Why Award Ceremonies Are Pointless

It may have been 25 years since branch managers were convicted of theft and fraud, but the four-part ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office has renewed public interest in the scandal. Richard and Marina explain the slowburn of the story and why entertainment can play a key role in keeping stories in the public eye.
Luke Littler was a tale that kept people glued to the darts over Christmas, but what can darts tell us about sport in general, plus Maria and Richarsd's favourite show The Traitor's returns and Richard has a plan on how he'd win plus The Golden Globes kicks off awards season.
Twitter: @restisents
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[@AlbertSquareAfterDark]

Absolutely adoring this podcast. I wasn’t aware of Marina before but I am enjoying her and I adore Richard Osman so to hear him talk so forensically about telly is an absolute joy. So glad this has been a success.

[@robovac3557]

Yeah, it's lovely to listen to two people speak on things they have a real in depth knowledge of.

[@graemehorner6746]

Marina's column in the Guardian is always terrific too.

[@sarahpomegranate5131]

My parents ran a village post office in the 90s, as their pre-retirement job. When Horizon was being introduced, my father, who was an engineer and pretty tech savvy, was not happy about it all. He spoke to the PO district representative about his concerns, as he could see it was a very flawed system and he could foresee potential issues with it. The rep just said, off the record, that he understood my father’s point, but they’d invested a lot in it and it would go ahead, come what may. So they were aware it was problematic, to say the least. Luckily, my parents retired before they had to use Horizon for long. It’s shocking that some of the main culprits are still not being held accountable. Kudos to ITV for raising awareness of this disgraceful scandal.

[@thebagelsproductions]

Private Eye have been on the scandal for about 20 years I think, ages anyway

[@philcollinson4960]

I came across this Podcast a few days ago. What a joy to watch these two highly intelligent and articulate people debate the subject matters on offer. I love them both so much. Please don't stop...

[@talesfromrosie852]

Love that you’re doing weekly Q&A’s - really enjoyed the last one!

[@GoldnDusty]

It is worth noting that, for all the credit we give ITV, they did still cave to corporate structural pressure in one particular way: Adam Crozier was head of Royal Mail from 2003-2010, but doesn't at all feature in the drama series. Adam Crozier was also head of ITV until 2017. Small quibble, but it's irked me, at least.

[@j.s3300]

Great FA head

[@peter-lowe]

We gave 100 people 100 seconds to name as many awards shows as possible...

[@joeheaton7607]

Woo we are being blessed with 2 podcasts a week!

[@Grenglish91]

The thing I'm really enjoying while catching up with this podcast is the behind the curtain peak at the industry from 2 people that have been in different media for years and have really interesting insight. It's really interesting to hear about sports events and in previous episodes things like syndication of shows. It really puts logic behind the seemingly random decisions behind show cancellations.

[@DrCalamityJan]

Regarding that gasp out loud moment in the latest UK Traitors series, I was wondering if I would recognise what it was you were speaking about. And then I gasped out loud! Amazing.

[@jackfrear3537]

Fantastic podcast! The quality insight here has jumped it to the top of my list.

[@spooony2714]

Great podcast. Funny, relaxing with some great well thought out chat.

[@JeanneEllenSW]

What an enjoyable podcast! Thank you so much! (I am also a big Thursday Murder Club Fan)

[@alexscott1566]

Amn't is in common usage in Scots English. Brilliant duo.

[@happiestgoth]

Loving the podcast - just found it today and have been binging it. Not that I've watched it, but the traitors sounds a lot like the game among us.

[@babettesfeast6347]

The chemistry between Marina and Richard is incredible- they should have a TV chat show with guests never mind a podcast

[@andyjohnson4907]

Attention! This podcast doesn't spoil the latest UK series, but has major to minor spoilers for some of the other versions, including UK season one. Just in case you were wondering like I was.

[@davidhughes4185]

I agree with marina, awards are ridiculous, i’ve never understood why people want to watch celebrities hand trophies to each other

[@GuanoLad]

The difference between sport vs entertainment awards is that film vs film is not the same as team vs team. It's more akin to event vs event, which is not how sport works. You don't pitch football vs cricket, or tennis vs basketball, so you shouldn't put harrowing drama up against wacky comedy when choosing "Best Film", or put a dramatic heart wrenching performance against a brief amusing cameo for "Best Actress".

[@postedbyneal]

Loving this podcast (for the alg) unique NEW podcast in a super over crowded field

[@medialies6254]

the trouble with Richards "glitch" in series 1 of The Traitors about the last 2 that come down for breakfast were also one the shortlist formurder hence they must be faithful is.....only the viewers could spot that glitch....the contestants had no idea about that during the competition

[@PianoKwanMan]

38:40 onwards I love when there's a falling out. This is probably number one in my top Ten disagreements in this podcast

[@lemonsheamus7418]

On the darts/tennis chat- the shorter set format has been trialed in NextGen finals - doesn't really work as well - tennis scoring system is perfect really, expecially with tie break tension

[@nonindividual]

I live in India, and Traitors sounds like the game Mafia that's extremely popular in India and has been popular for at least 15 years. People often play the game at parties, and other get togethers.

[@philipellis7039]

As this is a day behind - Paula Vennells is handing back her CBE.

[@highdownmartin]

Before they turn up to ask for it back! Guilty.

[@grahambuckerfield4640]

They mentioned they recorded it on Monday, the day before the CBE was handed back.

[@liammcnichol3369]

Totally agree with Richard regarding awards for movie/arts etc

[@cvdbdesigns4332]

It seems the reason that The Bear falls into the comedy category at the Golden Globes is that the episodes are 30 -ish minutes long - and historically that was deemed a sitcom or comedy length whereas a drama will be an hour long.

[@dmontes133]

The golden globes are the worst, just look up Pia Zamora. Fantastic podcast! Thank you!

[@highdownmartin]

On the traitors theme, I’ll bet the producers egg people on to do a piece to camera or set up a three way chat where people come out with the bollox they come out with. The game plan of staying stumm only works with one person; twenty people sitting silently staring at each other for four episodes don’t make good tele

[@johnpotts8308]

Almost certainly. It might help you win the game to be invisible, but it makes lousy TV. The Producers will cast people who won't keep quiet and will blow up any conflict as much as they can.

[@matteopullicino]

I've just learned that "amn't" is an Irish word. Who knew!? Well... the Irish, I guess.

[@louisestevenson1038]

Can you talk about the other big talking point this week aswell, saltburn Xx

[@michaelrobson3460]

Would the panel host the award show for highest grossing movies of the previous year?

[@adamg2204]

Can you add timestamps on future videos

[@dmontes133]

Popularity does not equal quality.

[@captainrenault5683]

To see the epitome of awards hosting, google Ricky Gervais doing the 2020 Golden Globes.

[@andrewmontague9682]

You can make jokes about a celebrities at a award ceremony, Ricky Gervais did one about Martin Scorsese beimg too short to go on rides that he smirked and nodded along to. It's just about if you're poking fun rayher than making somebody look bad. There's a LOT of fragile egos in these audiences.

[@wmperry2790]

Watched Traitors on the strength of R&M's enthusiasm, But no, its just another awful , phony, reality contest. It might be the best one ever, but if you cant stomach the genre it'll still make you nauseous

[@aidanknox122]

Yes watched the first episode of season 1. Was appalled, even turning people away at the door before the whole thing starts. I did wonder why I was so viserally efected by it but then I thought oh Trump would love that level of humiliation and my dislike become clear. It's the times...

[@wmperry2790]

@@aidanknox122 The contest reality shows all seem like some arcane hazing ritual, With intricate humiliations that are only put up with for the money/clout. Is like getting tramps to fight for sport - it degarades everyone invlved, producers, contastants, audience - That said , i really admire richard's abilty to enjoy a wide ranfge of stuff - he decided early on to like the most carny-ish of stuff if it well done and work to bring better pinball machines and ring-toss stands

[@buzzukfiftythree]

I just cannot watch The Traitors. I can't watch a programme whose main thread is treachery and lying succeeding and honesty failing.

[@drwatsonca6945]

Award shows are for the people attending. If you don't like that thing then don't watch them. No one is forcing you to so why should you complain. In fact if you are the industry and you don't like them then tell everyone you never want an award for your work and refuse to accept them since you think them not worth it. Put your money where you mouth is.

[@JohnIrwin]

Do people who watch TV not watch Twitch? Didn't we all watch thousands of hours of people playing Amongus last year? Same game, same rules.

[@usedfuzzbox]

No axe to grind with Jo Koy, I barely know his work, but that monologue was painfully unfunny, compared to almost any other host under the circumstances described here....

[@brachiator1]

Koy was so bad that I switched off the TV. I tuned in later and really enjoyed the show. Many of the presenters were genuinely funny. Maybe it helps that they serve drinks. The stars looked fabulous and many of the speeches were touching.

[@untchableninja]

Please learn the difference between a game and a match in tennis

[@thebagelsproductions]

I think most games are pretty tense tbf, since holding the service games is so important when the opponents are closely matched

[@McZorr0101]

I still couldn’t care less about darts and you didn’t do it any favours by saying you were going to “touch on” it and then turning into a world class “pu” bore on the topic