People have varying opinions about sequels.
We could have managed without “Beyond The Poseidon Adventure”, but “The Godfather Part 2” is regarded as superior to the original.
This is a sequel to last week’s admission that I find many Hollywood stars who appear on chat shows pretty much indistinguishable.
As Max Miller used to say, “Now here’s a funny thing!”, because just after I’d submitted it, I watched two chat shows from two different eras and the difference between them was immense.
On Graham Norton’s sofa, Bruce Springsteen and Bill Bailey were obviously recognisable, but the two American actresses sat between them were unknown to me.
They were all there to ‘sell’ something and Graham skilfully manoeuvred his way around them all, ensuring they were each given equal attention and nobody felt left out.
The following night I watched a 1980 Parkinson show on which Hollywood actress Kim Novak promoted the film that tempted her out of retirement, “The Mirror Crack’d”, which she mentioned briefly.
Although willing to discuss her Hollywood years, she was more interested in discussing the animals she looked after at her home in Carmel, California.
Interestingly, Kim and her contemporary Brigitte Bardot, both left acting to look after animals – as did Doris Day.
Someone should write a thesis on this trait!
Kim (still with us at 91) had a shortish career from choice, but will be forever remembered for Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” and ‘that’ dance with William Holden in “Picnic”, as they swayed to George Duning’s sensuous blending of his “Theme From Picnic” with “Moonglow” . . .
Trust me; it’s worth checking out on YouTube.
Another of Parky’s guests was eminent* historian AJP Taylor who had nothing to promote and was just there to talk, which he did with quiet authority.
The difference between that and the plug-fest the night before was that nobody was ‘hard selling’ anything.
*Eminent means ‘respected in their particular sphere’ so it’s unfair that historians are referred to as ‘eminent’ but plumbers and electricians aren’t.
Because when a pipe bursts or all your lights go out, you’re not going to phone for an emergency historian are you?