The Word (TV series)
{{Short description|British television series, 1990 to 1995}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
| genre =
| director = Luke Campbell
Julia Knowles
| presenter = Terry Christian
Mark Lamarr
Dani Behr
Alan Connor
Amanda de Cadenet
Huffty
Katie Puckrik
Jasmine Dotiwala
Michelle Collins
| theme_music_composer = 808 State{{cite web|author= Simon Donohue |url=http://www.citylife.co.uk/music/news/2820_madchester_revival_may_be_on_the_cards |title=Madchester revival may be on the cards – News – Music – Greater Manchester's CityLife |publisher=Citylife.co.uk |date=31 December 2002 |access-date=22 August 2009}}
| opentheme = Olympic (Euro Bass Mix){{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/music/2003/01/eight_o_eight_state.shtml |title=Nottingham Music – 808 State |publisher=BBC |date=3 February 2003 |access-date=22 August 2009}}
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| num_series = 5
| num_episodes = 104
| executive_producer = Jane Buchanan
| producer = Sean Borg
Paul Ross
Tamsin Summers
Asif Zubairy
| location = Limehouse Studios (1990–92){{cite web |url=https://www.tvstudiohistory.co.uk/itv-studios-in-london/wembley-lee-international-film-studios/ |title=Wembley (Lee, Limehouse, Fountain) |publisher=TV Studio History |accessdate=17 November 2022}}
Teddington Studios (1993–95)
| runtime = 60 minutes (inc. adverts)
| company = Planet 24
| channel = Channel 4
| first_aired = {{start date|df=y|1990|08|24}}Date: Friday, 24 Aug 1990 Publication: The Times (London, England)Issue: 63793
| last_aired = {{end date|df=y|1995|03|24}}
| related = The Girlie Show
}}
The Word was a Channel 4 variety show in the United Kingdom that aired from 1990 to 1995.{{cite news|title= How The Word changed television for ever|work= Guardian|date=10 August 2010|url= https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/aug/10/the-word-changed-television|access-date=2 November 2010|location=London|first=Charlie|last=Parsons}}
Format
The show's presenters included Terry Christian, comedian Mark Lamarr, Dani Behr, Katie Puckrik, Jasmine Dotiwala, Alan Connor, Amanda de Cadenet and Huffty.{{cite web|author=Mark Lawson |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/the-last-word-in-trash-tv-1610484.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/the-last-word-in-trash-tv-1610484.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=The Last Word In Trash Tv – Life & Style |work=The Independent |date=9 March 1995 |access-date=19 November 2012}}{{cbignore}} Originally broadcast in the old Tube time slot of 6 pm Friday evenings, The Word's main live show was shifted to a late-night timeslot from 9 November 1990. The magazine format allowed for interviews, live music, features and even game shows. The flexible late-night format meant that guests could do just about anything to be controversial.
There was also an 'I'll do anything to be on TV' section called "The Hopefuls" which ran for half of series 4 and half of series 5 in which people did generally repulsive things in order to get featured on the programme.
Production
The show was the brainchild of Charlie Parsons and Terry Christian, the name of the show coming from Christian's page in the Manchester Evening News; "The Word Is Terry Christian". It started covering up and coming Manchester bands in the autumn of 1989 and appeared in the paper every Friday evening . The show originally had a working title of Club X2 and was originally produced for series 1 and 2 by the production company 24 Hour Productions, which later became Planet 24.
Paul Ross was the series editor on series 3 and 4, and became executive producer for series 5. Jo Whiley worked as a researcher/band booker on series 2 and half of series 3 and is credited as having given Nirvana their historic and notorious first TV appearance.{{cite web |url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/radio1/jowhiley.shtml |title = BBC – Press Office – Jo Whiley|publisher=Bbc.co.uk|access-date=19 November 2012}}
The programme ran for five series from 1990 to 1995. From the start, there was considerable tabloid backlash against the show. In mid 2000, Channel 4 screened a short-running compilation series titled Best of The Word, which mostly featured music performances.
Tango sponsored the show in 1994.
Notable moments
- Nirvana's international television debut performance of "Smells Like Teen Spirit", with Kurt Cobain declaring Courtney Love to be "the best fuck in the world."{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/best-of-the-word |title=Best of The Word |publisher=Channel 4 |access-date=4 December 2009}}
- Singer/guitarist Donita Sparks of L7 removing her jeans and underwear during a performance, the full-frontal nudity displayed when she drops her guitar being briefly broadcast.
- The TV debut of Oasis playing "Supersonic".
- Rage Against the Machine playing "Killing in the Name", resulting in a stage invasion with guitarist Tom Morello and singer Zack de la Rocha both being stopped from performing by the chaotic crowd.
- Lynne Perrie, best known for her role as Ivy Tilsley in soap opera Coronation Street, performing a tuneless rendition of the Gloria Gaynor song "I Will Survive".
- A very drunk Oliver Reed giving a barely coherent interview before performing "Wild Thing" by The Troggs with Ned's Atomic Dustbin."
- Shabba Ranks advocating crucifixion of homosexuals, which met with universal condemnation including an onscreen retort from presenter Lamarr.{{cite web|author=Tim Lusher |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/aug/10/the-word-best-moments |title=Best moments of The Word: from grunge to gross-out | Television & radio |work=The Guardian |date=10 August 2010 |access-date=19 November 2012}}{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Dave |title=Straight talking |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/mar/01/gender.politicsphilosophyandsociety |access-date=27 February 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=1 Mar 2001}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|id=0169515|title=The Word}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Word (TV series), The}}
Category:1990 British television series debuts
Category:1995 British television series endings
Category:1990s British music television series
Category:British music television shows
Category:Channel 4 original programming