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

[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.