IMDb > "Parkinson" (1971)

"Parkinson" (1971) More at IMDbPro »TV series 1971-2007


Overview

User Rating:
8.1/10   166 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Down 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Contact:

View company contact information for Parkinson on IMDbPro.

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 26 | unknown full episode list

Release Date:

4 January 2000 (USA) more

Genre:

Talk-Show more

Plot:

Talk show with celebrity guests.

Awards:

4 wins & 5 nominations more

User Comments:

Travolta, Hawn and Sergeant in Bland snooze fest... more (10 total)


Cast

 (Series Cast Summary - 1 of 142)
Michael Parkinson ... Himself - Host / ... (252 episodes, 1971-2007)
more

Additional Details

Runtime:

50 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono | Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M (some episodes) | Australia:PG (some episodes)


Fun Stuff

Trivia:

The first series of the show, including interviews with John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Peter Ustinov, Benny Goodman, Spike Milligan and Orson Welles, was wiped on the orders of a BBC committee. All that survives of the first series is a monochrome telerecording of his interview with Shirley MacLaine. more

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Favouritism: Julian Clary's Showbiz Hissy Fits (#1.6)" (2005) more


FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
8 out of 13 people found the following comment useful.
Travolta, Hawn and Sergeant in Bland snooze fest..., 5 October 2005
Author: StockportLad83 from England

ITV obviously bares a grudge against the BBC. The loss of the Premiership must still be fresh in the mind; why else would Parkinson air before Match Of The Day? As ruthless as it may sound, they're cunningly boring the audience to sleep.

Michael Parkinson has been peddling the same inoffensive, tired format for years now, and last nights episode was no exception. Guests included "the evergreen" Goldie Hawn, "the king of cool" John Travolta and, erm, "political correspondant" John Sergeant. 'Parky's golden rule is set out nice and clear from the outset: the bigger the star, the bigger the brown nosing.

He has neither the 'blokey' charm of Frank Skinner nor the wit of Jonathon Ross, but has somehow managed to remain increasingly popular throughout the years.

Unsurprisingly enough, Hawn was given an easy ride as far as questions go. Parkinson beamed on about her "glittering, successful career," clearly not having done his research. The fact remains that Hawn has not had a hit movie in nearly ten years. Her career is littered with far more misses than hits, but the way the he rambled on was like she'd won several Oscars. But she hasn't, and never will.

Next in the interviewee's chair was John Sergeant. Like Hawn, he too had a book to promote. This time though, it was about Margaret Thatcher. Sergeant claimed that with this book he "aimed to bring together the people who loved her and those who hated her." Parkinson agreed, but then again he would do. Hawn laughed uncontrollably at Sergeants mildly amusing political jokes, with one clear motive in her head: to make the audience believe that not all blondes are dumb.

John Travolta then took to the stage for his relentless barrage of lacklustre questioning. During his gruelling stint he was asked ridiculous questions such as "how do you manage to keep your feet on the ground?" This of course, was to a man, who, has two 747's parked in the driveway of his 60 acre mansion, and commands a $20 million fee for each film he's in. At one stage, Travolta told the story of the time he danced with Princess Diana - "I was told it was one of the highlights of her life" he beamed, "and one of mine too" he responded a good ten seconds later. At which point every middle aged housewife in Great Britain must of gone "Aw he's a lovely man." Parkinson then, for the first time in nearly 45 minutes asked a daring question - "Is their anytime in your career that you would point out as your lowest?" ("We've all had them," said Parkinson, obviously referring to the infamous Ali interview that occurred shortly after the invention of the wheel). Travolta though was allowed to skate around the question by referring to a time his car broke down.

And then it was back to sitting on the fence again for Parkinson, a position he's become rather too comfortable with throughout his career.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (10 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for "Parkinson" (1971)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Fry to take over... razzi_p
Meg Ryan CatsProtectionShopTN1
last ever show amber24
DVD? gwen24
Repeat Bex__
Classic Parkinson Ccmcr1
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
"Wogan" "Denise" "The Terry and Gaby Show" "SM:TV Live" Grand Danois 2007
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Episode guide Full cast and crew Company credits
News articles IMDb TV section IMDb Talk-Show section
IMDb UK section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.

You may add a new episode for this TV series by clicking the 'add episode' button