maybe?) to bring the show back to its former glory.
Without Lamarr and Bailey, the show cannot function properly. It has become more of a chat show than anything else now. With guests now down to the slim-pickings, i cannot see the show lasting much longer.
Quote: Daniel Ryder @ October 19 2008, 12:12 AM BSTWithout Lamarr and Bailey, the show cannot function properly. It has become more of a chat show than anything else now. With guests now down to the slim-pickings, i cannot see the show lasting much longer.
Interesting view Daniel. Whilst I agree about Bailey, I was never a Lamarr fan. Personally I think the show still has many seasons left in it - for starters, since Amstell took over, ratings are up.
The ratings is a tricky subject. If we are to delve into the figures we can't be as black and white as "This shows ratings have improved, therefore the show is better quality than it was", because there is a number of factors that contribute to the ratings. For example, since Amstell took over, BBC have clearly put a lot more effort in promoting the show.
I am not saying that it is not a better show, but nobody can say for definite that it is. I concede, however, that Amstell is much, much more popular than Lamarr was. Even I liked Amstell in his first run as NMTB presenter. I can say with 100% certainty that the mainstream like a celebrity to get a good roasting, which is what the show is built on. Amstell does it at a greater extreme than Lamarr did, which is one of the reasons why he is more popular; he comes across more daring. As I said though, while it is popular, I honestly see it as something harmful to the show. I am not an expert though, so I could be wrong. It is something to think about though.
I liked today's.
Rhys Darby!
He's hot in real life!
I didn't know!!!
He looks like someone I used to work with. Offputting.
Quite a good episode though. Vegas was probably the highlight for me, although the McFly kid's tattoos were quite amusing too.
Quote: zooo @ October 23 2008, 10:30 PM BSTI liked today's.
Rhys Darby!
He's hot in real life!
I didn't know!!!
He's *so* hilarious! My mum loves him.
He is bloody brilliant. 
Jonny Vegas was the highlight although it was nice to see Murray looking quite normal.
The joke Vegas made about his Dad hitting his mum was brilliant.
This week's episode was very good especially Johnny Vegas who TBH I didn't have high hopes for but he was great as was Rhys Darby and Danny Dyer. Poor Harry Judd was picked on by Simon though writing 'a tattoo' on your arms is probably asking for a piss take.
I love Simon but I wish he would cut down on interviewing the guests as it's a comedy quiz and not a chat show.