Formulaic

[poliphilo]

Judy was telling me about an episode of Boston Legal in which Bill Shatner's character was making inappropriate remarks about a midget.

What an arse!

And last night, on Extras, Stephen Merchant's character was also making inappropriate remarks about a midget.

I spot a trend.

Or maybe not a trend, because this kind of p.c.-mocking humour is now mainstream to the point of becoming bland. 

I think I'm getting tired of it.

I'm not going to try and deconstruct it because it would make my brain hurt, but isn't there a case for saying these guys are having it both ways?

I like Extras. Last week's episode with David Bowie was sublime. But this week? Bring on the midget, bring on the  Down's syndrome kid;  make jokes about them (heh, heh, heh, mongs gurgle when they eat) but turn it round so the joke is really on the jokers- ironic, eh?   And then have Gervais kick the midget unconscious. 

Whatever...

Comments

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

I'm not going to try and deconstruct it because it would make my brain hurt, but isn't there a case for saying these guys are having it both ways?


Yes--isn't that one of the reasons why this is funny?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I dunno. I think it's funny because it's shocking. Only it's not as shocking as it used to be, so it's not as funny either.

The king of this sort of humour is Larry David. I watched a couple of seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm, then I got bored.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

Hm. You're right about Larry David. But I think he's funny, when he is, because he both has his cake and whines about it.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I loved Curb when it first came out, but I reckon it's possible to have too much of a good thing.

I read somewhere...

[jubal51394.livejournal.com]

"There is nothing new under the sun..."

Re: I read somewhere...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The first shock-comedy on Brit TV was a rather wonderful thing called Til Death Do Us Part back in the 60s.

Week after week anti-hero Alf Garnett fought with his lefty son-in-law (played by the guy who is now Tony Blair's father-in-law) called his long-suffering wife "a silly old moo" and ranted about coons, darkies and yids.

You guys bought the concept, watered it down and broadcast it as All In the Family.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've never seen that film. I should, shouldn't I?

[frsimon.livejournal.com]

I tend to think that Extras us 'p.c.-mocking humour' mocking humour, so to speak. Gervais does a lot of it - starting with the 11 o'clock show and going through his stand-up career.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Wheels within wheels within wheels...

When he's on song he's fabulous. When he's not it's all rather predictable.