Graham Norton - The Graham Norton Effect
When it was announced that The Graham Norton Effect was going to air on Comedy Central many of his American fans were worried that Graham Norton was going to calm down and deliver a tamer version of his wildly popular British show. But thank god we were wrong. Already Norton has had outrageous guests such as RuPaul, Macaulay Culkin and Sandra Bernhard on his show. Nortons outfits and attitude are more extreme than ever.
The Graham Norton Effect airs on Thursday at 10pm
Daniel Robert Epstein: Is being on TV in America everything you expected?
Graham Norton: Its very fun. We like being here. The show was on the air on before [on BBC America] but not that many people saw it and it was old shows. So its really kind of fun to tape the show on a Tuesday then have people see it.
DRE:
I know that Comedy Central didnt ask you to tone anything down but did you change anything?
GN:
I dont think so. Maybe we have just because Im getting older and living in a different country so there are a lot of new influences. But intentionally? No. Intentionally we think were making the exact same show. We cant see the differences aside from seven commercial breaks so that alters it.
DRE:
Thats because the network isnt paid for by the government.
GN:
No, its just in Britain we dont shop as much you do. You guys really like to buy crap.
DRE:
Come on Ive seen some of your clothes.
GN:
[laughs] I didnt buy them!
DRE:
Where do your clothes come from?
GN:
Im lying because some of them do come off the rack. When I see them I think Apart from me, who on earth would buy this stuff? You dont wear them out because thats like an invitation to a queer bashing. You couldnt get from your apartment to the car without someone beating you up.
DRE:
One critic said that you were the first TV personality to have such a big deal made about their clothes since Milton Berle.
GN:
Wow thats a compliment.
DRE:
Have you experienced much gay culture in New York City yet?
GN:
I have. Ive put the work in goddammit.
DRE:
Is it totally different from what youre used to?
GN:
Some of it is exactly the same but the big difference here is that people in clubs talk to you which doesnt particularly mean they want to sleep with you. While in Britain they only talk to you if they want to have sex or borrow money. That would be the only reason why a stranger would talk to you in a bar so it was a shock to the system to find friendly folk in gay bars.
DRE:
Whats been your favorite guest so far on the American show?
GN:
We did a really good show with Alan Cumming and Paul Rudd. Actually on the latest show we had Joan Rivers on and I was so pleased. People in America have forgotten that shes funny because she never gets to be as vile as she is. Shes vile, funny and really out there.
DRE:
How did she look?
GN:
She looks just as a good as she ever did. I think thats fair.
DRE:
Who is the guest that you want on the show but havent gotten yet?
GN:
I guess that would be Madonna. But thats too late because I would have wanted her six years ago when she was amusing.
DRE:
Before all the kids.
GN:
Yeah now shes a working mother of two. Plus the whole Kabbalah thing bores the pants off me.
DRE:
Why are you so obsessed with sex?
GN:
I think everyone is a little obsessed with sex. I just think were reflecting what people are obsessed with. People are interested in other things but sex does drive 90 percent of everything. Thats why video took off and thats why the internet took off. Porn! Thats why video messaging will be very popular within the next five years.
DRE:
Are you on the internet a lot?
GN:
I am. Im lazy, so here I could use it for sex. In Britain the show has gotten too successful so I cant use it for sex there.
DRE:
I read you grew up Protestant in a Catholic neighborhood. So you got the best of both worlds.
GN:
Or the worst. Because its Ireland you cant grow up Protestant. Everyone is de facto Catholic. Its everywhere, TV shows stop at 6 oclock to play Angelus. Its impossible to be a true Protestant growing up in Ireland. When people talk about being Catholic I join in because I absolutely feel that I am one.
DRE:
I read that you werent a class clown. When did you start breaking out of your shell?
GN:
I think it was when I worked in restaurants which I did for eight years before I started making any money in the entertainment industry.
DRE:
So you went from being a standup comedian to getting your own show?
GN:
Yeah more or less. I just got lucky.
DRE:
Youre obviously not as famous in America as you are in Britain. Do you like having the freedom to go out?
GN:
Its a real dilemma isnt it? I thought I would miss being famous but I dont miss it at all. I think Billy Crystal said Did you want to be rich and famous? He said Try being rich first. I believe it will push most of your buttons. Its true. The good bit is having the cash to have a very nice lifestyle but people dont bug you. I also want the show to be a success so Im very conflicted. Thanks for talking me through it.
DRE:
Do you ever go stand next to one of the phone booths your picture is on to see if anyone notices?
GN:
No. If I feel a bit down then I just go to Times Square where all the tourists are. Its my Sally Fields in Soapdish moment.
DRE:
Do you have any tattoos?
GN:
No, they are like forever which is a bad thing. If I got one it would be sexy or funny now but when youre having your prostate operation at age 70 the nurses wont want to be seeing a Celtic symbol on your big saggy ass.
DRE:
I read you auditioned for the role of Samwise in the Lord of the Rings movies.
GN:
Tragically that is true. Even worse is that Orlando Bloom told me that Peter Jackson has kept all the audition tapes. Hes got Vin Diesel sitting in a big chair reading aloud from the book and Kylie Minogue flitting about trying to be an elf.
DRE:
Do you think they did a good job making Samwise kind of gay anyway?
GN:
Really! The subtext was already there so they didnt need me. The end of the trilogy was like Casablanca.
DRE:
How many more episodes do you have of The Graham Norton Effect?
GN:
I think weve got seven or eight more.
DRE:
Have they talked about doing another season?
GN:
We have. Im pretty sure its going to happen.
DRE:
Whats the next step for your career?
GN:
I have no idea. I do this series then I go back to Britain where I am developing a new show for the BBC. It could all end tomorrow so I am constantly preparing for it all to stop.
DRE:
Whats the new show you are developing?
GN:
Its a family entertainment show with a game show element. Its a very different show.
DRE:
Have you auditioned for other movies?
GN:
No I havent and Im furious. I want more auditions. I want to humiliate myself further.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
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