Parkinson

I saw this show on BBC America and I must say it is a fun show to watch. The host isn't particularly funny, but the guest just go off into humorous tangents with their own little anecdotes You don't have to be British to enjoy it so I suggest you catch.

Watched him since the 70's, always polite , draws guests out like no other, the only one Oprah would go on!he is the grand daddy of them all.His kind,gentle but probing manner puts his guests at there ease and in doing so they give more, the feeling is more of "old pals" chatting to each other than the stereotype chat show interview that seems to aim at "tripping up" the guest. Who could forget the interviews with Muhamid Ali and Helen Mirren to name but two.His abiding interest in sports journalism helps many interviews as his anicdotes role out, and his constant support of poor George Best over the years teaches so many of us what a "True" friend is really like.

If you don't like Parkinson with Peter sellers, or Michael Caine, or Elton John you must be in a constant state of nausea suffering through illiterate morons like Fallon or seth Myers Colbert report was great but as a talk show host he is a D- Craig Ferguson was good but he's gone. Maybe you should stick to screaming hags in the audience of those old bags on the view

Parkinson could be entertaining, but he never had the charm of Johnny Carson in America. But then again, he apparently didn't believe it his job was to make his guests comfortable, but to make them uncomfortable with probing, intrusive questions. He was often paternalistic and disapproving to his female guests, which he defends as being "a man of his time." But I can tell you that women watching back in that time period also found him sexist, as when he asked a young Helen Mirren if her "attributes" (breasts) interfered with becoming a serious actress because they were distracting. I interpreted his different attitude towards women and men as simply his feeling superior to women and being intimidated by the men. One has to wonder if he has a secret hatred of women, he certainly felt he could do whatever he wanted, as the time when he kissed Lauren Bacall full on the lips because HE found her attractive. Parkinson would never be able to have a show in today's world and maybe that's a good thing.

Michael Parkinson recently moved his chat show from BBC1 to ITV as BBC1 had offered him an earlier evening slot which he refused and ITV had no problem screening it at similar times as on BBC1. It is now usually shown at around 10 to 11:15 pm on Saturdays.

He has interviewed many stars over the years including some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Some of these stars include Michael Caine, Jimmy Tarbuck, John Wayne, Bruce Forsyth, Cilla Black, Julie Walters, Bruce Willis, Anne Widdecombe, Will Smith, Samual L Jackson and Kenneth Williams. One actor I'm surprised he has not interviewed yet is Leonardo DiCaprio, but there is time yet.

I quite enjoy watching Parkinson on Saturdays, even though sometimes he has guests on that I have never heard of. Certainly better than Johnathan Ross's Friday chat show.

Long may Parky be chat show king.