Is there anything worse than forced banter?
Some lighthearted ribbing between pundits can often come as a welcome break from the in-depth analysis but it only works when it comes across as genuine, i.e. the entire dynamic of the relationship between Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher.
But when you’re just elbowing your way on to the banter bus, stepping over conversations and shouting over the conductor so that you can get your killer line out, viewers don’t really like it.
Alan Pardew found himself in that position when he wanted to crack wise about fellow pundit Teddy Sheringham on Saturday afternoon.
Ahead of Spurs’ victory over West Ham, comparisons were understandably drawn between Sheringham and the visitors’ talisman, Harry Kane.
Pardew 😂🤔… pic.twitter.com/HL1zT4Pusg
— Danny (@hessd00) September 23, 2017
It was pointed out that one key difference between Sheringham and Kane was that the latter had been blessed with pace and it was then that a bizarre line fell out of Pardew’s mouth and landed like a lead balloon on the London Stadium surface.
“He was about as quick as Harry Kane’s mum!” Pardew interrupted, to absolutely zero acknowledgement from the two men to his left.
Presenter Simon Thomas did make reference to the gag, simply saying “steady!” before allowing Sheringham to carry on discussing the game at hand.
It didn’t go unnoticed on Twitter.
Alan pardew with awkward mum jokes on @SkySports #WHUTOT pic.twitter.com/H7kwSltxz9
— R I S H (not the current British PM) (@TheRealRealRish) September 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/Mitch_Pemberton/status/911547606614073344
Pardew (waits in the shadows… then interrupts, gleefully): "He's as quick as Harry Kane's mum."
(retreats back to shadows, proud) #WHUTOT
— David Hughes (@DaveHughes1990) September 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/KGower83/status/911546683384844289
As quick as Harry Kane’s Mum 😩😩 can’t do that Pardew
— Luke Connor (@LukeConnor__) September 23, 2017
Did Alan Pardew just make a mum joke? 😂😂what a guy, awkward as fuck
— Mark Williams (@sharkyyyyyy) September 23, 2017
