“To the best of my knowledge there’s nothing quite like the Eurovision song contest for offering up a must-watch mix of good old state-funded entertainment and high camp,”
-Tyler Brûlé, editor-in-chief of Monocle magazine.
"It's like all your talent shows, but instead of laughing at a contestant, we get to laugh at an entire country"
-Anonymous comment on Youtube, explaining Eurovision to a novice.
Terry Wogan: It has brought together the nations of Europe.
Stephen Fry: Has it arse, it's divided east from west!
Terry Wogan: It has brought together the nations Europe on wings of song...and you only have to listen to my commentary to realise how much I believe that.
QI episode "Family".
"We use the term 'European' very loosely."
-Graham Norton on The Graham Norton Show whilst explaining the concept to an American.
"This next performance features a trapeze. Why? Because it's Eurovision!" (Azerbaijan)
"This performance includes a circular piano. Because Eurovision." (Romania)
-Graham Norton, 2014
"There's not enough silliness in the world. Eurovision helps to keep it balanced."
"They're not just comparing apples and oranges, they are comparing apples and oranges and bolts and lightbulbs"
-Stefan Raab on Eurovision (paraphrased) (his entry Lena won but failed to defend her title the year after)
"Here's the formula: You take American Idol, you add Sábado Gigante, and put parentheses around that. Then, you multiply that by Solid Gold. Then you put to the power of RuPaul's Drag Race. Divide that whole sum by Model UN, and you have the Eurovision Song Contest."
-Glen Weldon on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour
, describing the show after it was broadcast in America for the first time.
, describing the show after it was broadcast in America for the first time."Why can't we compete? We're the most European country in the world; we invented the frappuccino and the g-string. We eat way more pizza than Italy, and we're this close to electing Benito Mussolini."
-Stephen Colbert after reviewing the 2016 contest and thinking America should be given a chance.
the 2016 contest and thinking America should be given a chance."One? We built a tunnel to your country."
-Graham Norton's reaction to the UK getting just one point from France in 2011
