Interviewers losing the plot...

Michael Parkinson talks to Meg Ryan. Sort of. "It's awkward," says Meg, who trained as a journalist at NYU (3 mins)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blpq-Iwu25s

George Lamb interviews Ray Davies of The Kinks, somewhat insulting the rock legend. (3mins to conclusion of Ray Davies interview, 4mins 40secs including George Lamb 'justification').
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx5oGJD0QdE

Fox host Ainsley Earhardt's line of questioning is unsettled by author Uri Man’s flirtatious comments (2 mins)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDq_qxMCh3g

Icelandic band Sigur Ros are encouraged to be monosyllabic by interviewer Luke Burbank asking an endless stream of closed questions (6 mins)
http://www.npr.org/blogs/bryantpark/2007/10/when_good_interviews_go_bad.html

The Sigur Ros interview broken down to its components (15 mins)http://www.npr.org/blogs/bryantpark/2007/10/anatomy_of_an_interview_gone_w.html

Tom Cruise interviewed on MSNBC by Matt Lauer. Cruise calls Lauer "glib" and tells him he should do his homework, taking control of the interview despite making nonsense claims. (6 mins)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc_

Bill Grundy and the Sex Pistols - Today Show, ITV, 1976 (2 mins 40s). WARNING! Contains profanities!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p25SdQEnhHI

The Word. My word. Terry Christian demonstrates the fine use of 'dead air' interviewing Keanu Reeves live, via satellite, from Los Angeles (4 mins)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBIKIQCwjKc

Very, very awkard interview with Jake Lloyd who appeared as the Young Anakin Skywalker when he was a boy but has since given up acting. If only the interviewer had conducted some research.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEmgio0VV1E

A 54-year-old mystery revealed by ABC News that, well, is still a mystery. How not to make gripping television!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUcaNzCmZtQ

NBC News - Bush keeps reporter in line (stop at 1 min in before Bush's war speech!)
"You want another follow-up? They've taken your mic away."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnJmKWaQ-WY

SKY NEWS - Bush kept in line by Sky News reporter Adam Boulton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj7osc9Ktn0

KTNV: And to conclude, how not to communicate with people in the street, even if your are a reporter and they are drunk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfrcn6lmN4c

Interview reminders:

• The term 'off the record' is meaningless.

• Interviewee's have the right not to answer a question, as much as interviewers have the right to ask.

• Establish what is going on - is this interview live, pre-recorded, delayed?

• Prepare!

• Establish ground rules - remember who should be driving the interview.