New season for Norton show
By TERRY MORROW October 24, 2012 6:06PM
Graham Norton. | Getty Images
British wit Graham Norton never set out to be a talk-show host.
“It’s more fun to be a guest,” says Norton, host of his own long-running, self-titled chat fest. “All a host does is come out and have a few minutes of jokes. The guests have all the fun.”
A new season begins at 10 p.m. Saturday with guests Ben Affleck, Usher, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ronnie Corbett and Amanda Hart.
“The guest gets to talk and make jokes for a lot longer,” he says. “A host just sits there and listens after (the monologue).”
That hasn’t stopped Norton’s career.
He’s drawn A-listers to his couch — everyone from Dustin Hoffman to Daniel Craig to Judi Dench. They come as much for his freewheeling gabbing as much as they do his audience participation games.
“The Graham Norton Show” has been airing — in one form or another — since 2007. Originally a British hit, “Graham Norton” has transitioned to the United States in recent years.
“It seems longer, doesn’t it?” he deadpans.
Scripps Howard
News Service
