Читать книгу Grumpy Old Men: New Year, Same Old Crap - David Quantick - Страница 17

Those people on television who give their opinions, mostly on ‘list shows’. There are three types of talking heads:

1. THE EXPERT KIND. Sometimes these are real experts in things like military history or stunt driving. Generally, they are experts in agreeing with the interviewer. Sometimes this is all too obvious, as when some 22-year-old nitlet professes a detailed knowledge of and love for the films of Buster Keaton, or when some TV presenter (see TV PRESENTERS) says he’s read a book.

2. THE PROFESSIONAL TALKING HEAD. When they start off, they can be quite endearing, largely because they begin their ‘careers’ talking about things they might actually have some interest in, like pop music or comedy. But as the years go by, they become corrupted by the lure of money and the chance to be almost recognized, sometimes. So they will appear in any show about anything. Heavy-metal photographers will try and look knowledgeable about lesbian cinema. Molecular scientists will suddenly find themselves having a favourite Benny Hill sketch. And, worst of all, political pundits will try and look as though they actually enjoy anything at all.

3. REAL FAMOUS PEOPLE. These can totally scupper a talking-heads type show. Because while it’s brilliant that some researcher actually managed to get Steven Spielberg or Keith Richards or Lenin, the viewer can’t concentrate on the interview for thinking, Why are they doing this? Are they secretly broke? Or are they just so vain that every time they see a TV camera they just have to talk to it?