Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

The Word (TV series)

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TV

Theme music composer
  
808 State

Original language(s)
  
English

Final episode date
  
24 March 1995

Program creator
  
Channel 4

6.6/10
IMDb

Created by
  
Channel 4

Country of origin
  
United Kingdom

First episode date
  
10 August 1990

Number of episodes
  
104

The Word (TV series) httpsimagesnasslimagesamazoncomimagesMM

Directed by
  
Luke Campbell Julia Knowles

Opening theme
  
Olympic (Euro Bass Mix)

Presented by
  
Terry Christian, Mark Lamarr, Dani Behr, Alan Connor, Amanda de Cadenet, Katie Puckrik, Michelle Collins

Directors
  
Luke Campbell, Julia Knowles

Similar
  
The Big Breakfast, Shooting Stars, 15 Storeys High, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, A Young Doctor's Notebook

The Word was a 1990s Channel 4 television programme in the United Kingdom.

Contents

The word s01e01 24 08 90 channel 4


Format

Its presenters included Mancunian radio presenter Terry Christian, comedian Mark Lamarr, Dani Behr, Katie Puckrik, Jasmine Dotiwala, Alan Connor, Amanda de Cadenet and "Huffty". 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, with a compilation sister show fronted by Mark Lamarr in the week. 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 television' section called "The Hopefuls" in which people ate worms, bathed in maggots, licked sweat off fat people, intimately kissed old people, and did generally repulsive things in order to get featured on the programme.

Production

The show was the brainchild of Charlie Parsons and was originally produced for series 1 and 2 by the production company 24 Hour Productions, which later became Planet 24.

The first series of the show was broadcast live (with no delay) originally from London Studios in the LWT building on the South Bank and then from Limehouse Studios, Wembley (1991–1992). When those studios closed the show moved to Teddington Studios.

Paul Ross was the series editor on series 3 and 4, and became executive producer for series 5. Director Martin Cairns directed many of the stunt film clips for which the programmes became famous. Some receiving warnings on content from C4. Jo Whiley worked as a researcher–band booker and is credited as having given Nirvana their historic and notorious first TV appearance.

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 and was presented by Terry Christian.

Tango sponsored the show in 1994.

Notable moments

  • The first British Network airing of Madonna's "Justify My Love" Music Video.
  • 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."
  • 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 Word's audience had got off lightly; earlier in the year, Sparks had thrown her used tampon into the concert audience at the Reading Festival.
  • 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 Coronation Street, performing a tuneless and embarrassing rendition of the Gloria Gaynor classic "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 received universal condemnation including from presenter Mark Lamarr, who responded "that's absolute crap and you know it".
  • References

    The Word (TV series) Wikipedia