Jonathan Ross has comfortably settled back into our TV screen, and finally, one and all has united into its favourite universal hobby – complaining. The complaint most often outlined remains the – “Uh, it’s the same thing though.” Now, I am not a big television fan, nor am I particularly observant or even a psychologist of any sort, yet was I the only person who did not at any point actually consider that Jonathan Ross will make any significant changes to his format when moving to ITV? I doubt that. I also doubt I was the only one who did not regret the similarity.
Ross is not what you turn to when you want your favourite actors face a thorough episode of soul searching, for such needs we look to Inside the Actor’s Studio, nor is Jonathan the place for full-gossip-and-laughs but no content, as Graham Norton provides that very service successfully enough. In fact, both of the shows mentioned fulfil a purpose. And the beauty of the Jonathan Ross Show (or Friday Night With… it makes no difference whatsoever) is his ability to balance both very nicely. The show is not too heavy on the viewer, it doesn’t leave you stressed out or particularly depressed, yet it is not hot-air entertainment which has you questioning the usefulness of the last hour you have spent listening to a story about Rihanna’s bikini wax. Ross has reached a well-rehearsed equilibrium of flattery, by proclaiming himself a huge fan of every-other-performer that has appeared and still managing to sound somewhat sincere, and having enough gut to ask one of the rising stars of British cinema, Benedict Cumbebartch, whether, in a recent theatre performance of Frankenstein he was, in fact, touching himself while waiting to appear naked to the public as the Monster. And it is his all-around goofy and yet sympathetic character that allows for this mixture of sharp, ranging to rude, comments to come off as lightly as, say, a feigned interest in one of the Saturdays’ “advanced sense of smell”.
We can try to avoid it, but Jonathan Ross is back as good as ever, and truly, as good as he can be. As I am on the verge to seem sponsored by ITV, I should like to point out that if there is anything I miss most it is the four puffs. Take them back will you! Surely, there wouldn’t be much work waiting for someone who’s CV is dominated by a singing career under the rather ambiguous name of “One of those Puffs who sang at the Jonathan Ross show”, but then again there could be a niche in the market. Now that’s an idea I’d like to see proposed to Deborah Meaden.
Mirela Ivanova
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