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?

I read somewhere...

[jubal51394.livejournal.com]

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

[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.