After umpteen years on the B.B.C., Michael Parkinson quit in the early '80's to work in Australia. He returned to Blighty to find his status as 'chat show king' usurped by ( of all people ) Terry Wogan. However, I.T.V. threw Parky a lifeline with this excellent series.
'Parkinson One to One' worked because it simply featured the man himself chatting to one guest. No books, films, or television shows to plug. Just good honest talk. Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon shared the first edition ( yeah, I know, it made nonsense of the format, but what a pair they were! ). Elton John, Billy Connolly, Tom Jones, and Ian Botham appeared on subsequent programmes.
The one I want to discuss starred the late, great Spike Milligan. I had this edition for years on a video tape, and watched whenever I wanted a good laugh. Then one day, disaster struck. I fed the cassette into the machine, pressed 'Play' on the remote, heard a funny noise, and back came the tape, surrounded by a mass of black spaghetti.
Strolling into the studio with a glass of what looked like alcohol ( "I'm training to be Oliver Reed!", Spike explained, a twinkle in his eye ). He began by discussing his war experiences ( he recounted the hilarious anecdote of the British Colonel who, on being informed that some Germans wished to surrender, said: "Tell them we haven't got the facilities!". When his men did not carry out his order, the Colonel urged the Germans to return to their own side by yelling: "Shoo! Shoo!". Spike added: "How on Earth did we win?".).
A couple of Spike's old army pals briefly joined the discussion. "I love the camaraderie.", said Spike: "If ever I want a bed for the night, all I have to do is knock on their doors and ask. They'll then say 'Piss Off!' and shut the door in my face!".
He talked about his family: "My father wanted to be a singer, and could have been a great one except for the fact that he was completely bald and had piles!". Brother Desmond he told us was 'another lunatic' who liked to flex his muscles and play the saxophone at the same time. He did this at a local amateur talent show, wearing a Tarzan-style loin-cloth, where he performed before an all-Hindustani audience. The result? Baffled silence!
Spike confessed to being unamused by alternative comedy shows such as 'The Young Ones', and did an impression of Rik Mayall sticking two fingers in the air and putting his tongue out. "Is that what its come to? You hang your willy out of your trousers and tell a joke?".
Only once did Spike lose his composure. Asked what angered him the most, he said: "Sexual molestation of children! I've been against capital punishment all my life, but when I look around now and see what's going on, I think maybe I'm wrong.". The audience murmured in agreement.
It was Spike at his best. And Parky too. I wish I had this show to watch again. Are you listening, Network?
'Parkinson One to One' worked because it simply featured the man himself chatting to one guest. No books, films, or television shows to plug. Just good honest talk. Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon shared the first edition ( yeah, I know, it made nonsense of the format, but what a pair they were! ). Elton John, Billy Connolly, Tom Jones, and Ian Botham appeared on subsequent programmes.
The one I want to discuss starred the late, great Spike Milligan. I had this edition for years on a video tape, and watched whenever I wanted a good laugh. Then one day, disaster struck. I fed the cassette into the machine, pressed 'Play' on the remote, heard a funny noise, and back came the tape, surrounded by a mass of black spaghetti.
Strolling into the studio with a glass of what looked like alcohol ( "I'm training to be Oliver Reed!", Spike explained, a twinkle in his eye ). He began by discussing his war experiences ( he recounted the hilarious anecdote of the British Colonel who, on being informed that some Germans wished to surrender, said: "Tell them we haven't got the facilities!". When his men did not carry out his order, the Colonel urged the Germans to return to their own side by yelling: "Shoo! Shoo!". Spike added: "How on Earth did we win?".).
A couple of Spike's old army pals briefly joined the discussion. "I love the camaraderie.", said Spike: "If ever I want a bed for the night, all I have to do is knock on their doors and ask. They'll then say 'Piss Off!' and shut the door in my face!".
He talked about his family: "My father wanted to be a singer, and could have been a great one except for the fact that he was completely bald and had piles!". Brother Desmond he told us was 'another lunatic' who liked to flex his muscles and play the saxophone at the same time. He did this at a local amateur talent show, wearing a Tarzan-style loin-cloth, where he performed before an all-Hindustani audience. The result? Baffled silence!
Spike confessed to being unamused by alternative comedy shows such as 'The Young Ones', and did an impression of Rik Mayall sticking two fingers in the air and putting his tongue out. "Is that what its come to? You hang your willy out of your trousers and tell a joke?".
Only once did Spike lose his composure. Asked what angered him the most, he said: "Sexual molestation of children! I've been against capital punishment all my life, but when I look around now and see what's going on, I think maybe I'm wrong.". The audience murmured in agreement.
It was Spike at his best. And Parky too. I wish I had this show to watch again. Are you listening, Network?