Sunday 22 November

BLOGS

blogCategory
Previous
Back to blog
Next

Why I Love...Never Mind the Buzzcocks

Phill Jupitus, Simon Amstell, Bill Bailey
  • Posted at 5:37pm
  • 27 March 2007
  • by ChrisSkeat-RT
  • 25 comments

I never really used to watch this show much, even though I think "confused hippie/part troll" Bill Bailey's a comedy legend. The problem was the presenter Mark Lamarr. He was just too annoying.

Dubbed the "cheeky cockney 1950s throwback" by Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, as far as I could see he was more of a self-obsessed, cheeky, cocky prat. He had an infuriating way of interrupting guests when they were humming songs for fellow contestants to identify. It was just plain irritating.

But now there's a new kid on the block. You may recognise him from Channel 4's Popworld. And if you've never seen him before you might mistake him for a schoolboy who's got lost in Shepherd's Bush on his way to interview Alan Yentob for a media studies GSCE.

He's called Simon Amstell. And Amstell, as we all know, is a well-known Dutch lager beer, which makes him pretty damn cool in my book (even if it's spelt slightly differently). Judging by his keen sense of levity, perhaps Amstell Light would be a more apt name.

He has a lateral-thinking, quirky sense of fun and is known for not necessarily respecting recording artists as much as they may want. He's the perfect host for a show that's infamous for its scathing, provocative digs at the pop industry.

While he was an interviewer on the aforementioned Popworld, for instance, he conducted a meeting with R&B singer Lemar titled Lemar from Afar, during which he asked questions by shouting through a megaphone, standing in a car park.

For the first Buzzcocks instalment, Amstell's introduction was: "Hello there, and welcome to a brand-new series. To make sure the tone of the show remains the same, I've got some jokes that Mark Lamarr left for me. Chris Moyles - he's a bag of s***." It was an unerring start.

And he got progressively better. I loved the way he teased BBC London presenter Vanessa Feltz. For a man who's gay by his own admission he was a great flirt, and had the ability to keep her "on side" all the way through.

Amstell's influence on the questions has also been quick to take hold. In one edition there was a section called Diva or Beaver (or was it perhaps interior designer Naomi Cleaver?). It had Amstell's trademark caustic wit stamped all over it.

Another thing he does well is prepare for each show. When ornithologist and former Goodie Bill Oddie guested, Simon had assembled a selection of bird drawings for him to identify, the joke being they had a rude Latin name. When Oddie guessed this it just made the exchanges funnier. And I really hope he thought up the classic: "Oily, bouncy and bloated, Jordan's third favourite t*t - it's Peter Andre."

He also caused singer and ex-Celebrity Big Brother housemate Preston to storm off one show in disgust after reading an extract from his wife Chantelle Houghton's autobiography, apparently in an insulting way. Or maybe Preston was just too embarrassed to continue. Blimey - how sensitive can some of these indie rockers get?

Mark Lamarr's style contrastingly comes across as lazy in retrospect. His own ego fooled him into thinking he was funny just because he turned up.

Simon Amstell, unlike Preston, he's no ordinary boy.

Link to this post
Post a comment | 25 comments

Comments

  • Posted on 12 February 2009
  • at 11:33am
  • by Craig Haydon

Why have they let Simon Amstell leave buzzcocks, he is such a fresh approach to the show and very very funny, bring back amstell and buzzcocks a.s.a.p

  • Posted on 06 January 2009
  • at 11:55am
  • by Stefstef

i cant believe how right you are.. i hated mark lamaar. all he did was call people b******s. since simon we have had preston walk out, tourette get made to look like an utter idiot and all the other hilarious jokes.. i love simon. he's made the show!!!!

  • Posted on 27 November 2008
  • at 9:57pm
  • by The Truth

WHAT????? Please. the show is complete and utter crap since Amstell started. BRING BACK LEMARR!!!!! Lemarr was a genious, Amstell is a pretentious t**t. All Amstells jokes are pre conceived and written down he isnt funny or original and why does he repeat the same joke over n over n over n over. i HATE amstell. whats wrong with you people commenting? you must all be kids to find amstells puerile chatter near anything remotely funny. BRING BACK LEMARR!!!!!!!

  • Posted on 27 November 2008
  • at 9:35pm
  • by alishabowers7590

we love buzzcocks

  • Posted on 26 November 2008
  • at 5:58pm
  • by Tom

Nevermind The Buzzcocks is awesome! Easily the best panel show on tv! Its too bad Bill Bailey has quit! I love that guy! Any idea who's gonna be replacing him? I'd love to see Rich Hall take up the chair! He is hilarious!!

  • Posted on 24 November 2008
  • at 10:35am
  • by georgina & helen!

never mind the buzzcocks is amazing ;)

  • Posted on 13 November 2008
  • at 12:17pm
  • by jodes

I LOVE SIMON AMSTELL! :D

  • Posted on 11 November 2008
  • at 10:04pm
  • by Tom

Whats up with Simon at the moment?

The shows are still hilarious but he seems nervous about loosing his job or being taken off air? and a while back he even mentioned viewing figures? I think he is far funnier than 50's throw back Mark Lamaar, but has the shows format kind of staled? do they need new games to bring in new people.

Don't get me wrong I love and wouldn't change it for the world, but is the general viewing public looking for something different, does it need to move out of obscure 60's 70's stuff and into some what will be now obscure 80's 90's stuff for 'the kids of today'

  • Posted on 06 November 2008
  • at 7:42pm
  • by Cosmic Jam

I know its going back a bit but MikePapo doesnt think the two captains have musical ability, Jupitus has done music before and has he never seen Bill Bailey play the guitar or keyboards, that man is a f***in genius. Anyway lets leave buzzcocks as it is for now, i hope it doesnt change for years, and Lemarr was brilliant in his stint as host. Its all good, one of the best progs on tv EVER.

  • Posted on 16 October 2008
  • at 11:03pm
  • by emma

I just think Simons alot funnier. He doesnt take himself too seriously. Simons too cute to stay mad at haha :)

  • Posted on 02 October 2008
  • at 8:02pm
  • by !

Mark Lemar was much better.

  • Posted on 02 October 2008
  • at 6:53pm
  • by Juliette

I quite liked Lamarr, Jupitus is great, Bill is my hero - and I just wish Amstell wasn't gay, what a waste!

  • Posted on 29 September 2008
  • at 9:02pm
  • by jordan-rae

well i dont care who does it but i c mark lamaar at the bootsale at waltham abby!! a.k.a. upshire!!

  • Posted on 21 September 2008
  • at 9:58pm
  • by David A

It's a shame Mark Lamaar is so insecure he has to post a comment about himself. If I am not mistaken at 4.14 on the 28 March 2007!

It is obvious, that that Simon Amstell has an original talent. His comments are clever, cutting. Mark Lamarr was a bad cut out of Simon Amstell!

  • Posted on 10 December 2007
  • at 2:55pm
  • by CeCe_babyx

i love nevr mind the buzzcocks and think that both Mark andSimon are brillant hosts. Mark was cocky and arrogant which was very funny and Simon is more mean and sarcastic!! either way i still enjoy watching both old and new episodes and i hope it lasts for a long time

  • Posted on 22 November 2007
  • at 9:15am
  • by mikepapo

Here's an idea... let's have Amstell & Lamarr co-present the show, a la Mortimer and Reeves? I suspect the sparks would really fly!

And I'm sorry, boys and girls, but it's time to retire Phil 'n Bill... not because they're twice the age of everyone else on the show, but because they're old-school traditional standups.

Someone with musical ability, brains and proven improv talent... and cheeky... maybe Josie Lawrence and another from the illustrious "Whose Line is It Anyway?" hall of fame?

  • Posted on 28 March 2007
  • at 4:16pm
  • by Guest100

In my opinion, and having watched many of the old nevermind the buzzcocks episodes on UK G2, mark lamar was hilarious in how sarcastic and arrogant he was - that was his humour, being viciously cold against people who i don't happen to be a fan of. Having said that, i think simon amstell is an equally if not more hilarious comedy hero, and i still watch the programme every week.

  • Posted on 28 March 2007
  • at 4:15pm
  • by Guest100

Further to anonymous's comment, Chris Skeat also lets himself down by not acknowledging that almost all gay men are great flirts, particularly with more outgoing ladies such as Vanessa Feltz.

  • Posted on 28 March 2007
  • at 4:15pm
  • by Guest100

I admit to being a little nervous after Mark left the show. I couldn't think of anyone at the time to rival his sarcastic and venomous wit.

Once I heard that it was going to be Simon Anstell, I knew that the show was in safe hands. I've followed him since the Popworld days and feel then as I do now: he is one of those characters who I feel we don't see enough of. I personally think he's the funniest person on television at the moment, in his own unique style.

Now, can we get rid of Phill Jupitus I wonder? If ever there was a man who tries too hard to be funny…

  • Posted on 28 March 2007
  • at 4:14pm
  • by Guest100

Mark Lamaar is much better. Amstell is more annoying because he thinks he's funny, Mark Lamaar made the show funny and his cheekiness is an asset. I think the show has lost it now, much prefer Mark Lamaar.

  • Posted on 28 March 2007
  • at 4:14pm
  • by Guest100

It's true…Amstell shows up Lamarr for everything he wasn't. But Chris Skeat, you let yourself down in this piece by using such a cack turn of phrase like 'a man who's gay by his admission'. Would you stop and think for a moment? Would you write 'a man who's Jewish by his own admission'? What 70s rubbish.

Amstell's queerness is as much and as little a part of his character as it should be. He's everything the vile Graham Norton is not.

Simon Amstell a real hero of the lavender revolution!

  • Posted on 28 March 2007
  • at 4:13pm
  • by Guest100

I agree, Amstell is a legend!

  • Posted on 28 March 2007
  • at 4:13pm
  • by Guest100

Simon Amstell has revived our flagging interest in the programme. His quick wit and brand of humour is exactly what it needed. Mark who?...

  • Posted on 28 March 2007
  • at 4:13pm
  • by Guest100

I agree with Chris, Mark Lamarr was extremely annoying & very arrogant. Now that Mark has gone, I now tune in to watch the show on a more regular basis, keep it up Simon!

  • Posted on 28 March 2007
  • at 4:12pm
  • by Guest100

Mark Lamaar made the show, he was the show! That 70's style skinny kevin keegan lookalike is just a poor replacement. The show would have been better keeping with the guest presenters.

Post a comment

Do you have something to say about this post? Share your thoughts…

Post a comment

(first or nickname only)

Please do not include any personal or personally identifiable information about yourself or others (including email addresses). All information you submit about yourself or others can be viewed by others.

Thank you for your comment

Thank you for your comments. All comments will be looked at by a moderator, however, due to the numbers of comments we receive, we can't promise that all will be posted on the site.

Post another comment

More


Advertisement