Restored 1976 doc of Connolly’s tour of Ireland shows that, despite his bombastic stage presence, he is impeccably polite. But his naughtier material hasn’t aged well
Here is a 70s time capsule as pungent as a brimming pub ashtray. Restored and rereleased, Big Banana Feet is the 1976 documentary about Billy Connolly’s live shows in Dublin and Belfast the year before, just after his appearance on the BBC’s Parkinson show made him a star virtually overnight, and allowed his legions of new fans to hear him live and unexpurgated.
Billy and his hangdog entourage – all looking like a very downbeat version of the Bay City Rollers – travel to Dublin then to Belfast by private plane, but aside from that, everything looks very non-luxury. The backstage areas have the air of a scout hut, and there don’t seem to be any riders with Jack Daniel’s, cocaine, only-green-coloured M&Ms,...
Here is a 70s time capsule as pungent as a brimming pub ashtray. Restored and rereleased, Big Banana Feet is the 1976 documentary about Billy Connolly’s live shows in Dublin and Belfast the year before, just after his appearance on the BBC’s Parkinson show made him a star virtually overnight, and allowed his legions of new fans to hear him live and unexpurgated.
Billy and his hangdog entourage – all looking like a very downbeat version of the Bay City Rollers – travel to Dublin then to Belfast by private plane, but aside from that, everything looks very non-luxury. The backstage areas have the air of a scout hut, and there don’t seem to be any riders with Jack Daniel’s, cocaine, only-green-coloured M&Ms,...
- 5/7/2024
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Paul Fox, the British television executive who commissioned iconic shows such as The Two Ronnies and Parkinson, has died aged 98.
Fox’s family informed the BBC of his passing this morning. He is best known for spells as Controller of BBC1 and Head of Network Television for the wider BBC, and as Managing Director of Yorkshire Television.
Fox, who as knighted in 1991, began his career in the 1950s as a newsreel scriptwriter and went on to upload Sportsview and Panorama. During that time he invented BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
In 1967, he then became head of BBC1, going on to commission some of the BBC’s biggest shows such as comedy The Two Ronnies, talk show Parkinson and wartime sitcom Dad’s Army.
Between 1973 and 1988 he led Yorkshire Television, which held the Yorkshire franchise for ITV at the time. He returned to the BBC before retiring.
BBC Director-General, Tim Davie,...
Fox’s family informed the BBC of his passing this morning. He is best known for spells as Controller of BBC1 and Head of Network Television for the wider BBC, and as Managing Director of Yorkshire Television.
Fox, who as knighted in 1991, began his career in the 1950s as a newsreel scriptwriter and went on to upload Sportsview and Panorama. During that time he invented BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
In 1967, he then became head of BBC1, going on to commission some of the BBC’s biggest shows such as comedy The Two Ronnies, talk show Parkinson and wartime sitcom Dad’s Army.
Between 1973 and 1988 he led Yorkshire Television, which held the Yorkshire franchise for ITV at the time. He returned to the BBC before retiring.
BBC Director-General, Tim Davie,...
- 4/9/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease within the decade through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson’s today.
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To make a donation, click here.
Celebrity supporters
Michael J. Fox Foundation has 44 known supporters, including Scarlett Johansson, John Mayer, and Muhammad Ali
Areas of work HealthParkinson's Disease Read more about Michael J. Fox Foundation's work and celebrity supporters. Related articles Michael J. Fox Foundation Boosts Parkinson's ResearchThe Hollywood Cookbook Launch PartyFox Raises Millions At Parkinson's FundraiserRyan Reynolds To Run For Parkinson'sRyan Reynolds Runs Marathon, Fights Parkinson's
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Copyright © 2023 Look To The Stars. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this via email or in your news reader, the...
How you can help
To make a donation, click here.
Celebrity supporters
Michael J. Fox Foundation has 44 known supporters, including Scarlett Johansson, John Mayer, and Muhammad Ali
Areas of work HealthParkinson's Disease Read more about Michael J. Fox Foundation's work and celebrity supporters. Related articles Michael J. Fox Foundation Boosts Parkinson's ResearchThe Hollywood Cookbook Launch PartyFox Raises Millions At Parkinson's FundraiserRyan Reynolds To Run For Parkinson'sRyan Reynolds Runs Marathon, Fights Parkinson's
Advertise your company to our engaged yearly audience of millions →
Copyright © 2023 Look To The Stars. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this via email or in your news reader, the...
- 12/6/2023
- Look to the Stars
Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon that legendary broadcaster Michael Parkinson has passed away at the age of 88. A statement from his family reads, “After a brief illness Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family.”
Dubbed “the king of the intelligent interview” in a tribute tweet from Eddie Izzard today, Michael Parkinson was best known as the host of “Parkinson,” a long-running British talk show for BBC One (and later ITV) that began in 1971. The show featured conversational interviews with various celebrities, with guests over the decades including the likes of Anthony Hopkins, Bing Crosby, Cher, Clint Eastwood, David Bowie, Denzel Washington, Elton John, Gene Wilder, John Lennon, Madonna, Ozzy Osbourne, Robin Williams, Tom Cruise, and Tom Hanks.
The series ran on BBC One from 1971-1982 and 1998-2004, and on ITV from 1987-1988 and 2004-2007. The final episode of “Parkinson” aired...
Dubbed “the king of the intelligent interview” in a tribute tweet from Eddie Izzard today, Michael Parkinson was best known as the host of “Parkinson,” a long-running British talk show for BBC One (and later ITV) that began in 1971. The show featured conversational interviews with various celebrities, with guests over the decades including the likes of Anthony Hopkins, Bing Crosby, Cher, Clint Eastwood, David Bowie, Denzel Washington, Elton John, Gene Wilder, John Lennon, Madonna, Ozzy Osbourne, Robin Williams, Tom Cruise, and Tom Hanks.
The series ran on BBC One from 1971-1982 and 1998-2004, and on ITV from 1987-1988 and 2004-2007. The final episode of “Parkinson” aired...
- 8/17/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Michael Parkinson, the iconic British host of a self-titled talk show who regularly interviewed the world’s biggest celebrities, died Thursday “in the company of his family,” BBC reported.
In a statement, Parkinson’s family said, “After a brief illness Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family. The family request that they are given privacy and time to grieve.”
“Parkinson,” his long-running talk show, was on-air from 1971 to 1982, and then again from 1998 to 2007.
His career spanned seven decades, in which he interviewed Paul McCartney, Muhammad Ali, Madonna, Helen Mirren, Elton John – by his own estimation, Parkinson has interviewed over 2,000 stars.
Parkinson was born in South Yorkshire, England, and began his career as a journalist for the Manchester Guardian and the Daily Express. During the 1960s, Parkinson moved over to TV presenting, where he hosted BBC1’s “Twenty-Four Hours.” His own show...
In a statement, Parkinson’s family said, “After a brief illness Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family. The family request that they are given privacy and time to grieve.”
“Parkinson,” his long-running talk show, was on-air from 1971 to 1982, and then again from 1998 to 2007.
His career spanned seven decades, in which he interviewed Paul McCartney, Muhammad Ali, Madonna, Helen Mirren, Elton John – by his own estimation, Parkinson has interviewed over 2,000 stars.
Parkinson was born in South Yorkshire, England, and began his career as a journalist for the Manchester Guardian and the Daily Express. During the 1960s, Parkinson moved over to TV presenting, where he hosted BBC1’s “Twenty-Four Hours.” His own show...
- 8/17/2023
- by Natalie Korach
- The Wrap
Michael Parkinson, the British chat show king who was confirmed dead on Thursday, will be remembered as one of the outstanding interviewers of his generation. During his show’s 36-year run across the BBC and ITV, Parkinson sat down with some of the biggest stars of our time, attracting acclaim and sometimes controversy. Scroll on for some of his most memorable moments.
Muhammad Ali
Parkinson had three significant encounters with the greatest boxer of all time, the first of which took place in 1971. The interview, in which Ali reflected on his skill in front of the camera and in the ring, was organized before a time when publicists heavily policed celebrity talk show appearances. On hearing Ali was in the UK to promote a soft drink, Parkinson’s producer snagged the boxer on a trip to a bottling factory for a “news interview.” In reality, Parkinson and a studio audience were eagerly waiting.
Muhammad Ali
Parkinson had three significant encounters with the greatest boxer of all time, the first of which took place in 1971. The interview, in which Ali reflected on his skill in front of the camera and in the ring, was organized before a time when publicists heavily policed celebrity talk show appearances. On hearing Ali was in the UK to promote a soft drink, Parkinson’s producer snagged the boxer on a trip to a bottling factory for a “news interview.” In reality, Parkinson and a studio audience were eagerly waiting.
- 8/17/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Michael Parkinson, the English broadcaster who hosted the long-running talk show “Parkinson,” has died, the BBC reported Thursday. He was 88.
In a statement to the BBC, Parkinson’s family said: “After a brief illness Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family. The family request that they are given privacy and time to grieve.”
Parkinson hosted his eponymous talk show from 1971 to 1982 on BBC1, and then again from 1998 to 2007. In 2004, “Parkinson” moved from BBC1 to ITV. Over the course of the show’s run, Parkinson interviewed guests like Paul McCartney, Muhammad Ali, George Michael, Madonna, Fred Astaire, Orson Welles and Mel Gibson. By his own estimation, Parkinson interviewed 2,000 celebrities during his career.
Born in the village of Cudworth in South Yorkshire, England, Parkinson began his career as a journalist working for the Manchester Guardian and Daily Express. He also spent two years in the British Army,...
In a statement to the BBC, Parkinson’s family said: “After a brief illness Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family. The family request that they are given privacy and time to grieve.”
Parkinson hosted his eponymous talk show from 1971 to 1982 on BBC1, and then again from 1998 to 2007. In 2004, “Parkinson” moved from BBC1 to ITV. Over the course of the show’s run, Parkinson interviewed guests like Paul McCartney, Muhammad Ali, George Michael, Madonna, Fred Astaire, Orson Welles and Mel Gibson. By his own estimation, Parkinson interviewed 2,000 celebrities during his career.
Born in the village of Cudworth in South Yorkshire, England, Parkinson began his career as a journalist working for the Manchester Guardian and Daily Express. He also spent two years in the British Army,...
- 8/17/2023
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
LONDON -- Veteran British journalist and talk show host Michael Parkinson has been lured from the BBC to rival broadcaster ITV, the network said Monday. The deal means the long-standing Saturday-night primetime chat show Parkinson will switch to ITV1 exclusively for two years beginning in the fall. "Television stars don't come much bigger than Michael Parkinson, and I am delighted that he is joining us at ITV," ITV director of programs Nigel Pickard said. "There's no doubt that he is the very best in his field and will be a fantastic addition to ITV's Saturday nights." Such guests as Nelson Mandela, Orson Welles, Muhammad Ali, Paul McCartney and Shirley MacLaine have joined Parkinson on his show.
- 4/27/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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