TV Cream

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Parkinson

ONCE UPON a long ago, this was the finest chat show of them all, helmed by a man who was very much “one of us” albeit with an address book that boasted the phone numbers of the greatest stars in the world. Raconteurs, conversationalists, learned specialists, Hollywood legends, articulate politicos, inspirational artists, genius musicians: they all took a turn strolling down the steps to take their seat on Parky’s raised brown daius. Then the man fucked off to TV-am on the promise of loads of money, got sacked, did ALL-STAR SECRETS and GIVE US A CLUE, moaned a lot, did some gardening, went to Australia loads of times and finally revived this, to no great acclaim in the late 90s, whereupon he revealed himself to have become a) a grouch b) a fogey c) a sycophant d) prone to slagging off anyone who wasn’t “a journalist” e) the most boring man on the planet. Defection to the other side sealed his fate, where he spent a few insufferable seasons playing host to ITV Z-list celebrities, before bowing out to spend more time with his biography. Which he’s writing himself, of course, because he’s “a journalist”.

12 Comments

12 Comments

  1. Glenn Aylett

    June 20, 2009 at 7:07 pm

    Brilliant chat show host on the television, regarded as the master of his craft. Bravely came out and attacked the cult of Jade Goody by saying she wasn’t a real celebrity and was a forgettable reality show contestant, or something similar, which had the readers of HEAT magazine up in arms and everyone else nodding in agreement. Unlike Jade Goody, Parky has actually achieved something and done something interesting like interview Peter Ustinov.

  2. Mr Angry from Purley

    June 20, 2009 at 10:30 pm

    This is a disgusting comment. Leave the poor girl alone. She’s dead and can’t bother you any more.

  3. Mr Sensible from Kent

    June 21, 2009 at 1:39 am

    I don’t find it disgusting. The comment isn’t abusing the sadly late Ms Goody, but commenting on the reaction to Parkinson’s critique not of Goody but of the ‘cult of celebrity’ built up around her. I would have thought any genuine compassion for Jade Goody’s memory would extend to agreeing with Parkinson’s condemnation of the vulture-like media frenzy that exploited and ‘commemorated’ the tragedy of her death, even to the extent of one magazine publishing a memorial issue BEFORE Goody had died.

    I find THAT disgusting, and the point being made above is surely that people reacted not to what Parkinson said on the matter, but to an inflammatory reduction of his words. If people are offended by the undeniable fact that Jade Goody was famous – and therefore mourned – only because she amused people by being the butt of spiteful commentary on a highly-rated television programme, then they need to bite the bullet a bit, I think. Compassion is a virtue, but ought to be consistent, not doled out on spurious grounds as some sort of retroactive hypocrisy to evade the truth that Jade’s educational disadvantages and persona were widely mocked and even reviled prior to her life becoming an all-too-serious tragedy – even if it’s convenient for people to forget it, and their part in that, now.

  4. Glenn Aylett

    June 21, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    What Parkinson was criticising was the whole cult of celebrity that built arond Jade Goody, who was a contestant in two forgettable reality shows and the way the trashy end of the media hyped her up into someone like Mother Theresa. It’s the same thing with Kerry Katona. However, it looks like reality television bubble is beginning to burst as ratings for Big Brother are falling like a stone as people realise what rubbish this really is.

  5. I'm A Celebrity

    June 22, 2009 at 10:56 am

    Chaps chaps chaps… this is TV Cream, home of easy uncritical nostalgia! Let’s save the long-faced debates for another time.

  6. Glenn Aylett

    June 22, 2009 at 6:56 pm

    Let’s get back on topic and recall that Parkinson was also at risk of being killed by emus on his show and managed to face down a rather psycotic emu in his time and continued unruffled after his encounter such were his abilities as an interviewer.

  7. LocalYokel

    August 20, 2009 at 11:48 am

    Someone should tell him that no-one is interested in his generous offer of “a free Parker Pen just for inquiring”.

  8. Matthew Rudd

    June 23, 2010 at 10:09 pm

    Can we have a link to the We Hate Parky page put on this entry?

  9. Gavin

    October 15, 2010 at 12:37 pm

    I wonder what TV Cream has to say on Parky’s views on Russell Brand?

  10. gracol

    March 26, 2011 at 5:22 pm

    On the bright side, he did help destroy the career of Meg “Iron Face” Ryan by asking her softball questions…

  11. Tom Ronson

    March 31, 2022 at 2:26 am

    His finest moment was his participation in a sketch from Spike Milligan’s Q8, which should be easy to find on YouTube. Superb comedy from base to apex. ‘Your arm’s broken.’ ‘Keep that ten pee in place!’ ‘1979, Sir. It’s on top of all the newspapers.’ ‘It’s his own suit, watch out.’

    On a more serious note, Parky was a huge fan of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, and had them on the show numerous times – yet he’s dismissed the Derek and Clive recordings as unworthy of their vast talents, which just shows what a pretentious bore he really is.

  12. Richardpd

    August 27, 2023 at 5:00 pm

    RIP Parky, are we going to get an obituary feature sometime?

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