Would You Rather...? with Graham Norton

Overview

Graham Norton brings his trademark style of wit and humor to BBC AMERICA’s first original comedy series - the all-new panel show Would You Rather…? with Graham Norton. Based on popular British panel-style shows, each week celebrities and comedians are asked to contemplate and discuss ridiculous predicaments and moral quandaries. After a hilarious and candid debate the panelists must ultimately decide what they’d rather do and Graham picks his favorite response.  Would You Rather...?with Graham Norton airs Saturdays at 11:00pm ET/PT as part of BBC AMERICA’s Ministry of Laughs. 

Academy Award-winner Whoopi Goldberg, Grammy Award-winner Cyndi Lauper, Emmy Award-winner Stanley Tucci, The Good Wife’s Alan Cumming,  30 Rock’s Scott Adsit and Judah Friedlander, Fairy Legal’s Baron Vaughn, comedians Michael Ian Black, Mo Rocca, Eugene Mirman, Faith Salie, Dave Hill, Jessi Klein, Andrea Rosen, Christian Finnegan, Leo Allen, Hannibal Buress, Janet Varney, Joe Mande, Jordan Carlos, Michelle Buteau, Sam Seder and Sherrod Small have all decided they’d rather spend an evening with Graham and his guests than telling jokes and hobnobbing at fancy celebrity parties. 

 Would You Rather…? with Graham Norton is filmed in New York City in front of a live studio audience. The new original series launches on December 3 with panelists Stanley Tucci, Scott Adsit, Sherrod Small and Jordan Carlos followed by episode two featuring Cyndi Lauper, Michelle Buteau, Joe Mande and Christian Finnegan.

 "When they asked me, would I rather sit in London watching television with my dogs or spend three weeks in New York with some of the brightest and funniest people in the States - it was a very easy decision to make," said Graham Norton, host of the UK’s biggest talk show The Graham Norton Show, which premiered its tenth season on October 29. Graham Norton has won five BAFTA Awards and six British Comedy Awards in his career.

 The series is a So Television (The Graham Norton Show) production for BBC AMERICA with Graham Stuart (The Graham Norton Show, Pixelface, The Joan Rivers Position), Jim Biederman (The Onion News Network, The Tom Green Show, The Kids in the Hall) and Graham Norton serving as executive producers. 

 “BBC AMERICA asked us if we would rather come to our favorite city in the world to make a hilarious panel show with brilliant comedians.  Or not.  We’re going to get back to them soon,” said Graham Stuart Executive Producer and Co-Founder of So Television.

 Executive Producer Jim Biederman added: “I am thrilled to be working with Graham Norton and BBC AMERICA on Would You Rather? with Graham Norton. Being a big fan of both, it's pretty much a dream job.”

 Would You Rather? with Graham Norton joins BBC AMERICA’s recently announced stable of all-new original programming, along with Richard Hammond’s Crash Course and scripted drama Copper, which both premiere in 2012.  The series airs as part of BBC AMERICA’s Ministry of Laughs franchise, which launched in June and brings the best of British comedy to the U.S. in a two-hour comedy block every Saturday night.

Upcoming Guests:
Saturday, February 25 – Guests include Whoopi Goldberg, Janet Varney, Leo Allen and Michael Ian Black
 

Details

WHAT THE PANELISTS ARE SAYING…

On participating in the show Alan Cumming said, “Would You Rather…? with Graham Norton sounded like one of the games I might play with Graham on a fun night out, so I thought audiences should get a chance to play it, too.  There’s just much less booze involved on the TV version!”

 Cyndi Lauperdescribes her experience on Would You Rather…? with Graham Nortonand shares her new inside joke: "I always, always have a blast with Graham and the show was such fun.  By the way, I am your father Luke Skywalker!"

 Scott Adsit describes Would You Rather…? with Graham Norton, "It's a no win situation where everybody wins."

 Michael Ian Blackdescribes his experience on Would You Rather…? with Graham Norton, "I had a ridiculously fun time on Graham Norton's absurd new show.”

 Stanley Tuccion his love for Graham Norton, "I love Graham Norton and thank God he’s on television..."

 Sherrod Smalldoesn’t hide his love for Graham when explaining why he wanted to be a panelist on Would You Rather…? with Graham Norton, “I watch The Graham Norton Show all the time so when I got an opportunity to work on Would you Rather…? with him, I jumped at it.  If you ask me, Graham is the second most important Irish dude ever – right behind the guy who invented Guinness!”

 Mo Roccaon the side effects of being a panelist on Would You Rather…? with Graham Norton, “Being a panelist on Graham Norton's show makes me long for the days when America was just a bunch of British colonies.   Graham rules!”

 Jordan Carlosdescribes his experience on Would You Rather…? with Graham Norton, “In this game of binaries I kept praying for a third choice.  It did not come.  And now people know the real me.  I can explain!  I can explain!”

 Andrea Rosendescribes her experience on the show, “I’m breast feeding right now, so I loooved playing the TV non-alcoholic version of Would You Rather…? with Graham Norton (who was drinking!).”

 On participating in Would You Rather…? with Graham Norton and her future career aspirations, Janet Varney says, “I was so delighted to be a part of the amazing Graham Norton's Would You Rather…?  It was incredibly fun, although regrettably my voice is still hoarse from laughing so much.  In related news, I'm quitting my professional career to spend full time lobbying to have Graham's name legally changed to ‘The Amazing Graham Norton.’”

 On his experience on Would You Rather…? with Graham Norton, Sam Seder says, “Playing Would You Rather…? sober and in front of a live audience was probably the most uncomfortable I've ever felt with my clothes on.”

 EPISODE SYNOPSES

Episode One

Panelists Stanley Tucci, Scott Adsit, Sherrod Small and Jordan Carlos join host Graham Norton for the premiere episode of Would You Rather…? with Graham Norton.  The gentlemen debate a number of topics including: Would you rather everything you said for the rest of your life was the absolute truth or an absolute lie? Would you rather your mom had a sex change or your dad had a sex change?  Stanley Tucci discusses the negative effects of fingers making the sound of a piano and Scott Adsit explains why he would like to kiss a frog.  Episode One premiered Saturday, December 3, 11:00pm ET/PT.

 Episode Two

Panelists Cyndi Lauper, Michelle Buteau, Joe Mande and Christian Finnegan join host Graham Norton to deliberate a number of situations including: Would you rather involuntarily laugh when told about someone’s death, or make a disgusted face when someone shows you a picture of their child?  Would you rather have to eat Thanksgiving dinner every day or never be able to dance again?  Cyndi Lauper tries out Darth Vader’s voice and reveals her childhood nickname.  Episode Two premiered Saturday, December 3, 11:30pm ET/PT.

 Episode Three

Panelists Alan Cumming, Scott Adsit, Dave Hill and Faith Salie join host Graham Norton to ponder a number of situations including: Would you rather involuntarily fart after people finish speaking or sigh heavily just after they start? Would you rather have a button that made you feel eight-percent happier or one that made everyone else around you twelve-percent sadder?  Scott Adsit discusses his secret relationship with Scarlett Johansson and Alan Cumming describes how tasty his dog’s food looks.  Episode Three premiered Saturday, December 10, 11:00pm ET/PT.

 Episode Four

Panelists Judah Friedlander, Mo Rocca, Hannibal Burress and Andrea Rosen join host Graham Norton to consider a series of dilemmas including: Would you rather be able to give advice to your past self or take advice from your future self? Would you rather permanently lose your thumbs or a cousin?  Judah Friedlander discusses why he would like to be chained to a self-help guru and how his role model is his future self.  Episode Four premiered Saturday, December 17, 11:00pm ET/PT.

   PANELISTS’ BIOGRAPHIES

ALAN CUMMING   

Alan Cumming is a man of many talents, with credits that include stage, television and film acting, singing, writing, directing and producing.  He currently plays Eli Gold in The Good Wife, a role that has earned him two Emmy®Award nominations.  Cumming’s credits include Emma, GoldenEye, Cabaret and the Spy Kids trilogy.  In addition to his eclectic career in the arts, he is also an advocate for LGBT equality and civil rights.

 ANDREA ROSEN

Andrea Rosen is a stand-up comedienne, actress and writer.  Her television credits include Flight of the Conchords, The Big C, Michael and Michael Have Issues and Whitest Kids You Know.  Rosen has written and performed two one-woman shows: Fast and Loose and Room For Rent.  She has performed with comedy troupes Stella and Variety Shac and claims to hold a women’s world fishing record.

 BARON VAUGHN

Baron Vaughn is an actor/comedian who has been featured on NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, Awkward Comedy Show, Russell Simmons Presents Stand-up at the El Rey, Lopez Tonight and most recently on TBS’ Conan.  He has also performed at numerous comedy festivals including the HBO Comedy Festival in Aspen, the Comedy Central festival in South Beach and the 2010 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival.  Vaughn’s television and film credits include Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Rescue Me, Cloverfield and Black Dynamite.  His stage work includes Damn Yankees at the NY City Center with Jane Krakowski and Sean Hayes and Drowning Crow with Alfre Woodard. Baron currently stars as Leonardo Price in the USA Network series Fairly Legal.  His comedy album, Raised by Cable, was released in September.

 CHRISTIAN FINNEGAN

Christian Finnegan is a stand-up comedian.  He appears frequently on television and also writes things, for both money and for kicks.  Finnegan can currently be seen on the sitcom Are We There Yet? but is perhaps best known as one of the original cast members of VH1’s Best Week Ever, where he offered keen insight into the workings of popular culture and the ubiquity of celebrity genitalia. 

 CYNDI LAUPER     

Cyndi Lauper found fame when she declared, “Girls just wanna have fun” in the ‘80s.  Since then she has become a musical icon and been nominated for fourteen Grammy®Awards, two Emmy®Awards, two American Music Awards, seven American Video Awards and eighteen MTV awards.  She even has a Barbie designed after her.  Lauper also began the Give a Damn campaign to bring a wider awareness to discrimination of the LGBT community.  

 DAVE HILL

Dave Hill is a poet, a dancer, and - perhaps most of all - a thief, who will soon steal your heart.  He is also a comedian, writer, and musician living in New York City, in an apartment all by himself.  He starred in his own TV program The King of Miami, which was canceled after just one season despite Hill really liking it.  Hill was named one of Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch in 2007 and has appeared on networks such as MTV, Comedy Central, HBO, and Cinemax, among others.  He is a frequent contributor on public radio’s This American Life and his first book, Tasteful Nudes, will be published by St. Martin’s Press

in spring 2012.  So there.

 EUGENE MIRMAN

Eugene Mirman is a comedian and hero who lives in Brooklyn, New York.  He is a regular on Flight of the Conchords, Adult Swim’s Delocated, he had his own special on Comedy Central and currently voices Gene in the new animated Fox series Bob’s Burgers.  Mirman was named Best New York City Comedian in 2009 by the Village Voice and one of the 10 Best Comedians of the last decade by Paste Magazine.  Along with Julie Smith and Caroline Creaghead, Mirman produces the annual Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival (which began as a joke), a celebration of comedy he likes while satirizing comedy festivals.

 FAITH SALIE

Faith Salie is a television and national public radio host, commentator, interviewer, "ethics expert" (according to Oprah), actor, and journalist.  And she's probably the only Rhodes Scholar who's been a stand-up comedian.  Her television credits include CBS Sunday Morning, Bravo’s The Approval Matrix, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Fox News' Red Eye and The O'Reilly Factor.  She’s a regular panelist on NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me.  She has also appeared in gold lamé on Sex and the City and has been beamed up on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – landing herself on a Star Trek collectible trading card.

 HANNIBAL BURESS

Hannibal Buress is a stand-up comedian from Chicago.  He currently resides in New York City and he eats lots of Halal food from street carts. It’s delicious.  He’s appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Lopez Tonight, theLate Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  He can also be seen in Louie, 30 Rock and has previously written for 30 Rock and SNL.  Hannibal continues to perform in both comedy and rock clubs, alongside such artists as Louis CK, Patrice O’Neal, Aziz Ansari, Les Savy Fav and Handsome Furs.  Hannibal’s first album, My Name Is Hannibal, is available now through Stand Up! Records.

 JANET VARNEY

Janet Varney is a comedian and actor perhaps best known for hosting TBS's Dinner and a Movie.  She recurred on HBO’s Entourage as Amy Miller (a television producer who works alongside Eric and Charlie) and has made guest appearances in hit shows including How I Met Your Mother, Hot in Cleveland, Psych, Bones, on the panel of Chelsea Lately and has appeared in films such as Still Waiting, Drillbit Taylor, and Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer.  She is also the voice for the titular character on Nickelodeon's new Last Airbender series, The Legend of Korra.  Varney is the co-founder, creative director and co-producer of the SF Sketchfest, the San Francisco Sketch Comedy Festival.

 JESSI KLEIN

Jessi is a New York City based stand-up comedian and writer.  Since entering the comedy scene in 2001 she’s made numerous appearances on Comedy Central, CNBC, the Today show, The Showbiz Show and VH1′s Best Week Ever.  She wrote and co-starred in Comedy Central’s Michael and Michael Have Issues and she was a writer on SNL for the 2009-2010 season.  Klein previously worked as a director of development for Comedy Central, where she helped develop Chappelle's Show and Stella.

 JOE MANDE

Joe Mande lives in New York City, where he performs comedy and eats mostly pizza.  He has been onConan, Comedy Central, VH1, MTV and a few other much less impressive basic cable channels.  He was recently named Time Out New York’s Best New Comedian and is also responsible for the blog, book, and popular phrase: Look At This F***ing Hipster.

 JORDAN CARLOS

Jordan Carlos is a New York comedian and actor whose Dallas roots have fostered both his love of football and JFK conspiracy theories.  Currently, you can catch him on MTV's new comedy series I Just Want My Pants Back or MTV 2's Guy Code.  He's also a regular player on CollegeHumor.com where he often plays President Obama.  He has appeared in Nurse Jackie, Ugly Betty, Comedy Central's Live at Gotham and the Montreal Comedy Festival.

JUDAH FRIEDLANDER

On the stand-up comedy stage, Judah Friedlander is The World Champion.  He is the best athlete in the world, greatest martial artist, the sexual desire of every woman, and a role model to children.  Judah is an extra-dark blackbelt in karate.  Judah started doing stand-up in 1989 and it continues to be his main job.  When not doing stand-up, Judah plays Frank Rossitano on the Emmy® Award-winning series 30 Rock.  Judah has made over 30 movies and has appeared on hundreds of TV shows including the Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and The Daily Show.  Judah was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 2003 Independent Spirit Awards for his role in the Sundance-winning American Splendor.  Judah’s instructional karate book, How To Beat Up Anybody, is based on his stand-up act, but with brand new material.  Next year Judah will be coming out with both a stand-up album and stand-up concert movie.  

 LEO ALLEN

Leopold Rufus Allen is a comedian, writer, director and actor from Detroit, now living in Queens, New York.  He has performed stand-up comedy on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Last Call with Carson Daly, NBC's Late Fridays and in his own Comedy Central Presents half hour special.  As an actor, he's appeared on Sex in the City, Ed, Wainy Days and Michael & Michael Have Issues.  Allen spent three seasons writing for Saturday Night Live, contributed to Human Giant on MTV and was the co-head writer on A Night of Too Many Stars.  Most recently, Allen co-created, co-wrote, and co-starred in Comedy Central’s Jon Benjamin Has A Van.

 MICHAEL IAN BLACK

Michael Ian Black is a popular comedian who began his career with The State, a sketch comedy troupe he co-founded, which went on to have a successful run on MTV.  He then co-created the Comedy Central television series Viva Variety, a fake European variety show, and Stella, which he co-created with Michael Showalter and David Wain.  He wrote and directed Wedding Daze, which starred Jason Biggs and Isla Fischer and wrote Run Fat Boy Run, which starred Simon Pegg and Thandie Newton.  In addition to acting, writing, directing and stand-up comedy, Black is also an author. 

 MICHELLE BUTEAU

Actress/comedian Michelle Buteau is a nationally touring comedian who has performed at colleges, clubs, and popular festivals including Bumbershoot, Bonnaroo, and the HBO Aspen Comedy Festival.  She has been featured on E!, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, and most recently, on Lopez Tonight on TBS.

 MO ROCCA

Mo Rocca is a writer, comedian and political satirist.  His work includes commentaries on politics, pop culture, cover stories, features and profiles.  He regularly appears on CBS Sunday Morning and the NPR game show Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!  Rocca was a regular contributor to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart from 1998 to 2003 and served as a correspondent for The Tonight Show.  He is also the author of the satirical novel All the Presidents’ Pets: the Story of One Reporter Who Refused to Roll Over.

 SAM SEDER

Sam Seder is a political talk show host of the irreverent Majority Report and Ring of Fire Radio.  Seder appears regularly on MSNBC, CNBC, CNN and Current TV.  Seder hosted four shows for Air America, including The Sam Seder Show and Seder On Sundays.  He co-wrote, produced, directed, and acted in the feature length comedy Who’s the Caboose and the sequel Pilot Season.  Seder has written comedy pilots for NBC, FOX, CBS, HBO and a number of studios.

  SCOTT ADSIT

Scott Adsitis an actor, writer and improvisational comedian.  He is currently co-starring as Pete Hornberger on the Emmy® Award-winning series 30 Rock.  In 2001 he starred in an episode of Friends titled The One with Ross and Monica’s Cousin. His scene was deemed the Sixth Greatest Moment in Friends’ History by TV Guide.  He also co-produced, wrote and directed the stop-motion animation programs Moral Orel and Mary Shelley’s Frankenhole on Adult Swim.  Adsit has appeared in several other sitcoms and commercials, including the sketch comedy program Mr. Show and as a neighbor and demon on the HBO series Tenacious D.

 SHERROD SMALL

Sherrod Small is a stand-up comedian and TV personality, and yes, that is his day job.  He is a regular onVH1's Best Week Ever, on which he does the occasional sing-along with John Mayer.  He has also appeared on VH1’s 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the ‘80’s and 100 Most Shocking Music Moments.   He's appeared on FOX News’ late night satire program Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld, Comedy Central'sPremium Blendand HBO's The Chris Rock Show.  He also performs frequently at Comedy Cellar and Comic Strip Live among other venues in New York City.

 STANLEY TUCCI

Stanley Tucciis an Academy Award®-nominated actor, writer, film producer and film director.  He is a two-time Golden Globe®winner, Emmy®Award winner and Independent Spirit Award Winner.  He is currently slated to star in the upcoming films Jack and the Giant Killer,Hunger Games and Gambit.  Tucci’s film credits include The Devil Wears Prada, ER, Julie and Julia, andThe Lovely Bones.  In addition to his film career, Tucci is also a Tony Award® nominated Broadway actor and director with credits that include Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune and Lend Me a Tenor.

 WHOOPI GOLDBERG

Whoopi Goldberg is an actress, comedienne and is currently a host on the daytime talk show The View.  She first gained attention as the lead in the movie The Color Purple in 1985.  She has since appeared in over 80 film and television productions.  She has won an Academy Award®, Grammy®Award, Tony Award® and Emmy® Awardand has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  In addition to The Color Purple, her film credits include Ghost, Sister Act, Boys on the Side and For Colored Girls.  She is the first woman to host the Academy Awards®four times.