Sunday, December 16, 2007

National Treasure

Tonight sees the last ever Parkinson show. Students of the chatshow genre will mourn the passing of what used to be the only genuine talk show left on the telly. Not before time in my view as he'd become exactly what he hated. The reason he moved to ITV wasn't because of the money as he's as rich as Croesus but because the BBC were putting him on after Match of the Day and he couldn't stand being on the plugging circuit. He always said he let the guests run the show but recently, and despite most guests saying that they still feel they've made it by being on, the major topics revolved around a latest film, book or record. And my Mum, who loves him, complains because she's invariably fallen asleep on the couch while waiting up for the show to start. Everyone has their own favourite Parky moments and these are my personal highlights of over 35 years of watching the nation's favourite:

1 - The fight with Russell Harty after Russell touched Parky's knee. They never made up.

2 - Mao Tse-Tung doing a hilarious softshoe with Lauren Bacall to "Cheek to Cheek". What a mover!

3 - John Lennon breaking down and admitting that it was actually Ringo who wrote all his stuff.

4 - Princess Anne desperately trying to hide her raging drunkenness but still managing to call Parky a northern tosser.

5 - Tony Benn and Robert Mitchum discovering a mutual love for poteen and naturist holidays.

6 - Pam Ayres admitting she'd once auditioned for the Raymond Revuebar

7 - Parky's clipboard sliding off his lap to reveal a more than embarrassing bulge while discussing Don't Look Now with Julie Christie.

He'll be greatly missed.

6 Vegetable peelings:

Blogger Rog said...

Good, Richard. But they still don't top the one where he has an emu up his arse.

6:24 pm  
Blogger Richard said...

Actually my own favourite was the one with Sellars and Secombe in the studio and Spike phoning from Australia.

He was much better on BBC.

6:45 pm  
Blogger Tennessee Jed said...

It sounds like a good show...looks like I will never see it now.

I trust you had an enlightening hiatus, welcome back my over the pond kindred spirit brother.

12:16 am  
Blogger Unknown said...

I wish I knew who he was....

but then I feel that way about a lot of people I s'pose....

nice to have you back m'dear. I hope you're well.

4:01 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You're back! You're back!

5:30 pm  
Blogger Richard said...

Sort of, sort of!

7:18 pm  

Post a Comment

<< Home