The Graham Norton Show: What are they drinking?

I have never been a late night television fan. Even in my youth my, bed time was early. Now in my mid 30s, I need to be in bed before 10pm to get my beauty rest. Occasionally He will pull up Saturday Night Live skits for me to view, and although I find them humorous, it never had the draw to make me want to watch the show week to week.

As avid Doctor Who fans we naturally watch the BBC America network to find new shows. Somehow He found The Graham Norton Show and when he showed me my first episode I was hooked. We DVR the episodes and normally watch them first thing Sunday Morning. I have a cup of coffee and feel like I’m attending a cocktail party with celebrities. Although each of the celebrities are there to promote different things, they usually come out to sit on the sofa at the same time. Each has their pre-ordered drink in front of them ready for the fun to begin. Every episode I try to guess what the guest is drinking. “Does that look like water, or is that vodka?” “Looks like champagne, this should be fun.” “I think that is beer, and I think he has whiskey too.”

Graham doesn’t focus the questioning on their new movie or new book, but engages everyone in discussions that share entertaining stories about their personal life. Sometimes the stories are so engaging that another celebrity takes over the questions and Graham can just sit back and enjoy the show. I love when the show brings together a group of celebrities that have not met before, and by the end of the show I feel like they could all be best friends.

Graham gets some A-List celebrities on his show, and almost every week there is at least one person that I recognize. Guests like Mark Ruffalo, David Tennant, Will Smith, Matt LeBlanc, Rebel Wilson, George Clooney, Chris Pratt, Melissa McCarthy, Mark Wahlberg, Seth MacFarlane, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway, Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Radcliffe, and more.

Each episode starts with a quick intro with some funny pictures and narration from Graham relating to recent news. The show quickly evolves into a cocktail party with the guests, a musical number, and then the visit to the red chair.

Sometimes our version in the US runs out of time and we miss the visit to the red chair. Besides trying to guess what the guests are drinking, the visit to the red chair is my favorite part. Audience members volunteer to tell a funny story and sit in the red chair. The guests decide if the story is worthwhile or if not, they pull a lever to flip the audience member out of the chair. It is funny to see how much fun these celebrities have whilst flipping over the audience members, or alternatively enjoying their story and telling them they can walk.

One of the most entertaining episodes that I have seen included Matt Damon, Paloma Fiath, Bill Murray and Hugh Bonneville. There was a small drinking competition that only helped the candid conversation. It felt like a friendly party where everyone was there to have a good laugh. Matt Damon even declared, “By the way, this is the best time I’ve ever had on a talk show.” All attendees appeared to agree.

My least favorite guest surprised me. I have seen him on Graham twice now, and both times I told Him that I didn’t understand how he could be so amazing and animated in his movies, but so unanimated in the talk show. The guest is Johnny Depp and although Graham did a great job to keep the conversation moving, Johnny did not appear comfortable nor showed any desire to open up.

Graham does an amazing job keeping the dialogue entertaining in each episode and gives me something to look forward to every week.