Never Mind the Buzzcocks...

[fajrdrako]

I think John Barrowman fandom has destroyed me.

Look at me: I've been an intellectual snob since childhood. A bookworm, an elitist, a fan who reads only the finest comic books, and has no shame in loftily calling them graphic novels. I've spent most of my life not watching TV and when I do watch TV it's never game shows, comedies, interview shows or cooking shows. And it's usually fannish, as if that excuses it somehow.

So. In this past week I have watched Never Mind the Buzzcocks, BBC Breakfast, Jonathan Ross and This Morning, and I may have all these titles wrong because they are shows broadcast in a faraway country and I never heard of them before. What they have in common is that John Barrowman was on them all, and he was outrageous and funny, and I'm having a whale of a time with them.

But. Where are my standards? How can I claim to be an intellectual snob any more? I didn't just watch these things with disinterested hauteur, I enjoyed them and I laughed. Loudly. I shouldn't even admit this. Or maybe I should. I don't know. Maybe my cover is blown. Maybe I'm only a pseudo-snob.

Best line in Never Mind the Buzzcocks was when Simon Amstell said, "You have out-gayed me, Barrowman." But there were many good lines. I knew John Barrowman had a good laugh. Didn't notice before that he also has an outrageous giggle.

Comments

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

I sooo understand what you mean! (I haven't watched any of the shows... yet... but I'm the kind of person who'd have probably given up on Cyberwoman, and definitely on Countricide. And instead I love them! Me, the chicken.)

But, trust me on this one - no matter how much of an "intellectual snob" a person is, a good laugh is a good laugh. Having lived my life so far in those spheres (actors, artists, musicians, writers... you name it, he's spend a night under my mom's roof - gay or straight, for that matter, too), I can honestly say that a bit of simple, rough, slip-on-a-banana-peel (or grab-the-buzzocks) trick will make anybody laugh, if done from the heart.

And, perhaps when Torchwood's over, and I've caught up on DW, I'll write fanfic on "the smiles and laughs of Capitain Jack". Hopefully, I'll have reason to make it a long one...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I haven't watched any of the shows... yet...

Which only means I am somewhat ahead of you on the slippery slide downhill.

I'm the kind of person who'd have probably given up on Cyberwoman, and definitely on Countricide. And instead I love them! Me, the chicken.

Oh, yes, no way I would have watched those. Absolutely no way.

no matter how much of an "intellectual snob" a person is, a good laugh is a good laugh.

Hmm. Yes, that's a good point.

perhaps ... I'll write fanfic on "the smiles and laughs of Capitain Jack".

Yes! That would be wonderful to read.

[tigertrapped.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'm only a pseudo-snob.

Quelle damage! I feel for you, I do. I used to be an aesthete until The State Within sank its slashy teeth into me. Now I sit and gibber at the screen, wondering how a man who looks more than a little like a lizard can be so hot it feels like Happy Hour in my pants...

*we should form a club: Lapsed Intellectuals*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I feel for you, I do. I used to be an aesthete until The State Within sank its slashy teeth into me.

I must watch that a.s.a.p.

*we should form a club: Lapsed Intellectuals*

Yes, indeed! A club to prove we don't really care, we're Above All That Anyway.

And a hot guy is a hot guy, no matter what he looks like.

[tigertrapped.livejournal.com]

Maybe we could pass ourselves off as journalists of some sort? Impartial observers? I know! We're studying the impact of low-brow fandom on the masses. For the sake of authencity we have to embed ourselves in the fandom. We're only pretending to squee like schoolgirls. We are smiling ironically on the inside. Would anyone buy that?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

We're studying the impact of low-brow fandom on the masses.

Thst's it! A hard-hitting expose of the sociology of our time!

We're only pretending to squee like schoolgirls.

It isn't our fault if we are so totally convincing. We're good, that's all.

Would anyone buy that?

I wouldn't. I know me too well!

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

*points at icon*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Ah. More to look forward to. How wonderful. I am enjoying this rapid decay of my ... whatever it is that is decaying at such a rapid rate.

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

You are developing a more personal and selective aesthetic and refusing to be dictated to by prevailing intellectual trends.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Ah, but trust me, I was never dictated to by prevailing intellectual trends. Part of my intellectual snobbery is stubborn dancing to a different drummmer - making my own rhythms all the way. I am very much an individualistic, nonconformist intellectual snob.

Which may be the central paradox right there. And it might be why I have so much fun.

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

ah well, possible strategies:

- redifine snobbery so it includes said programs

- redefine snobbery so it becomes undesirable

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Two good approaches. Hmm. And just enjoy it as it happens.

[medelle.livejournal.com]

I make no claims to be a real intellecutal, pseudo or otherwise, but I must say that JB has sucked me soooo far into a fangirl crush that its not even funny and Im not sure I can find my way back.

He is so outrageously cheeky but sooo freaking adorable and by all accounts nice, that he gets away with it. :)

Oh and, well there is my new icon. ;)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I must say that JB has sucked me soooo far into a fangirl crush that its not even funny and Im not sure I can find my way back.

How does he do that? And so effortlessly.

He is so outrageously cheeky but sooo freaking adorable and by all accounts nice, that he gets away with it. :)

Yes. And so utterly unpretentious. You see him on the screen and it feels as if you've known him forever.

Beautiful, beautiful new icon.

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

if you go to youtube you'll see many John Barrowman clips. I just watch one of him reading a bed time story (of the kid's variaty you dirty minded woman!!) It was very sweet.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Aww yes. So very sweet. Makes me wish I was a kid so he could read to me.

[medelle.livejournal.com]

I have already stated I want John to read me a bedtime story... however I fully admit I am far more of the dirty minded variety. ;)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I would have no problem with that.

He has shown time and again how good he is with 'dirty'. Wears it like a badge. And with charm.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

No, I think this just comes under the category of fannishness. Your cultural credentials are intact because you wouldn't be watching them if it wasn't for John Barrowman!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Your cultural credentials are intact because you wouldn't be watching them if it wasn't for John Barrowman!

Hmm. Does that excuse work? (Trying it on for size.) No, really, it isn't my fault, it's John Barrowman.

Yeah. It works.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Exactly. It is proof of fannishness.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I guess it proves that my fannishness is even greater than my elitism.... trumps it in spades... and that's fine with me!

[cyberducks.livejournal.com]

Yes, get down here - join the rest of us in the low taste gutter.

Seriously, I think there is nothing wrong with liking both high-minded and so called "low" culture. And what JB accomplishes when he does comedy performances - because they are performances - is not as easy as it looks either - being able to make people laugh like this is a real skill. The right comedic timing is just as hard as the timing you need doing "serious" plays.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

join the rest of us in the low taste gutter.

Hee, yes, such fun down here.

I think there is nothing wrong with liking both high-minded and so called "low" culture.

Well, despite my comments, I don't think so either, but... the thing is, in the past, I really wouldn't watch this sort of thing on TV, and if I did, it made me cringe. Here I'm not cringing. I'm lapping it up. Mind you, I don't think I'd be enjoying it the same way if Barrowman wasn't there.

And don't let me fool you into thinking that I don't think John Barrowman is utterly and incredibly talented. All his performances are good and I'm appreciating this more all the time.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

It's no good. I'll remain unconvinced that your standards have slipped till you admit to squeeing over JB reading a story about a short-sighted baby dinosaur, a "Bumposaurus" called Bumpy, on CBeebies.

Twist my arm and I might even find you the link. ;)

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

Because you have to watch it: Bumposaurus.

I had standards once. No, really, I did!

;P (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw6o0dKC8-E)

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

*sigh* I had a brain once, and could make my fingers do what they were told.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

My fingers have never been so well behaved.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Cute!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Awwwwwwwww. That's wonderful.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I love a bedtime story.

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

Oh, btw, did you see the youtube on "John Barrowman snogging the Marias"? (was on torch_wood comm, but here it is (http://youtube.com/watch?v=K_3QC3hvSS8) in case you missed it...)

Anyway, it _is_ all John Barrowman's fault. "Girls, there's plenty to go around!" Indeed...

I must admit, he makes even the silly things in style... and knowing that he can do "other than silly" is absolutely enhancing the folly.

And I am afraid we do have a lot of backsliding ahead of us. Schoolgirlish behaviour, here we come... (unfortunatly it's not very probable that I'll find a Torchwood poster any time soon around here. To put on my bedroom door, you see...)