A sympathetic interviewer

Press, 26 April 1978, Page 19

A sympathetic interviewer

By

KEN COATES

Between TV interviewers and their subjects, it is usually a case of either loving or hating. Sharon Crosbie, who began her “Be My Guest” show with a rating somewhere in between, has now moved into the love category. She handled her astrologer guest with chaining I adroitness on Sunday night. She realised from the outset that the man was a natural for television: he was articulate, witty, had a sense of humour, and, above all, was a natural performer. The result was highly entertaining. Sharon Crosbie employed unobtrusive prompting not so much to elicit specific

answers to questions as to ensure that her guest revealed as much of himself as possible. The astrologer told an

SHARON CROSBIE excellent story, almost on himself, about what people will do in response to a fire alarm given in a crowded picture theatre. He also proved to have reasonable answers to questions which were of the type most viewers would have asked.

Wisely, the producer let the guest dominate the show. Viewers saw the camera switching to the faces of the interviewer and the viewer who had asked for the guest — to register their reactions. Sharon Crosbie remain’ ed in low key, but was perceptive, and ready to pick up her subject on any point that looked worth}' of development. She was relaxed but never unprofessional — almost a spectator in her enjoyment of the genial astrologer. Last week, a member of the TV! Advisory Committee described a television interviewer as “an arrogant young sod.”

While there may be some doubt over the member’s understanding of the responsibility of television to carry out probing inter-

views, no interviewer should elicit this kind of reaction from viewers. Sharon- Crosbie is developing a style of her own which is neither ingratiating nor over-aggress sive. It is admirably suited to a 30-minute chat show in the studio on Sunday nights.