We could all use a distraction right now, so hopefully this is a welcome one. This week’s edition of Graham Norton will feature a couch made up of James McAvoy promoting the M. Night Shyamalan thriller Split, Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard for Assassin’s Creed, and Room 101’s Frank Skinner. In honor of the episode set to air on BBC One on New Year’s Eve, a new clip was released of Fassbender and McAvoy creating live-action fan art. In other words, the acted out a fictional scenario based on fan submissions for us to enjoy.
One of the things I appreciate most about Graham Norton is that he doesn’t try too hard or speak over his guests. The conversation just flows (plus, he pivots topics like a champion bobsledder) so guests are able to act more naturally. He also lets them drink alcohol, so that could be part of it.
With that said, I do take issue with Norton’s routine mocking of fan art and fan fiction for the sake of comedy. While some face ribbing for the quality of their content (the legendary Harry Potter fanfic My Immortal comes to mind), I can’t help but feel like Graham is mocking the idea of these things rather than the quality. When he presents the fan art and fan fiction to his guests, it comes across as “Look at what these sad girls do with their time. Isn’t it ridiculous?!”
This time was no different, but McAvoy and Fassbender handled it with grace. Then again, they’ve had plenty of practice. In the clip, Graham has them revisiting some fan drawings and then takes things a step further by having them act out a scenario as suggested by members of his audience. So no, he didn’t enlist the help of the creators he often mocks.
Still, the segment turns out to be fun, because the X-Men co-stars are such great sports and had no problems hopping on a bicycle equipped with wind-blown scarves. I’m looking forward to the rest of the episode which includes more of FassAvoy antics, as well as a confused Cotillard trying to figure out this “impossibly Irish” couch.
(via BBC America, image via screencap)
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