The Graham Norton Effect

I only came across this a few moments ago while searching through to find out whats on, but it looks like Graham is still throwing us his american shows from across the sea, but BBC Three are catching them this time.

He disappeared from Channel 4 a few months ago and I thought he was going on to BBC One to do some sort of family entertainment show, but he's on BBC Three now doing the first of about thirteen of the same old shows. The only difference being the name of the show and the set.

*Switches telly off*

Does anyone have any info on when he will be starting on BBC One, or is Three as far as he'll get?

Also... the Graham Norton "effect" wore off me long ago, has he lost his way? Are people switching off when he comes on? And do we really need more of the same?

Well, I liked it from the start, but it got rushed towards the end. The thing is because the British wit isn't well received with the American audience, it makes the show less enjoyable then what it should be. Loved the bit with the doll in the bar, classic. Will definatly be watching next week.

digiperson

Graham Norton normally does a good job but I tuned into the first few minutes of the programme and I thought....hhhmmm...I've seen this before somewhere!

There is 2 classic things wrong with The Graham Norton Effect:-

1. It's a programme that doesn't seem to "feel right" being on the BBC, even if it is on BBC3.
2. It's a programme that doesn't seem to feel right at 9.10pm at night on a Saturday.

If it was on at 10.00pm on Channel 4, well it would be great! But you would have thought that the BBC, by poaching Graham, they would have tried out something new with him from the start, instead of showing a very similar programme that we all loved on Channel 4.

And because they have not done this, it all seems a bit stale to me.

Before I spiel, I'll say I don't know the situation for sure.

Isn't it the case that the Graham Norton Effect has been commissioned primarily for American television rather than us Brits? Assuming this IS the case, is it not just the situation that the BBC have picked it up for BBC Three rather than Channel 4 taking it as usual? This would explain why the format hasn't really changed.

Bravo! The Graham Norton Effect is not a BBC creation but is in fact made by the US network Comedy Central. The programme is to all intents and purposes that which we saw on Channel 4 however this version is more tailored to an American audience, IMHO the differences seem mionr though.

Yes this was originally comissioned for Comedy Central over in the US, most commonly known to us Brits for South Park.

Since Norton moving to the BBC, the Beeb have had first pic on anything produced by Norton's indie company, which I believe this is. Hence the BBC picked it up to keep Norton on the BBC.... Or I suppose BBC Three picked it up, but you get the idea.

Stu

I know that, but you would have thought the BBC would have put one of their own created shows on for Graham first rather than showing an Americanised V Graham Norton, which should really be on Channel 4.

It doesn't seem right to me.

I'm sure they would if they could of done, but he is over in the US at the moment filming ...Effect! We are only 5-6 weeks behind the US with this show.

Stu

Ok. San Francisco is the gay capital of the world. But every bus I took there a few weeks back had a BIG poster of his turely on the side.

The problem with Graham Norton is - his jokes are too repetitive and involve pretty much the same content. Add to this being on every night and it's a bore.

I used to really like him, but like somebody mentioned, we've seen it all before!

Also only caught the last ten minutes of the show on BBC3.

It felt like any minute Graham was about to break out in frustration screaming at the audience; "this so boooooring - you guys are just not getting it - I make the jokes around here, not you!"
What works in UK I don't reckon works in the US at all.
The bit about sex sounds was just so tried - it's like Jerry Springer et al have done it all before.

And his monologue at the end just got so smutty. And when he swore it wasn't bleeped. The "oooh matron!" innuendo just doesn't work in the States and when we get down to bad jokes about Islam it's just all So! done before.

Yawn....

So, was reading today that the BBC payed somewhere around £5m to procure the services of Mr Norton.

However, they have no format or programme for him. In fact the only thing in the pipeline is a Sound of Music special to be screened at Christmas.

Now, where is the public service remit in that ? Acquiring the services of a popular "talent" and keeping him off screens, and away from the commercial opposition.

I guess some would argue that IS a public service. However, I think that £5m might have been better spelt elsewhere, and left Norton with his unusually shaped vegetables and webcams on C4.