The bar these days, is set very low for TV chat shows. The anaemic ‘chat’ invariably amounts to little more than actors, writers and musicians promoting their latest work.
This is a terrific clip from 1971, in which two men disagree on a big topic. Apart from the fact that anyone publicly subscribing to Ali’s views would probably be crucified in 2016, what is impressive is that a remarkable man felt comfortable enough to say what he said, his interlocutor understood and responded appropriately and -amazingly- nobody in the audience appeared to faint.
It was a civilised discussion about controversial ideas; we should have more of that on the telly.
Hopefully the link will work this time:
Before I even click on that, Muhammad’s starting punk rock right there.
“I done wrestled with a alligator, you fucking rotter”
I don’t believe talk shows exist any more in the way they did in the 70s. There would be a bit of humour but a place for serious discussion. Now, it’s all humour – and mostly the guests being there as stooges for the likes of Graham N to lampoon or insult. Presumably the guests agree to come on and play that game because they have something to flog and that’s the only option these days. The only place we see the 70s style interview with people of real substance is on occasional BBC4 one-off single-person interview programmes.
Norton doesn’t really interact with the guests at all, he pretty much restricts himself to glancing at his notes then saying, ‘Guest number one, it is time for your second pre prepared anectdote please.’ There is barely even the pretence of a conversation going on.
Only when you have human hand grenades like Miriam Margolyes do yer modern day chat shows become anything more than plug fests.
It is virtually impossible when PR people working on behalf of the guest provide the producers with proscribed areas of questioning so that only the blandest probing can take place.