Even though James Lipton comes across as a highbrow ass (for me, this is softened by my recollection of Will Ferrell’s impersonation), he’s a pretty good interviewer.
Elton John was on this past week and it was a pretty good show. He’s a humorous little English man. I never saw that side of him.
Anyone watch the show? Any opinions? Do you have memories of one in particular?
I used to enjoy the show until he started having on decidedly non-thespains like Drew Barrymore talking about their “craft”- does anyone really care how she decided to play her charcter from “Never Been Kissed”? Gawd.
His best interview by far- the dearly departed true thespian, Charles Nelson Reilly.
I guess the Sir Elton <-> Actor’s Studio connection was his composition work in some of the Disney films.
I know it’s weak and it’s really all I can come up with. I agree with you, though, and didn’t really understand why he was there. But it was a good show nonetheless.
Funny you mentioned the one with Drew Barrymore (god I hate her). He also had Al Pacino on. IMHO, he’s also lauded as a great actor, but I just don’t see it. In every film he’s played the role, he plays Al Pacino, and you’re sure to get some throaty monologue in every film.
I have a vague memory of controversy with this one. Didn’t one of the actors actually leave halfway through the show? Someone help me out here – I don’t recall ever hearing an explanation of what happened.
True he has sort of become a caricature, but thats only in the last 20 years or so- his early 70’s work, not even counting Godfather- Panic in Needle Park, Serpico, Scarecrow, Dog Day Afternoon- is great stuff.
I didn’t see it, but heard that Julie Kavner (Marge, and others) walked off. She doesn’t like to be seen doing the voice, and the show had agreed to that, but then Lipton pressed her to do it anyway.
I’ve seen it a few times and she didn’t seem put off by it at all. I mean, she was there for at least half of the show and then she was just gone after a commercial break. Not doubting you or anything; I’ve just never seen this explanation confirmed.
Back to the topic, I love this show, if only for Lipton’s cheesy goodness. And I too always think of Will Ferrell’s spot- on impersonation. The show with Johnny Depp was very good (for obvious reasons ;)) but the strange thing about it was that he (Johnny) was constantly either smoking or rolling a cigarette the whole time.
The one that surprised me the most was Dustin Hoffman. I almost didn’t watch it because I guess in my mind he seems like a pretty serious guy and I was sure he was gonna spout a bunch of incomprehensible crap about his “craft”, but he was so down to earth and matter of fact and well, accessible.
I thought this was the absolute worst episode. Did he ask them about characterization, or inspiration for the voices, or anything interesting? No, most of the shtick was simply having them spout catchphrases in their various voices. Pathetic, and a true waste (especially with such gifted actors as Kavner, Azaria & Shearer in attendance). And I always heard that Kavner needed to take a bathroom/water break, and Lipton kept refusing to the point she up & left.
The big problem with Lipton is that he never met a performance he didn’t like. Everything is good. Nothing is worthy of criticism. This is particularly true when he has guests on who haven’t had enough good performances to fill an hour’s worth (Barrymore, J.Lo, Martin Lawrence, Tim Allen, Chris Rock, etc.), and the inclusion of people who are essentially non-actors (or strict amateurs who have other day jobs–Barbra Walters, Diana Ross, George Carlin) is even worse, given that so many fine character actors have gone completely ignored.
What makes Will Ferrell so brilliant in his imitation is that it’s not too far from hyperbole–Lipton seems like a nice enough guy, but he’s every bit of a sycophant as Jay Leno.
I think it’s a great series, but it seems that they keep showing the episodes I despise (Robin Williams, Drew B., Martin Lawrence, etc.) and they might show the really good episodes once then never again (Jodi Foster, Jack Lemmon, etc.) Lipton certainly does his homework- one of his first questions in the Gene Hackman episode brought Gene to tears; it was about his father or stepfather or something. I forget, because I only saw it once so they could make room for the 73rd running of the farking Robin Williams episode.
The show with Martin Lawrence was horrible, only because James Lipton basically praises all his guest in the same way. To see Big Momma’s House get basically the same treatment as the Godfather was a little upsetting.
The show lost all its credibility when he started interviewing people like Jennifer Lopez. Gimme a break. Most actors just eat up Lipton’s brown-nosing, and the result is this back-and-forth exchange of pretentious insanity.