American Guest Stars

Not to be rude but where exactly do you think the UK is that we wouldn't have "big" US stars on our shows or know who they are? Stars have been coming to London for years and we've been watching US TV for decades along with our own produced shows.

Let's be honest a chat show needs guests and a star plugging their latest project needs a chat show to promote it. The "product placement" never use to be so blatant in the UK, especially on the BBC which was famously advertising free and even had to cover up brand names on shows to safe-guard their non-adverstising agreement, but since the 80's it is obvious that publicists contact the shows in whichever town their publicity show rolls into and get their stars a five-minute slot to plug away. It is common to hear/see them on several radio and TV shows throughout a week, not really saying anything different to the previous show.

Prior to the 80s, if you watched a chat show you got a good twenty minutes with the guest talking and much more intersting chat. As to the Grhaam Norton show the format of having all three guests on throughout the show, usually with an obligatory comedian who can come in and save the day if the guests dry up or are not entertaining, offers a better alternative to the pointless, rushed five-minute chat aimed at attention deficit viewers that most shows offer. Plus when the guests relax and interact with the other guests or the audience they are often far more interesting and unstuffy.

Yes, I was amazed that "House, M.D." star Hugh Laurie was on the repeat of The Graham Norton Show that played on BBC-A the other night, as well as Twilight star, Robert Pattison. (Do they film the show in L.A.?) They were both so funny; they put on British accents and everything! Reese Witherspoon was the only one who didn't pretend to be British, but she's from the South....

There was a comedian on as well, but she couldn't pull off the accent at all - I couldn't understand a word she said. If you haven't perfected an accent, don't use it!

As for the "party-like atmosphere", like, they all had glasses of wine! OMG! It was like a mini Golden Globes!







(Even if one uses [/sarcasm] tags, or sartalics, some humor just doesn't translate well online... or does it?)

I love the way the American Stars sit down and mix with the British personalities, sometimes some very interesting combinations and interactions. At first they seem a little dazed and out of their element, but most soon get in the swing and spirit of things. Have discovered some British stars I have never heard of like Katherine Jenkins, and all of the comedians have been delightful. Especially love Jo Brand(?) and the Actress who played professor Sprout on Harry Potter. And Graham is absolutely hilarious and so skilled and witty about bringing everybody out of their shell.

From a Canadian who watches on BBC Canada

Way, way, way, way.. too, too, too... many North Americans on this show now. Fell in love with this show when it was British, outrageous and edgy. Now its just Leno, Letterman etc. What a shame the world has become so homogenized.

Note to the Yanks. Before you go ballistic, I said North Americans.

The sad life of Americans living in a glass bubble.

Embarrasses me that I don't know many of the young Brit stars, though I'm not all that knowledgeable about young US actors. Still. He picks clever and entertaining people.






"Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?"

North America's Canada and the USA have so much in common with the UK. We share so much in entertainment and music.

I know, right? The BBC must be spent with the star studded line-up last week. Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Michael Douglas, Bradley Cooper, Selena Gomez! Wow.

As a fellow Brit, I like American guest stars more as I find them more fascinating. We get used to the proverbial comedians and British actors on the show time and time and again. The American stars are coming to the UK more often now and I like that. The beeb seem to putting all their funding into the show to spite Jonathon Ross and his lacklustre line-up on ITV1.

Sometimes I cringe at the comedian's try-hard effort to make the other guests laugh, specifically the American ones who don't get the references and humour. Other than that, American guests have been on British television for years.

You should also check out Alan Carr: Chatty Man, many US actors and singers are interviewed there too.

"Stop looking at the walls, look out the window." ~ Karl Pilkington On Art