It’s a battle royal between the 50s throwback and the curly-haired upstart, but which of them has been the best presenter of Never Mind The Buzzcocks – Mark Lamarr or Simon Amstell? We pit the presenters against each other. You decide.
The case for Mark Lamarr
Mark Lamarr was there from the very start when Never Mind the Buzzcock's first hit our screens in 1996 (yes it was that long ago), and his lacquered quiff, sardonic wit and love of obscure reggae stood out a mile in the days of baggy Britpop. If only for his long-standing loyalty (nine long years of undeniable loyalty) Mark’s surely already well in the lead in the race for best presenter - how could anyone even argue that a Johnny-come lately like Amstell is in contention?
Mark’s razor-sharp wit invented Amstell, gone were the days of taking boy bands seriously, of treating pop poppets as equals, or heaven forbid stars, of even treating z-list celebs like they actually mattered. Not only could he make your average pop star feel the size of Jimmy Crankie’s boxers, but he also genuinely loved music and was a bona fide encyclopaedia of anyone worth knowing about. Any host awarding points for being Jimmy Cliff is alright by us.
He made 150 episodes over 17 series before declaring it was time for a break (a very long break as he didn't actually come back), never lost his cool or his funnies and fought the good fights against egos, bubblegum nonsense and Chris Moyles above and beyond the call of duty. Sure Amstell’s witty but he’s a pup compared to Lamarr’s top dog status - quiffed, well-heeled and not a man to trifle with - there’s only one man worthy of the Buzzcocks chair and it’s Mark Lamarr. Nuff said.
The Case for Simon Amstell
When Mark bowed out we’d have been forgiven for thinking Buzzcocks’ best days were over, and at best it would continue like The Doors’ world tour minus Jim Morrison, or something. Luckily curly-haired Simon Amstell had graduated from T4’s Popworld just in time to fill Mark’s great big chair, and having appeared as both a guest (during Lamarr's tenure) and guest host (when Lamarr took a break), was more than a little prepared for all the banter, barking and absolute madness when he took the reigns permanently.
Pop music is a young man’s game - Mark may have done his time but it was the equivalent of the creepy uncle still dressed as a Teddy Boy at a wedding by the end of his run. You don’t see pop stars looking cool past their 20s so it’s only right this cutting edge music show have a similarly trendy presenter - most of the guests were in nappies when Mark was going to his first gigs. And it’s not like Amstell is some Skins-lite style-over-substance merchant, he’s got just as many quips and is just as sharp a wit as Lamarr, in fact if we didn’t know better we’d swear he was his unholy baby boy (in some weird parallel universe, obviously).
Sure he didn’t last as long as Mark leaving after three years, but can anyone really say The Sex Pistols were less important than U2 just because they were gone in a flash? Only a serial pleb, and probably a serial pleb in wraparound sunglasses and a hat at that. Simon was the face of wit for the mp3 generation, bringing the show bang up to date, reminding us not all young people are hooded stab-fans and showing that sometimes put downs hurt the most when delivered by a man in a fashion tie.
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Comments
Displaying 1 to 5 of 22
Mark Lamarr 'made'Buzzcocks his little monolouges that started " I always liked ' 'when I say liked ,I mean tolerated,when I say tolerated I mean . . .His banter with Phil jupitus and the Great Bill Bailey was always hilarious.the show was still funny for awhile when Mark and Bill left but it dropped consideraly since thier absence still ther's Q.I MOCK THE WEEK and HAVE I GOT NEWS at least that hasn't been spoilt . . . YET
SIMON AMSTELL. Mark Lamarr was pretentious.
lamarr! i loved old buzzcocks, with Mark Lamarr nd Sean Hughes... so xxxxxx annoyed that its never on. hopefully dave will re-repeat it sometime...
Amstell- he basically had perfect wit
No way should Mark lammar step back into the shoes of Buzzcocks. Simon Amstell does a far superior job and a more entertaining way opf doing so. KEEP LAMMAR OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Displaying 6 to 11 of 22
By far Lamarr, fantastic comedian Amstill is decent but he can't hold a candle to Mark
got to be Lamarr with his sharp humour, beret shaped hair and singing of house of the rising sun. i miss him - amstell will never compare. the la marr episodes should be released on dvd
Mark Lamarr is better. They're both irratating at times but Amstell really gets on your nerves !
i love mark lamarr! i absolutely adore him! i find simon annoying if im honest. i was once watching mark on buzzcocks but my dad said i had to go to bed (yes im a 15 yr old female who spends her life watching Dave) i got so upset that i couldnt carry on watching it that when i woke up the next day i had conjunctivitis in both eyes. had to miss school. that was odd....... :S
Liked Mark back in the day, Simon was better when he came along. Same kind of humour and wit but in a less hostile way :-P Dunno who they're gonna get to fill the seat now, the one off stand ins are lame...
Displaying 11 to 16 of 22
Simon is a curly haired little aarrgh, so irritating. Go Mark Lamarr - all the way!
Simon!!!
DEFINATELY Simon. The new series isn't as good now he's gone. :'(
Mark Lamarr is king of Buzzcocks!
Amstell is better
Displaying 16 to 21 of 22
Lamarr is God of the Buzzcocks lol. Amstell isnt too bad but Lamarr has that gritty, comical just... thing about him. He could literally say anything and noone would complain.
Simon Amstell is genius! Lamarr was great too, but I seem to find the show unmissable now, rather than simply a diversion from the usual guff.
Lamarr all the way! Simon is... ok but doesn't bring the charisma that Mark had
Lamarr. Amstel's a genuinely funny guy, but Lamarr had the music knowledge to back up his sarcasm, and ad-lib better.
Definitely Mark Lamarr. Don't know why he was ever taken off. He just wasn't there any more. Did I miss something. He was funny. This new twit is just annoying and extremely rude. Bring back Mark Lamarr.
Displaying 21 to 22 of 22
I LOVE AMSTELL!
Lamarr - hes a classic and made the show - Amstel tried but he'll never reach the sarcastic levels of Mark