Michael Parkinson vs. Rod Hull and Emu. Photo: PA
With the death of Michael Parkinson at the age of 88, television has lost one of its greatest interviewers. He reinvented the talk show in his frenetic storytelling style. Sitting across from Parkinson, the celebrities knew they were in for a lively roast, though Parkinson never made them feel like they were being interrogated. He was also agile on his feet, which was useful in sparring with some of the greatest minds and fastest speakers of his day. Here are 10 highlights of Parka.
1. Orson Welles, 1971
Parkinson's career was just beginning when he invited his first big guest. It took a charm offensive to lure the director of Citizen Kane into the studio. Wells, Parkinson recalled, agreed to fly to London only «if we took the first two rows out of the plane so he could sleep on a mattress.»
The conversation was tortuous — but getting Wells on the air was a scoop. «We thought that if we could get Orson Welles, the rest would follow — put up the bill and they'll come,» Parkinson said. «And we were right.»
2. Muhammad Ali, 1971
The world's greatest interviewer and the world's greatest boxer have sparred four times, though the annals of history record their first meeting in 1971. Ali was as dexterous in the TV studio as he was in the ring, and just as ruthless. Parkinson recalled how Ali arrived in the mood for a fight, accompanied by a terrifying brawl of bodyguards from the Nation of Islam. Although the boxer was later described as «the most extraordinary person I have ever met», he had to call on his verbal dexterity to survive in a thoroughbred skirmish.
Ali spoke powerfully about him. campaign for the rights of African Americans and his participation in this struggle. “I am not involved in the power struggle between blacks and whites,” he said. “I am not trying to gain power over whites. I am in the fight for freedom. Not a power struggle. We are not trying to take away power or control someone — we are just trying to escape from power.”
Later encounters between them were more casual. At one point, Ali took pity on Parkinson when the host tried to fight his charismatic guest. — Do you think it's easy? the boxer asked the audience. «Take his position — you will see that I am a witty person, and a person like me is quite difficult to talk to.»
3. John Lennon and Yoko Ono, 1971
A year after the breakup of the Beatles, John and Yoko agreed to negotiate with Parks — on the condition that there were no questions about the Fab Four. If Parkinson «went there,» Lennon stated, the host would have to wear a bag over his head for the rest of the interview. Parkinson agreed and made sure the bag was at hand. But Lennon was most inspired when he defended Yoko Ono, who had already been accused of breaking up with Paul McCartney. “The British press called Yoko ugly. I have never seen this in a woman or a man… She is not ugly. Even if she was like that, they wouldn't be so mean…”
4. Les Dawson, 1974
«Let's talk about you seriously enough, Mr. Dawson, as a comedian,» Parkinson said at the start of his interview with the stand-up legend. Dawson ignored the word «serious» and joked throughout his 15 minutes with Parkinson. But he also talked about the problems with stand-up, explaining that his fighting style originated in a violent clash at a workers' club in Hull.
«How can you analyze funny?» Dawson asked at the end of the conversation. “If something happens to you personally and it is a tragedy for you, other people will sympathize, but this is your problem. Same with humor — what's funny to you is a private matter.»
5. Billy Connolly, 1975
Parkinson hired the then obscure Glasgow comedian after a taxi driver recommended Connolly as a guest. It was the moment when a real-time superstar was born. One of Parkinson's greatest gifts as an interviewer was his ability to stay in the background and give attention to his guest. He did this with Connolly, who told a hilarious anecdote about unusual bike parking. He destroyed the house, and with it Parkinson's. This confirmed that Parkinson's show was a place where stars were born, and that was never truer than it was with Connolly.
6. Rod Hull and Emu, 1976
The seventies were a different time, as evidenced by the superstar status enjoyed by puppeteer Rod Hull and his aggressive, non-verbal companion Emu. The joke was that Hull couldn't control the bird, and for many years the joke didn't get old. This impressed Parkinson, who couldn't stop laughing as Emu terrorized him with aplomb.
«Just let Mr. Parkinson pet you a little,» Hull said. The Parson stroked the bird, which tore up the owner's prepared questions, and then pounced on the table.
7. Robert de Niro, 1981. Mad bull. Thoughtfully and mildly speaking, he told Parkinson about his extreme approach to acting, which in the case of Raging Bull involved putting on pounds to play boxer Jake LaMotta at the end of his life.
“Some actors work mentally, some work physically. I like to work physically. By wearing certain clothes, you can feel like a different character, which is what happens with real people who are characters. This helps them decide on the role they want to play in life, be it a businessman or someone else.»
8 David and Victoria Beckham, 2001
Parkinson got a big scoop when Victoria Beckham revealed that her nickname for her superstar husband was «Golden Eggs». It was one of Parkinson's many notable encounters with football aristocrats. He interviewed the troublesome George Best several times in the seventies and later said they became «best friends.»
9. David Bowie and Tom Hanks, 2002
Is there a more unexpected duo than the Thin White Duke and the star of Big and Forrest Gump? But they made a nice couple across from Parkinson. Hanks had early success in comedy, but it was Bowie who made Parks laugh with an amusing impression of his old pal Mick Jagger when he first saw the Stones in 1963. “It was priceless, I would never have seen anything so rebellious in my life,” said Bowie. «I thought, 'Oh my God, this is the future of music!'
10. Meg Ryan, 2003
Not every star succumbed to the charms of Parkinson. One of his most painful interviews was with movie star Meg Ryan. Grumpy from the start, she took issue with his claim that her new film, Cut Up, was pretty dark. «That's not at all what I think about it, and I don't think you're right either!» Ryan explained: «I'm always very embarrassed to be the center of attention.»
«So why do it?» Parkinson wondered. Ryan shrugged. “I don’t know… Maybe you can help me.” Parkinson sighed, «If you were me, what would you do now?» Ryan looked him in the eye, «I'd just be done.»
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