I Vote for Noel Fielding!!

From the Guardian's Organ Grinder Blog:

"Never Mind the Buzzcocks: Who should replace Bill Bailey as team captain?"


"Never Mind the Buzzcocks: Bill Bailey, right, is leaving - while Phill Jupitus, left, and Simon Amstell remain. Photograph: BBC"

So, Bill Bailey is leaving Never Mind the Buzzcocks after 11 series. The show weathered the departure of original host Mark Lamarr - and has been rejuvenated by the addition of Simon Amstell, whose youth made his barbed banter seem waspish rather than curmudgeonly.

Unfalteringly funny on the show, Bailey's avuncular air, combined with his anarchic sense of humour, seemed to endear him to the younger pop stars and comedians sat alongside him. Among Bailey's highlights was this monstering of Donny Tourette - hardly an achievement in itself but well worth reliving.

The stand-in team captains for the forthcoming series are largely predictable - seasoned comics Frank Skinner, Dermot O'Leary, Jack Dee, Johnny Vegas and Bob Mortimer all seem safe pairs of hands. And while Mark Ronson is a less obvious choice it is hard to see him taking time out to stand in for a full series.

So who could replace Bailey full time - Noel Fielding? For me his three-show stint in Bailey's chair was something of a disappointment - Fielding came across as a bit too self-satisfied and there was an uncomfortable amount of truth in Amstell's dissection of the Mighty Boosh star's comic style during this verbal joust.

The Buzzcocks producers' Simon Amstell-shaped curve ball worked a treat and it would be interesting to see a similarly unexpected choice.

Comic ability and a knowledge of music are the criteria, but who fulfils them? Former Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman has the latter - but perhaps not the former (intentionally at least). He does have game show experience, though. One of the more memorable guests was Ryan Jarman of the Cribs but team captain? Perhaps not.

So who would you pick to take Bailey's place? And what were his finest Buzzcocks moments? Post your opinions below.

I definately think it should be Noel Fielding, but then again I'm a bit biased :OP

Goth Detectives Review

From thisislondon.co.uk:




"Fine and dandy: shaggy-haired Russell Brand and Noel Fielding perform their double act The Goth Detectives"

Thank Goth for the Mighty Boosh and Brand
By Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard 29.07.08

Neither are really goths, neither are really detectives, but Russell Brand and Noel Fielding triumphed as their oddly-named occasional double act last night. It was clear from the rambling start that they were distinctly underrehearsed, but as co-hosts of this fundraiser for the Focus 12 drugs rehabilitation charity that helped ex-junkie Brand kick his addictions, they were sublimely shambolic.

The main planned element saw them solving the audience's problems, which made them more like skinny-trousered agony uncles than Satan-worshipping sleuths. The idea soon petered out, though there was much more entertainment to come, most of it involving silly strutting and sarcastic wisecracks at the expense of The Lion King and YouTube and greeted by screaming more redolent of Beatlemania than comedy gigs.

All the special guests were hits too. Never Mind The Buzzcocks host Simon Amstell's mirthful misanthropy struck a chord and James Corden and Mathew Horne from sitcom Gavin and Stacey workshopped some enthusiastically performed character-based routines - trendy teachers, happy clappy Christians, pretentious magicians - which were hardly radical, but boded well for their forthcoming BBC sketch show.

There had been talk of a Noel Gallagher cameo, yet his absence was hardly noticed as Fielding and Brand closed each half with more structured solo sets.

While Mighty Boosh lynchpin Fielding was solid, delivering his familiar fable about pursuing a unicorn to the ends of the earth only to discover that it was a horse with a Cornetto on its nose, Brand surpassed himself with his trademark blend of self-mockery and smutty braggadocio.

His best new material was inspired by his recent sojourn in America. Others might claim that they like the anonymity of working where they are not stars, Brand was frank enough to admit that he hated not being recognised.

This is a man who takes egocentricity to ludicrous extremes. Apparently the only thing he has ever Googled is his own name. There might have been controversy over here following his prank call to a crime hotline at a recent Northampton gig, but Brand's US career is rampant. He is due to host the MTV Awards and has various films in the pipeline.

His stand-up days may be numbered, which would be sad. It would give me great pleasure to announce that this preening dandy is wearing thin. Annoyingly he continues to be one of the most original, insightful comedians working today.

Funny Videos :O)

"Eleanor's Up & Coming"

"Eleanor" (aka Rich Fulcher) from the Mighty Boosh reports from Camden Crawl . . . hilarious, yet slightly inappropriate.



Rich Fulcher, you're my hero :O)

AND:

In honour of my getting tickets to see Lightspeed Champion at the Black Cat next week, here is Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Season 21, Episode 11.

Host: Simon Amstell
Team Captains: Phill Jupitus, Bill Bailey
Guests: Chris O'Dowd (from The IT Crowd!!!), Joe Goddard (Hot Chip), Dev Hynes (Lightspeed Champion), James Nesbitt

Part 1:



Part 2:



Part 3: