Q&A - Playing Dead on Film, Hierarchy of Journalists & Writing Quiz Show Music

[@pmgreatorex]

I’m the Pam Greatorex who asked the question about corpses! Thanks Marina and Richard for giving such a satisfying answer to my question. Now I am looking even closer at dead bodies on screen! Love your work!

[@keithyork8226]

I once played a corpse in a school play and although I say so myself, I absolutely f**king nailed it!!! There were gasps of amazement from the audience when I jumped up to take my bow at the final curtain!

[@andyballard1883]

Simply the best Podcast around. Richard and Marina are a brilliant duo with so much insight and experience of media and entertainment.

[@matthewr8502]

Can't remember who said it, but I always loved the quip about Royal Correspondents being the equivalent of the piano player in the brothel.

[@mikesanborn4541]

This show has such a calm measured intelligence, it's a joy to listen to.

[@viennacat1]

Love the Q&A episodes. Often hearing about how media works behind the scenes is far more fascinating than the actual product produced

[@Gerry-Hat-trick]

I'm delighted I ran across this podcast when I did. I'm forever watching pods about politics, economics, my football team, and they're all brilliant. However, all of those subjects have massive potential for negative news. Whereas entertainment is just entertainment. No guns, no bombs, no poverty, no misery...unless the discussion goes on to something like TOWIE 😁 Richard and Marina are excellent hosts, mines of information, and funny too. Keep up the great work 👏👏👏

[@BrayTube]

When I hear of an interesting film I first check to see what Mark Kermode thought of it. Not because I always agree with his take but because he clearly loves his subject and he is consistent and fair. I've loved films he's hated and hated films he's loved but I tend to know what I'm in for either way. His consistency is sufficient for me to gauge, as I listen to him slate a film, that I might actually like it. I love this podcast so much because I haven't had to make any such calibrations yet, every recommendation I've followed so far has been a hit. Thanks, guy! We all believe everyone is entitled to our opinion even though (as the last 20 years has shown) most of our opinions are pretty worthless. I've always wondered about opinion writers and critics, etc.- what must it be like to realise that beyond simply having value your opinions can buy a house?!

[@NerdGirlUK]

I love the Q&A editions. Loads of stuff I've wondered about but not got round to asking. So glad that others have!

[@Ryanneey]

Oh, can you tell more stories about Whose Line? I remember growing up watching the original and eventually the American version, and I was obsessed ❤

[@KristineMaitland]

Back in the late 60s my mother did her nursing degree at the University of the West Indies. It is a running joke about how her favorite shift was in the morgue. "The dead don't complain," my mother says.

[@chaoticneutral6288]

You're both looking well, I hope you're both doing well too :) Thanks so much for being here twice a week to entertain us, I recently caught up on all the episodes and I have notifications on and look forward to every episode. Love all that you both have to say and to teach us !

[@a0z905]

Really enjoy listening to your episodes at the start of my work day here in Australia, thanks for the interesting insights and thanks also to Marina for introducing me to my new favourite insult: the "C Monster" 😄

[@MLSNYC88]

10:45 - worked in sports writing for 10-15 years and this is painfully accurate.

[@vladimirimp]

This show is so brilliant.

[@maxine2798]

Perhaps all questions should start with “love the show Marina Richard “

[@Hubbacks]

Still blows my mind that the Theme for "Going For Gold" was composed by Hans Zimmer!

[@chaoticneutral6288]

He composed for a MrBeast video too which felt surreal to me

[@Alibotify]

Interesting that we have royal reporters in my country that behave the same way as the British! On point!!

[@stephenbarrette610]

Just another brilliant examination of the media. Not quiz show themes but my favourites are Hill Street Blues by Mike Post, Bob Jame’s Taxi theme, The Persuaders by John Barry and of course Thunderbirds by Barry Gray. Favourite quiz show theme music for me, that includes the really important beds and stings has to be Who Wants to be a Millionaire. (I even bought a CD of the music, very geeky I know)

[@JorWat25]

I'm pretty sure the Millionaire music won an award. It really is the gold standard for quiz show music.

[@JorWat25]

"The Strachans' Millionaire soundtrack was honoured by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers with numerous awards"

[@highdownmartin]

VLS was a great tv critic. I occasionally disagreed with his viewpoint but could absolutely see how he arrived there. Victor is no longer down the line in York. RIP

[@caveman6627]

These notifications are the highlight of my week. Even though you said The Gentlemen was rubbish 👀

[@tobyk8125]

It wasn't even that good!

[@97channel]

When I was training in performing arts, I learnt a lot of skills to at least a competent level. But staying still... you'd think it would be the easiest thing of all, but it's easily the most difficult. I was never that good at it. I was once in a production where I had to be in a freeze state on stage for 30 minutes before the play even started, whilst the audience were entering, and I can tell you that it was one of the most physically painful experiences of my life. You don't realise just how much you adjust your posture in everyday life. Even when you think you're just sitting still watching telly or something, believe me you're not. You make constant tiny shifts in your body, which relieves strain and prevents aching. When you have to be entirely still, it's pure torture. The agony that builds up is unbearable, and I remember on one night I very nearly fainted when the play started and I lifted my head. I came that close. Either I'd cut off blood supply to my head, or it'd all been pushed there. I don't know which. But my head felt like the weight of a cannonball, no lie. Staying still can be the hardest thing that a person can do.

[@MarkSmith-re4he]

I’m a composer and have chatted to paul. Fantastic composer and so insightful. Would love to work on a game show !

[@Cchogan]

Royalties from themes is lovely! Especially if long running with loads of variations. Like the chappy who wrote the BBC News theme - how often does that get played? Depending on the station, that can be very nice. Getting music on a Discovery doc can be very pleasing when it gets repeated.

[@WilliamHickman-i4z]

Watched a film recently, I can’t remember the name, and the corpses nostrils were flaring constantly while the characters in the room were chatting 😂

[@10538overture]

You can tell Nicholas Witchell and Jennie Bond really resent not being on the balcony at every flypast.

[@ricardiosentulio607]

I saw Paul Merton live many years ago, and he told us that he does try and win HIGNFY each week.

[@Nufleg]

‘Like a Benetton of death’ made me laugh enough that I coughed. So clearly a writer!

[@trjhobart]

The interesting question here (for me) on Journalists being banned for unfavourable reporting is: Do you believe there's a line? The example where i would say it's acceptable to ban is where both Liverpool & Everton have banned The Sun for obvious reasons related to Hillsborough. You've said that people should be able to write what they want within the bounds of freedom of speech, but is a demonstrable falsehood the line to be drawn where they can be excluded for that sort of rule break? Just interested on it, not passing judgement, because obviously it's short-ish form answers where nuance can be lost.

[@trjhobart]

@@Est-os9yc The short period part is interesting because, of course, the ban I referenced continues to this day due to the egregious nature of the lies reported. Perhaps a sliding scale would be acceptable? But then there's the issue of subjectivity between clubs. I'm sure there's no easy answer, but it's an interesting chat to have !

[@RudyR23]

On the topic of this podcast's theme tune, there's (almost) a ready-made remix available. Konichiwa by Pink Freud (particularly the second half of the song) gets stuck in my head every time I hear the intro to the pod. ❤

[@DrCalamityJan]

Wonderful episode.

[@davidchambers7114]

lovely chat .. cheers DC Londoner in Oz

[@muskerp]

Journalism both traditional and now new media is a very strange beast. It starts with "I am a journalist, you cant shoot me" (which is fine but why doesnt it apply the same to all non-combatants), and moves forward with "I'm a journalist, some rules / laws dont apply to me, because the story is more important" (I appreciate that there are bad rules / laws and sometimes a story is pretty important), then "I'm a journalist common decency doesnt apply to me", for traditional journalism there is some control, although it seems pretty weak, some media seems to have almost no filter / redress or accountability. I have nothing personal against journalists (or people who claim to be journalists when it suits them) but when / how did they get this real or imagined status? Is it from the era of press barons? What makes a journalist a journalist as opposed to someone who just chooses to call themself a journalist to try to get in on some of the rule shortcuts like internet auditors? Is there a professional body with agreed rules - hippocratic oath style, if so where are these written and do people get struck off?

[@RaphaelBriand]

From around 9:00 there appears to be a LOT cut out from Marina's juicy insights on newsrooms!

[@obroni]

Is there a way to donate, so they can buy them a larger monitor? It looks so sad.

[@stuwoowoo]

I recently purchased Richard's first three 'The Thursday Murder Club' novels in paperback. The spines of the books are red, blue and green respectively. Is this a reference to Edgar Wright's / Simon Pegg's "Cornetto Trilogy"?

[@peaboss]

Critique question was perfect alley-oop for recommendations

[@christianstanding]

Great episode, as always, but now I'm going to be wondering for the next while which host they approached with the rebooted version of TIYL.

[@David-j9h9g]

I miss Clive James reviews in the Observer back in the day!!!1

[@joesmyth88]

make these episodes much longer please.

[@MrMakeDo]

I really enjoy this show.

[@ZeoR95]

It's not criticism necessarily, but music awards are very often given by people who don't know a thing about the specific genre being covered. Case in point: no metalhead takes the Grammy for Best Metal Performance remotely seriously, because it so often obviously goes to the one act they've heard of, regardless of the general consensus of the more specific metal press, or metalheads in general. I've also heard of this happening with other genres that are relatively niche, such as with the Afrobeat one they introduced this year.

[@tobyk8125]

No one should take any of the Grammys seriously

[@nzd3742]

WILTY often pans the camera away to David or Lee while Rob's announcing the scores, at least in later seasons. I'd assumed this was because they edited the audio in after.

[@katiesvegpatch]

Was watching a cop show the other day (I think it was the brilliant Blue Lights) and the apparently dead old lady blinked as the police officer walked up the stairs.

[@mephistoXFC459V]

"If you're any good at your job you'll be watching huge amounts of TV anyway." My ideal job!

[@mrsheffield37]

Thanks. Always excellent.

[@nickb4541]

re: the WILTY dissection by Richard, What stays in? Anything Bob Mortimer says.

[@simoncarswell3515]

If I ever get around to forming a metal band I'm calling it "Benetton of Death".

[@Robalogot]

I used to work in belgian football and players would refuse quotes when you gave them a 6 or lower...

[@mikeb3018]

Would you say Jonathan liew enjoys football? Reading some of his pieces from the euros would suggest no..

[@callum9999]

This is easily my favourite podcast, but the editing can get a bit annoying! Is there a reason why they keep putting those newspaper clipping screenwipes in while they're halfway through a topic? Between questions it would make sense, but they just immediately pick up where they left off.

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

Osman's a good man but I LOVE Marina Hyde.

[@michaelrobson3460]

Devad my air hockey challenge hasn't been addressed or taken up.

[@redballoonluke]

Hans Zimmer did Going For Gold

[@RainbowPlays14]

A tangent, on the topic of theme music that viewers might find interesting. A couple of big names in production started out with the theme songs for Saturday Morning cartoons in the 80s. Chuck Lorre, of The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men, was involved in the Theme Song for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Haim Saban and Shuki Levy (who later dominated Saturday mornings in the 90s with Power Rangers, and Fox Kids) wrote most of the catalogue for DIC Entertainments themes. Stan Lee, who was already massive in comics of course, wrote the theme for 'Defenders of the Earth'. Might be a bit American for you guys, but maybe interesting none the less.

[@chrisalbertyn4004]

But how do they score QI?????

[@johnwelch5132]

The Manic Street Preachers wrote a song called ‘Royal Correspondent’ when just journalists were particularly fawning of the Royals.

[@playingdominoes]

Like a Benetton of death!

[@TheRestIsEntertainment]

Sounds like the perfect name for a Richard Osman Novel😂

[@LiveDonkeyDeadLion]

Film composers are one of the five crucial parts of a successful film according to William Goldman in his great book, which lie did I tell? I’m sure you’ve probably read it, if not, my question is why haven’t you?

[@icarusandtherabbit]

Write the Theme Tune, Sing the Theme Tune. That’s how it goes 😊

[@multiblurn]

I hate The Wheel bring back The Wall (Danny Dyer not Roger Walters)

[@richardcook1987]

I actually really fancy Marina.

[@pokedon92]

We all do.

[@highdownmartin]

I’m sure she’ll be able to cry herself to sleep with that newfound knowledge!

[@richardcook1987]

@@highdownmartin she's already rizzing me up in my DMs

[@highdownmartin]

@@richardcook1987 you’re jizzing in your Doc Martens? Dirty sod.

[@thomasdalton1508]

We need more journalists to say they aren't comfortable doing a particular story. There are far too many stories that really should never have been published. A little journalistic integrity would be nice...

[@Wafflehunter42]

Ethics is a standard thing taught in schools nowerdays it is not surprising that people stand up and say they are not going to write the story that should not be written.

[@jgcondron]

That's not journalism that's being a propagandist.

[@thomasdalton1508]

@@totallybored5526 It's a hope, rather than an expectation.

[@donnacoogan5333]

😊😊😊😊😅😅😊😅😅😊😅😊😊😅😊😊😊😅😊😅😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😅😊😊😅😊😊😊😅😊😅😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😅😊😊😅😊😅😊😅😅😊😊😅😊😊😊😅😊😊😊😊😊😅😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😅😊😊😊😊😅😅😊😊😅😊😊😊😊😅😊😅😊😊😊😊😊😅😊😅😊😅😊😊😊😊😊😊😅😊😊😅😅😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😅😊😊😅😊😊😅😊😊😅😊😊

[@donnacoogan5333]

​@@totallybored5526😊😅

[@tim2223]

More great insights from Richard, again spoilt by Marina’s evident attitude that no one outside of her aristocratic class should hold sway in the arts or media landscape.

[@cipherhex]

Can you give any examples?

[@richardcook1987]

She's brilliant. Also fancy the pants off her

[@CaesarTjalbo]

The scoring on HIGNFY is complete bollocks

[@MikusMusik]

A question for Marina Dudley-Williams, do you feel shame for working at the Sun? Daughter of a baron, being broke is no excuse.

[@GeoffBoydCott]

Interesting again how the Journo brushes over the issues regarding football clubs not letting papers in because of stuff they said. "Papers should be able to write whatever they like" lol. She worked for The Sun didnt she? I like the podcast, but once you get onto anything Journalistic it falls apart because the one leading the discussion is incredibly biased and it isnt insightful.

[@3dollarfilms.]

Hey was she the sexy teacher on the show Skins?

[@BasketballJones1977]

Anyone else think Marina has a crush on Richard? 😮😅

[@peterdanielman]

...How fast does Marina talk when she's on coke?

[@mikesullivan3420]

She bleats on about wanting to win a quiz show and that she’d be revising for it yet spurts out utter inane incorrect bullshit week after week with obviously zero research. She just spews arse gravy every time she opens her mouth and guesses at things she clearly knows nothing about. She’s way out of her depth on here. Get someone else in.

[@thebagelsproductions]

I dunno, that's a bit harsh