Review of the review of the year
Ooh.
This could have been the Blogless Day. I had to record a TV show this evening. It was me, John Bishop, Jason Manford, Jenny Eclair and host Philip Schofield. For me and probably many of you, Schofield is one of these people who you grow up watching on TV and would probably be pretty happy with your entire life if you ended up meeting. I’ve now met him twice this year, once in my first TV outing of 2010 (‘This Morning’, before the days of this blog) and once in my last. Got to be pretty happy with that. He’s ever so nice, as well. He and Dawn French, over the next couple of weeks, have been excellent examples of People I’ve Met Who You Assume Are Nice And Then They Actually Are Nice Thankfully (PIMWYAANATTAANTs, as I believe they’re known). They might well be up for some kind of awards in the Watson Awards I might or might not end up having on the blog before the end of the year.
It was a fairly nerve-racking affair though, because Jason and John are much slicker comedians – not saying they’re better (optimism, optimism) but they’re the sort of people you tune in to watch on television and think ‘those chaps in suits look like they know what they’re doing’. Whereas my schtick is more ‘that man, not in a suit, looks as if he doesn’t know what he’s doing, but phew, he’s getting away with it’. And that is why I’m less likely to be on ITV1 than Jason and John, as a rule. I did wear a suit, though. A grey suit with a pink shirt. You couldn’t make this shit up.
Anyhow, my contribution was a fairly shambolic affair as usual, but once it’s reduced to a nice little bit on TV, it should hopefully look quite nice. It’s on telly on the 21st, I think. There were a couple of jokes you might recognise from previous shows, if you’re the sort of person who pays attention to my efforts, which luckily many of you are. But there were some new ones, as well.
The car home took longer than I expected, and my phone is once again in a ‘nope, can’t help you’ sort of mood (its ability to post blogs or not post them fluctuates like some sort of prima donna’s stage confidence), and, well, all in all I started to fear I was going to have to turn to the Emergency Bloggers once more. And I don’t really want to do that more than once in a while. But this looks like being another happy ending. Sorry to do this to you, so close to Christmas. I’ve not checked Twitter but I bet a few hardy souls are watching the clock. If it’s any consolation, there’ll probably be even closer calls around the festive period. Why do we all put ourselves through it, eh? Because it’s fun. Hopefully. Hmm. Thanks for waiting worriedly to read/reading this a long while later and not understanding what the fuss was about.
Posted by Tibbs on January 26, 2011
It’s always nice meeting people and finding they are in fact as nice as they seem. I had quite a few of these moments recently (you, Dara Ó Briain, Robin Ince, Chris Addison; all so nice!).
And having now seen John and Jason’s parts of the show as well as yours (although sadly Phillip Schofield’s bits don’t seem to be on youtube), I can easily say that I found yours the funniest, although my sense of humour is skewed towards less polished comedy anyway.
Posted by Kate B on December 14, 2010
I can’t really imagine in you in black suite with a white shirt… I don’t know why, I think I just always imagine you in jeans and a t-shirt
Looking forward to seeing the pink shirt though!
Posted by Aislinn on December 14, 2010
My friend Alex calls his car Philip Schofield because it’s a silver fox.
That will be all.
Posted by Ally on December 13, 2010
I love your use of acronyms. I shall be looking forward to trawling the internet to find somewhere to watch this show!
Posted by Ingrid on December 13, 2010
I love Dawn French! The watson awards is definitely a good idea.
I like your more casual dress. The suit is over rated. First thing i thought when i saw you was ‘cool shoes!’ followed by ‘this guy is funny, how come ive never seen him before?’. I like your slight randomness, its far more entertaining. x
Posted by Anna on December 13, 2010
Glad Philip Schofield is as nice as he seems- I wanted to marry him when I was 8…
Posted by Lydia on December 13, 2010
I’m glad that Philip Scofield and Dawn French are nice.
I think sometimes when people are “slick” or whatever they sound kind of over scripted and annoying. I like your shambles, lol.
I like the idea of Watson awards, I think they sound fun.
Posted by lora on December 13, 2010
It’s reassuring to know that Philip Scofield is just as nice in person as he seems on TV. I’m sure I’ll enjoy your little bit on the telly when it airs. Also on the twitter front, I thought it was a relatively calm blog watch last night
Posted by LB on December 13, 2010
I like the fact that you talk about P.Schofield and D.French in the same terms that I assume most of us who read your blog talk about you (PIMWYAANATTAANT). It’s nice, that’s all.
Posted by BeastiePsy on December 13, 2010
As already stated by a few folks above, John & Jason may be slicker, but that often feels like they’re more ‘scripted’ than you. We all know that certain comedians appear on these panel shows and use mostly material from their live shows, but you fly by the seat of your pants. More than many, anyway. And that makes you more interesting. More variable perhaps, too, but surely that’s the fun? Spontaneity. Which flys in the face of your confessed self-consciousness. See, you’re living the dream! ;o)
Posted by Rachael on December 13, 2010
Phew, It would be crushing news if Phillip wasn’t as lovely as he seems.
I wouldn’t bother buying tickets for John or Jason but I will be seeing you tonight so you must be better than them.
Posted by MusicalLottie on December 13, 2010
I have to be honest, I think you’re probably a much better comedian than those who look ‘slicker’ because you’re able to be much more flexible than them. It’s possible they’re capable of it too, but the fact that you do just completely go with the flow and be very funny no matter what happens, shows that you are indeed a very competent comedian. Plus your honesty and openness are a major part of why we like you!
Posted by Deanna on December 13, 2010
PIMWYAANATTAANTs
Is that a Welsh word?
Posted by Alot of rachels on December 13, 2010
they telly show looks good and will keep my eyes peeled for it.
the awards sound like thy could be fun but would need lots f categories to keep lots of people happy and in the run to win something
Posted by Tracey on December 13, 2010
Hi Mark. I’ll certainly be keeping a look out for that show, pleased you had such a good time meeting everyone. It’s always good when people you meet live up to expectations. Take care, Tracey x
Posted by JontyLarr on December 13, 2010
Definitely do the Watson Awards. Those kinda things are always fun.
Posted by Madeleine on December 13, 2010
English TV always sounds so interesting and exotic to me… If there’s a man in a suit on TV here, he’s probably talking about finance, immigrants or trying to sell life insurance. Which I don’t like, because it’s yet another reminder that with all our ipods and twitters, we haven’t yet irradicated death. “They can put a man on the moon, but they can’t halt the slow and inevitable degradation of our bodies and minds?!”.
Glad you made it in on time, good thing about the different timezone is that I can never really tell when it gets nailbiting.
Posted by Misha on December 13, 2010
Did you tuck your shirt in though?
I think some people are just innately more shambly and untidy, which is in everyway intended as a compliment I assure you. Essaying duties ensured I was not in a panic today, but I feel as though I should have been.
Posted by Alex on December 13, 2010
Luckily I came to the Blog Watch relatively late today, which meant I didn’t have to cope for too long on the 45 minutes of sleep I managed last night. That make it sound like I was doing something interesting. I wasn’t. I was in bed, not sleeping. Having almost concussed myself on the pavement by slipping on ice a couple of hours earlier. It’s been a good 24 hours…
Posted by Josh on December 13, 2010
Now I’ve actually read it, I can assure you I’d rather let you into my house than John or Jason. I could trust you not to steal the cutlery, you see. I think that you might just not leave. I’d be fine with that though.
So yeah, live in my house.
Posted by Kathryn on December 12, 2010
There are always a few of us hardy souls watching the clock. We have blog. Life is good.
Posted by Josh on December 12, 2010
BAM, talk about the forum