Alan Yentob explores how presenter Simon Amstell has dragged the once popular television panel show "Never Mind the Buzzcocks" to an all-time low since taking over from Mark Lamar. In a frank interview, Yentob probes Amstell with questions and clips to illustrate how the young man has taken Lamar's witty jibs into a world of just plain rudeness and failed to make a mark with his own "fumbling and incompetent" style.
If you haven't already got it yet, this is a clever "best of" compilation show from the "Amstell" seasons of Buzzcocks. I must confess it is not a show that I often watch (too many movies, too little time) but I do love to dip in and out of it so this show was a perfect chance to see some highlights (and lowlights) from the series. The show does focus on Amstell and to me this is a good thing because he is a wonderfully sarcastic presenter. Now, keep in mind that I was in my late-twenties and had no real interest in the top 40, but ask yourself why I used to love watching Popworld half the answer is Amstell's presentation and humour. Perhaps someday he will be brought down to earth or his humour will start to grate, but in the right vehicle he can be quite brilliant and Buzzcocks is the right vehicle right now. He has plenty of great lines and he is at the core of many of the best moments laid out in this compilation.
The Preston flounce-off is here as well as the simmering Jamiella making it quite clear what she thinks of Javine's affair with Harvey, Anthea Turner getting ripped to shreds and so on. The clips are all funny if you like the show but it was a touch of class to also use it as a chance for both Amsell and Yentob to send themselves up. Amstell is no surprise and takes it in good sport before "doing a Preston", giving Yentob the bird on the way on ("Imagine this") but Yentob is better. I've never cared for his "Imagine" series of arts programmes so God bless him for mocking the format (and himself) so effectively it is funny and clever.
Overall then, a funny clips show for those that like Amsell and Buzzcocks but it is made funnier for the way it also makes gentle fun of Yentob and his "Imagine" arts programme very Amstell, taking the p1ss even when he is the interviewee.
