Woo! So we are now just 18 days to go till semi-final one,
and just 10 days to go till they start rehearsing! Today I’ll be doing my three
favourite hosts; an integral part of Eurovision for the necessity of producing
good television. The hosts often seem not unforgotten, but pre-contest they
fail to take any real spotlight. I say that in relative to their impact; a good
host can make a show, a poor host can have a more negative influence than
apparent.
Take last year as a classic example. Why Austria felt the
need for three wooden hosts is utterly surreal, and the decision to then have a
fourth host in Conchita interviewing in the green room was just an overload.
Compare to the Danish hosts, or even Petra Mede on a solo in 2013 and there’s
no comparison. So there’s no better start to my top 3 than with Queen Petra…
#3 Malmö 2013 – Petra Mede (with help from Lynda Woodruff,
and Eric Saade in the Green Room)
Petra did this alone, bulked by hilarious Lynda Woodruff
cutaways and sexy motherfucker Eric Saade interviewing artists in the green
room. But Petra held an incredibly difficult show by herself, including a fantastic
interval which will stay in the mind of more than the fandom for many years to
come. And she’s hosting again this year too, so excited!
#2 Millstreet 1993 – Fionnuala Sweeney
When Ireland decided to host one of Europe’s biggest TV
shows in a “cowshed”, they took many risks – but they pulled it off. They
pulled off a magnificent show, and much thanks has to go to some brilliant
hosting by Fionnuala Sweeney. And what a magnificent host she was. Incredibly natural
and incredibly funny, she has gone on to have a fantastic career in the US as a
news reporter.
Take a look at this voting segment from 1993 below. It
features a famous call to war torn Sarajevo, in which somehow they managed a
phone line connection to tiny rural Millstreet; it features the well-known
moment of Fionnuala getting “carried” away with the Dutch vote; but most of
all, it features Fionnuala carrying the show during the voting in its last year
as a telephone line. These days countries use their video line to produce more
fireworks than a Chinese firework shop (cough Baku), club nights (Malta), or
the same well-known landmarks every single year (cough Paris). Back in 1993,
the host had to do much of that work to keep voting entertaining, and a big
hats off to Fionnuala.
It seems silly not to mention some other absolute hosting
greats. Lill Lindfors did a terrific job for Sweden back in 1985; Zelijko Joksimovic
for Serbia in 2008 of course; every girl gay fell in love with Mikko Lempilampi
for Finland in 2007; I enjoyed Meltem Cumbal for Turkey in 2004; Toto Cutugno
is just hilarious, and was a great host for Italy in 1991; of course there is
the legendary Katie Boyle who hosted no less than four times for the UK in
1960, 1963, 1968, and 1974; and while we are on Britain, Angela Rippon was a
wonderful host for the UK in 1977; and who could forget Terry Wogan’s sheer
brilliance for the UK as host AND commentator in 1998. Rest in peace Sir
Eurovision! And now for my favourite all time hosts…
#1 Dusseldorf 2011 – Anke Engelke, Stefan Raab, and Judith
Rakers
Take note hosts: this is how it’s done. I thought these
three did an amazing job and I’m not alone. I need not say anything, we all
know the fabulous job they did. Stefan Raab is hilarious alone, and well Anke
Engelke was just flawless. The Dusseldorf show went on to win awards for being
just a wonderfully produced and directed live television show, and a huge
amount of that has to go to these hosts for their stereotypically brilliant Deutsch
efficiency in hosting.
Interesting that from my three choices, none hosted from a
capital city. Well it’s not that interesting…stay tuned for tomorrow when I’ve
changed my plans for Day 18 and will be tackling a much harder challenge! With
love.
