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Original poster

Why is the Jonathan Ross show so crap compared to Graham Norton?

97 replies

MeinKraft · 25/03/2023 21:52

JR is perfectly nice, the guests are personable and witty and yet it just doesn't have the warmth of the Graham Norton show. I don't know what's missing. Is it the giant empty blue studio maybe?

OP posts:
ClarabelleRose · 25/03/2023 21:54

Because it’s hosted by Jonathan Ross and not Graham Norton. Graham has wit, compassion and style. Jonathan does not.

Iudncuewbccgrcb · 25/03/2023 21:57

ClarabelleRose · 25/03/2023 21:54

Because it’s hosted by Jonathan Ross and not Graham Norton. Graham has wit, compassion and style. Jonathan does not.

Pretty much this.

although I'm not a massive fan of either, GN definitely seems more genuinely interested in people and I think that is the difference.

plus he makes a good wine...

Deadringer · 25/03/2023 21:59

The Jonathan Ross show is all about Jonathan Ross. His guests come second to him and he often seems to use them to stoke his own ego.
Graham Norton appears to have a genuine interest in people and he has a knack for bringing them out of themselves. No contest.

curlyrebel · 25/03/2023 21:59

His show used to be good when it was on BBC though. Maybe it's an ITV vibe?

PortmeirionTiles · 25/03/2023 22:00

GN really does make an effort to allow his guests to shine. He sets up the intros to their stories so they can be amusing, and gently takes the piss out of them in a way that makes them laugh as well. Plus he can be really witty.

AbsoIutelyLovely · 25/03/2023 22:01

Jonathan Ross is a twit
Graham is so much nicer

WeAreTheHeroes · 25/03/2023 22:02

I think JR is still doing the same act he's had for 30+ years whereas GN has developed and progressed, plus Graham has more natural warmth and wit.

cheeseisthebest · 25/03/2023 22:44

They've just read out mumsnet comments about Greg Davis to Greg Davis on JR. Hilarious!!

MrsMoastyToasty · 25/03/2023 23:24

Jonathan Ross talks all over his guests and interrupts them.

Capricornone1 · 25/03/2023 23:25

Because they are two different people duh

MrsALambert · 25/03/2023 23:27

JR talks way too much. Like Oprah. Asks a question then tells the person he is talking to what he thinks their answer will be. Just shut up and let them talk

TheMarzipanDildo · 25/03/2023 23:37

cheeseisthebest · 25/03/2023 22:44

They've just read out mumsnet comments about Greg Davis to Greg Davis on JR. Hilarious!!

well I’m here for that

Original poster
MeinKraft · 25/03/2023 23:38

cheeseisthebest · 25/03/2023 22:44

They've just read out mumsnet comments about Greg Davis to Greg Davis on JR. Hilarious!!

Aw I turned off before that bit! To watch The Cleaner, ironically!

OP posts:
TomatoSandwiches · 25/03/2023 23:42

GN keeps getting better as he ages, very personable, witty and a well rounded SOH, JR peaked 30 something years ago, he hasn't adapted at all, he should stick to reviewing films, he is actually half decent at that.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 25/03/2023 23:43

I noticed the big disparity between GN's guests and JR's guests a while ago and this is what I thought :

I think Graham's style is just much more suited to star turns.

I remember when the JR show was much bigger in terms of guests than it is now but his style could often be bulldozer like and a bit intrusive/rude with personal questions

A few times on GN I've seen relatively big guests look really impressed when they hear who's on next week as if it's just dawned that this is "obviously the show to be on then"

I think he's popular with the stars as Matt Damon once said "I love this show it's the best show" and word travels I guess amongst celebs :

"Jonathan Ross? Oh he's kind of rude. Get on Norton it's a good laugh"

GN has really built his reputation over the years

That's the conclusion I drew anyway

DivineAffliction · 25/03/2023 23:48

I think JR is a bit of a plonker, self-important and irritating. GN is more likeable and his guests are far more obviously having a good time, and I imagine, as a pp said, that he gets excellent word of mouth on the booking circuit and among the celebrities themselves. Doing publicity for a new film is probably pretty dull, doing the eternal round of tv studios and doing the same schtik, so anything genuinely warm and funny is probably remarkable.

Original poster
MeinKraft · 25/03/2023 23:48

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 25/03/2023 23:43

I noticed the big disparity between GN's guests and JR's guests a while ago and this is what I thought :

I think Graham's style is just much more suited to star turns.

I remember when the JR show was much bigger in terms of guests than it is now but his style could often be bulldozer like and a bit intrusive/rude with personal questions

A few times on GN I've seen relatively big guests look really impressed when they hear who's on next week as if it's just dawned that this is "obviously the show to be on then"

I think he's popular with the stars as Matt Damon once said "I love this show it's the best show" and word travels I guess amongst celebs :

"Jonathan Ross? Oh he's kind of rude. Get on Norton it's a good laugh"

GN has really built his reputation over the years

That's the conclusion I drew anyway

Yes definitely agree with all of that. Just thinking about it and I think it helps that Graham quite often has guests on who aren't obviously plugging something, but who go on the show every series whether they've got something new out or not because they're a laugh, like Jamie Dornan a few weeks back, Judy Dench and Benedict Cumberbatch are often on too.

OP posts:
SwedishEdith · 25/03/2023 23:52

curlyrebel · 25/03/2023 21:59

His show used to be good when it was on BBC though. Maybe it's an ITV vibe?

Agree. You can't develop a conversation with someone if there's an ad break every 15 minutes.

WandaWonder · 26/03/2023 00:08

Ross seems like Norton's little brother, like those cliche American movies show

I like him as a person but he comes a across as a little childish where Norton seems to pull off being a grown up but funny

Gummymare · 26/03/2023 02:33

I stopped watching JR many years ago, he was really sleazy with the women guests. I have no idea why his team didn’t point this out to him.

McSlowburn · 26/03/2023 03:23

MeinKraft · 25/03/2023 21:52

JR is perfectly nice, the guests are personable and witty and yet it just doesn't have the warmth of the Graham Norton show. I don't know what's missing. Is it the giant empty blue studio maybe?

It's the giant blue misogynist ahole that is Jonathan Ross!!

GrimDamnFanjo · 26/03/2023 03:34

I always think GN is just really good at managing the guests and works really hard to help them have a good experience and it shows.
Tricky Stars like Harrison Ford visibly unwind and I thin it just seems more relaxed.

Poppins2016 · 26/03/2023 03:36

Graham Norton has the fabulous gift of being funny, yet emotionally intelligent and good at conversation. He asks the questions that the audience want to ask and leaves room for response; he's also at ease with the guest taking the lead and steering the conversation.

Jonathan Ross seems less at ease/natural at giving guests space to respond naturally. I always feel as though the conversation is forced.

TiedUpWithABlackVelvetBand · 26/03/2023 03:38

I mean yeah, no great mystery.

Graham Norton is just a much more appealing person.

Poppins2016 · 26/03/2023 03:44

One other thing I've noticed is that Graham tends to speak to guests as though they're just another human being, whereas Jonathan Ross tends towards putting guests on a 'famous person pedestal'. I think that makes a real difference in terms of 'at ease' conversation and how much of their true personality (as opposed to 'famous veneer') guests will show.