"So, like, what's with this hyperactive spikey-hair gay dude with the British accent reviewing Internet porn?" our guest asked. Our visitor, a culturally-deprived Southern Californian with a fake-bake then added, "Like, dude, this guy needs a Ritalin prescription and a one-way plane ticket back to London like right now!"

Okay, so not everyone is instantly smitten with Graham Norton. But then again, this is America, not the U.K., where Norton is the hottest and funniest man on British television. And then again, Norton probably doesn't care what a twenty-something California girl with a fake tan thinks of him.

In Britain, Norton reigns supreme with the television sensation So Graham Norton, a talk show-like hour of assorted comedy bits, bawdy humor, celebrity chat and interactive stunts involving his audience. The show often includes segments that are--in the U.K.--shockingly funny and in questionable taste.

In one example, Norton, his guests and a studio audience review Internet porn Web sites, with Norton scrolling through a site on a computer.

It is a barely modified verison of this format that Comedy Central is producing for the American public. The U.S. production of the show is called the Graham Norton Effect and is taped in New York in front of a live studio audience. The show premiered Thursday night on the popular cable TV comedy channel. Twelve more episodes are scheduled. (The program will air Thursdays at 10 P.M. ET/9 CT.)

The Graham Norton Effect is more like a collection of post-modern side shows than the straight-up talk show with comedian as host. There's no opening monologue. And while there are celebrity guests, there is virtually no interview-style chat. Instead, guests participate in whatever bizarre antics Norton has dreamed up.

In the debut American episode, Norton and one of his guests, stand-up comedienne Sandra Bernhard visited a Web site run by a man who has a thing for toothy grins and has a close-up picture of Bernhard's gap-toothed smile on his Internet site. They then called the man and Bernhard chatted with him.

During the hour-long program, Norton zips in and out throwing zings and one-liners like sharp darts, that is, when he's not otherwise already dominating the dialogue and shepherding the show from one off-beat segment to the next with ADD-esque momentum. The Irish-born comedian is contstantly in motion and and sucks up most of the oxygen in the room. His guests can barely manage to get in a word edgewise; A meaningful comment is virtually impossible.

The Graham Norton Effect seems incoherent and shapeless, but this just might be because Americans have a set idea of what a show that looks like a comedic talk show is supposed to look like. Letterman, Conan, Leno, Stewart, Killborn--we've got their routine down: Open with a monlogue, share repartee with a sidekick, perhaps the house band leader, do some very short topical comedy sketches, follow with two--sometimes one, sometimes three--guests plugging their new movie/TV show/book/CD/agenda, and then end with a live performance by a musical guest, if any. Roll credits. Go home.

But comparing Norton to America's late-night television royalty is unfair. There is nothing on U.S. television like The Graham Norton Effect. We couldn't take our eyes off the show (despite our visitor from Cali imploring us to change the channel.) Though some of Norton's laughs and one-liners seem spontaneous, the show is carefully planned. At times, a joke goes right over the audience's head or there's barely a titter to an off-cuff remark, but you'd be hard pressed to note it because Norton doesn't let that stop him. He just keeps rolling on.

Norton, who is openly gay, has the overly extroverted and dishy savoir faire of Carson Kressly from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, but taken down a notch. But he could learn a few things about fashion from Mr. Kressly. Norton has a penchant for wearing loud suits and has been awarded the dubious distinction of worse-dressed man by British GQ magazine.

Whether or not Comedy Central will opt for a second season of the Graham Norton Effect will depend on whether America (and tanned girls in L.A.) warms to the show's off-beat formula and energetic host. Norton's British show, which he hasn't abandoned, has six seasons under its belt and will resume production back in London after the initial Comedy Central stint in New York ends.

--Instamatic

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