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'Never Mind The Buzzcocks' In The Press...Currently, the Wednesday night TV schedule is the most boring in the UK, unless you watch Spooks. I've never been so grateful to see pop music panel show Never Mind The Buzzocks (BBC2, 10pm) as I was yesterday evening, with Frankie Boyle as the week's guest host. Is it just me, or has the guest-host format worked wonders for Buzzcocks? I was expecting Have I Got News For You-style tedium (where they insist on making everything look amateur and distracting by keeping in outtakes of the host fluffing their lines, etc), but Buzzcocks has avoided all that redundant inanity. Has Buzzcocks survived Simon Amstell's departure? We've had eight episodes now since Amstell's departure - and the guests hosts have generally been enjoyable, if not as much of a success as they were post-Deayton on Have I Got News for You. Written by Will Dean. The Guardian, 25th November 2009 Dermot jokes of 'death threats' X Factor host Dermot O'Leary stunned a Never Mind The Buzzcocks studio audience with a string of bad-taste X Factor jokes. Written by Colin Robertson. The Sun, 16th November 2009 Jamelia, Buzzcocks, and Maxwell D's Apology Jamelia appeared on Never Mind The Buzzcocks last night and had a very odd encounter. Maxwell D, a London based MC, was star of the line up. It turns out he attempted to sell a story on Jamelia back in t'day. Written by Rob Taylor. Music.co.uk, 5th November 2009 I do quite mind the Buzzcocks actually Since Amstell left, my favourite remaining little pop show Never Mind The Buzzcocks has lost its way. Depending on the guest host it has either left you wishing for the return of Simon Amstell, or, in some drastic cases, the return of Mark Lamarr. Written by Carl Greenwood. Low Culture, 5th November 2009 This week the pop quiz is the launch pad for the manic wit of regular team captains Noel Fielding and Phill Jupitus, guest host Alex James and panellists Peter Serafinowicz, Holly Walsh, Newton Faulkner and Jessica Origliasso. That means there's a range of comic styles as divergent as this show's musical tastes usually are from the current Top 40. There's life after Simon Amstell for Buzzcocks We go behind the scenes at the comedy music quiz, where it's all "flowers and unicorns" according to Noel Fielding. Written by Priya Elan. The Guardian, 10th October 2009 The music panel show continues as Noel Fielding settles into his new role as permanent team captain opposite the immovable Phill Jupitus. Comedian Rhod Gilbert takes the guest presenter's chair tonight (replacing Simon Amstell who has now left the series). Fielding is joined by sports presenter Gabby Logan and Jeremy Reynolds from trendy electro band Hockey. Facing them is a far more intriguing line-up comprised of Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp and gravel-voiced comedian Greg Davies, who plays the angry head of sixth form in The Inbetweeners. Never Mind The Buzzcocks Review The format remains the same, with Sorry No Refunds consuming about half of the show. Usually this isn't a problem, only this time James Corden and Jupitus' team had to regurgitate jokes about Blue from 2002. The Custard TV, 5th October 2009 Pop World has never been the same since Simon Amstell left. Will Buzzcocks go the same way, particularly now it's going down the rudderless route of guest hosts? In fashioning himself into a TV personality, tonight's host, James Corden, hasn't been quite as funny as he thinks he is. Still, he made a good fist of things as a guest captain last year, and he's not the only newbie trying to impress here: achingly hip Noel Fielding is now a permanent fixture. Sharon Lougher, Metro, 1st October 2009 For those worried that they'd not seen much of James Corden on their screens recently, relax, he's back. He hosts the umpteenth return of Buzzcocks - along with Noel Fielding, who's back as a team captain. The quick-witted Simon Amstell is gone, so now it's a revolving-door host policy, with the ability to read an autocue and laugh generously at unfunny gags by Phill Jupitus the only qualifications that seem to be required. Fine, anything that keeps Mark Lamarr from clawing his way back on to our screens. Fans of the pop quiz will have been gutted by Simon Amstell's announcement he was quitting to concentrate on his live work. We hoped he was joking - but for once he was deadly serious. Simon Amstell made this pop-music panel game outrageously, unmissably funny - but he also made it his own. It was Amstell doing a comedy act, with a quiz interrupting on occasion. Now he's made the logical decision to concentrate on his own stand-up, where he won't have to weave his jokes around asking someone from GMTV questions about Climie Fisher. So Buzzcocks has been left to go down the guest-host route. First to try to follow Amstell is James Corden, co-creator of both the untouchable Gavin & Stacey and the relentlessly (and slightly unfairly) panned Horne & Corden. His appearances on panel shows so far have been more fun for him than for us, but he's naturally funny and he knows his music. Also new, but full-time, is team captain Noel Fielding of absurdist rock-star comedy duo Mighty Boosh. He should slot right in opposite Phill Jupitus, who's now in his 14th year of humming intros and picking has-beens out of line-ups. Jack Seale, Radio Times, 1st October 2009 The line-up seems to change as often as the cast of your average soap but somehow this comedy music panel game has endured. Since the show's inception in 1996, Mark Lamarr and Simon Amstell have had spells as presenter, and Sean Hughes and Bill Bailey have both taken the role of regular team captain. Only Phill Jupitus has lasted the distance. Even the tone of the show has changed over the years - particularly after Amstell took over presenting duties. He put his own quirky, irreverent and somewhat juvenile mark on the programme and when team captain Bailey quit last year he referred to the guests as "gormless indie twerps". Now Noel Fielding (of The Mighty Boosh fame) will take the captain's seat opposite Jupitus, and Amstell will be replaced by guest presenters (beginning tonight with Gavin & Stacey's James Corden). Whether the show will survive after such a flurry of changes remains to be seen. Although Buzzcocks has long since left the illusion of improvisation behind, it has certainly become much "trendier" in recent years and, thanks mostly to the wit of Amstell and Jupitus, it has remained entertaining. Now one must hope that Jupitus can carry on that tradition alone. Joining the teams this week are the potentially dull Tom Clarke of indie band The Enemy and singer Paloma Faith but fortunately actor/comedians Ben Miller and Janeane Garofalo should help keep the proceedings lively. Noel Fielding joins Never Mind the Buzzcocks Never Mind the Buzzcocks also plans guest hosts including Alex James and David Walliams. Written by Leigh Holmwood. The Guardian, 14th September 2009 Noel Fielding axed as Buzzcocks captain Noel Fielding has been axed as team captain on the next series of Never Mind The Buzzcocks. The Clown Prince had been signed up as a regular on the long-running BBC comedy panel show. But when details of his drug taking emerged over the weekend, Beeb top brass withdrew the offer. Written by Gordon Smart. The Sun, 17th August 2009 It's a battle royal between the '50s throwback and the curly-haired upstart, but which of them has been the best presenter of Never Mind The Buzzcocks? Channel Dave, 12th August 2009 Former Ordinary Boys singer Preston says he wishes he hadn't walked out of BBC TV pop quiz 'Never Mind The Buzzcocks' in 2007. While a new series of The Mighty Boosh seems a dim and distant prospect, Noel Fielding has landed another plum TV job. The Clown Prince will be a team captain on the next series of pop quiz Never Mind The Buzzcocks. The Sun, 7th August 2009 How to put the buzz back in Buzzcocks There's an obvious way to fix BBC's floundering pop quiz, Never Mind the Buzzcocks. And her name is Josie Long. Written by Stuart Heritage. The Guardian, 20th July 2009 Top 5 most memorable Buzzcocks guests Some have been funny, some confused and some simply drunk. But all have suffered at the tongue of baby-faced assassin Simon Amstell... UKTV Dave, 7th July 2009 Simon Amstell has quit Never Mind The Buzzcocks. The comic says he wants to concentrate on his live stand-up after three years in the chair - in a move that is said to have shocked BBC bosses. Written by Sara Nathan. The Sun, 25th April 2009 Who was the best guest team captain? A review of Davina McCall, Mark Watson, Dermot O'Leary and Omid Djalili. Written by Celine Bijleveld. The Guardian, 12th December 2008 Skinner and Dee - funny men at work Dee did his bewildered, world-weary thing perfect well, although it could have been genuine - and frankly was not unreasonable given his team mates. The combination of the comedian, pop singer Stine B and TV presenter Anna Richardson was not a comfortable one. At one point, Richardson said she felt like Dee was her dad at a wedding. Yes, I imagine he did too. Overall, Skinner took a workmanlike approach to the show. He proved to be a decent captain and, most importantly, helped turn the show into more of an ensemble piece - something that's been lacking since Bill Bailey's departure. Let's hope whoever gets the gig has that skill in spades. Written by Celine Bijleveld. The Guardian - Organ Grinder Blog, 14th November 2008 Never Mind The Buzzcocks has lost its edge With the loss of Bill Bailey this once-reliable panel show has suffered an apparently terminal crisis of confidence. Written by James Wignall. The Guardian, 7th November 2008 Tidy performance from James Corden Last night it was Gavin and Stacey star James Corden. And at the risk of sticking my neck out, the pop quiz may have found the perfect team captain. Written by Celine Bijleveld. The Guardian, 31st October 2008 Never Mind the Buzzcocks: What happens with Vegas He was immediately on form - by which I mean funny, not ridiculous. And it wasn't long before he was over-sharing in his trademark, slightly uncomfortable way. Written by Celine Bijleveld. The Guardian, 24th October 2008 Never Mind the Buzzcocks: Bob Mortimer Mortimer might be the first serious contender for Bill Bailey's captaincy and his sweet demeanour, mixed with occasional amazement of how ridiculous this quiz really is, could make him a hit. However, his reluctance to show off any musical prowess could turn him into Amstell's stooge, which I'd hate to see happen to such a respected entertainer. Written by Celine Bijleveld. The Guardian, 17th October 2008 The show was a belter. The audience screeched with joy on discovering Stephen was to be this week's guest captain. We recorded for two and a half hours and the mood stayed buoyant and convivial throughout. Simon had some very nice "fake brainy banter" material which Stephen played along with. Written by Phill Jupitus. The Guardian - Organ Grinder Blog, 10th October 2008 First night: Never Mind the Buzzcocks Last night kicked off with super-producer Mark Ronson in the hot seat. He was a perfectly good guest on the last series as I recall, so my hopes were high. He clearly took the responsibility seriously but this seemed to hamper his performance if anything. By his own admission, he was incredibly nervous and that's hardly surprising given the number of references to the absent Bailey - one of which culminated in an Amstell-Jupitus dance routine that's burned on to my retina, despite the fact I was watching through my fingers. Written by Organ Grinder Blog. The Guardian, 3rd October 2008 Bill Bailey to leave Never Mind the Buzzcocks A news article announcing that comedian Bill Bailey was leaving the music panel show after 11 series. Written by Leigh Holmwood. The Guardian, 18th September 2008 Why I Hate...Never Mind the Buzzcocks Never Mind the Buzzcocks has been masquerading as comedy for more than ten years, and a brow-furrowing 21 series. They'd be better off sticking Phill Jupitus and Bill Bailey on a sofa with a couple of pints and letting them discuss 30 minutes of archive pop videos. That's where the value of the show is. Everything else is fulfilling some desperate criteria to appeal to the 15-25 demographic, while forgetting about what actually makes good telly. Written by Rhodri Marsden. The Radio Times, 13th February 2008 Since Simon Amstell took over, Never Mind The Buzzcocks is actually funny. Peter Robinson heads behind the scenes to find out why... Written by Peter Robinson. The Guardian, 10th November 2007 Why I Love... Never Mind the Buzzcocks Amstell's influence on the questions has also been quick to take hold. 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, is no ordinary boy. The Radio Times, 27th March 2007 My night on Never Mind the Buzzcocks An interview with Ed Seymour who was drafted in to fill the vacant seat when Samuel Preston walked off the show. BBC, 14th February 2007 Singer Preston storms off TV quiz The news article reporting that Ordinary Boys frontman Samuel Preston has walked out of the recording. BBC, 11th January 2007 |
