Never Mind the Buzzcocks

I totally agree with everyone else, Mark Lamar is excellent as Presenter, Phill Jupitus is difficult to dislike, and SeanHughes/Bill Bailey have a great off the wall take on life .... but must add the comment, that it's usually better when "older" stars are the guests, and when they don't quite "get" what is going on, eg: Lemmy (Motorhead), who at first didn't understand what was happening, and when he did, took offence at the jokes being mostly at his expense and walked off in the last few seconds of the programme. ..... I'm not sure the title would work elsewhere in the world though, the Sex Pistols reference is obvious, but "Buzzcocks" less so. .... "Anyone got ideas for other titles for around the world ?"

2 teams of celebrities make their way through various musical games & questions, though the real challenge of the gameshow nowadays is, quite clearly, withstanding the inevitable onslaught from host Simon Amstell! I only began watching this programme in 2000, but knew instantly it was a winner. With memorably funny rounds such as the Intros round, and of course the line-up, it never failed to disappoint.

Mark Lamarr was a great host for the show, interacting well with the teams, and sometimes having a snipe at one or two! Unbelievably Amstell has managed to keep this momentum going with his own wacky twist on proceedings. Likewise, team captains Phill Jupitus and Bill Bailey are always game for a laugh, and not forgetting the down-to-earth style humour of former captain Sean Hughes. They can tend to stray a long way off topic, though, deeming certain sections of the programme pointless. Simon serves as a great successor to Mark for his bitchiness and incredible wit. Very entertaining.

Another classic show gets a reboot and makeover and becomes a disaster!

The original was edgy and hilarious with Mark Lamarr's (and later Simon Amstall) cutting sarcasm knowing no bounds - Now it's just another annoying lame remake cashing in on what was once a great show.

It seems that UK tv exec's have lost the ability to produce original entertainment television and either try to "update" much loved shows to disastrous effect (see also Blankety Blank) or force on the viewing public train wrecks of bland excruciating drivel which have probably been created by a panel of talent free miserable university hacks with a degree in mediocrity....

Following the success of Have I got News For You, this put the panel format to a music quiz. The focus not so much being on winning or even giving the right answer but making as many jokes during the quiz as possible. The show is hosted by Mark Lamarr with two teams captained by Sean Hughes and Phil Jupitus. The rounds include connections (finding the links between two artists), intros (2 members of the team try to do an intro and the third member must guess the song), the line-up (teams must pick a `famous' musician out of a line of 5 people) and last lines (teams complete song lyrics).

The show is consistently very funny - the teams obviously have some time to prepare and are given some notice of what's coming - but it does depend on the 4 guests. Sometimes a comedian will guest and will try too hard, or a musician will not deal with the quick wits around him. But for most of the time Lamarr, Hughes and Jupitus are sharp enough to carry the whole thing themselves. The humour is quite mad - cruel and sharp - so it may not be to everyone's taste.

Overall it may not be the most original format for a show but with a good team and good guests this manages to be consistently funny. Who wins doesn't matter one bit and you do feel that everyone just wants to have a laugh. A very enjoyable 30 minutes week in, week out.

Never Mind the Buzzocks is a really good, funny and enjoyable game show.

Hosted by the cleverly spoken Mark Lamarr (who is also captin of "Team A" in the game show "Shooting Stars") who in my opinion is a brilliant game show host. Phil Jupitus and Sean Hughes are captains of the two teams, both of them are also very funny.

Games rounds in the show include "song impersonations" where two of the three contestents in a team have to act out a couple of popular songs without using the lyrics, they can only impersonate the instruments used in the song. This round can be hilarious.

Never Mind the Buzzcocks is one of my favirote game shows but I still think "Shooting Stars" hosted by the really funny Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer still edges it for me.

8/10.