Time Out

[poliphilo]

And so I sat there with my tin of treats and no-one came calling. I guess Muslims just don't do Halloween.

I've been thinking a lot about the Brand/ Ross affair (sorry this is totally Britocentric). Here's my opinions- all 10 of them.

1. What they did was crappy.

2. Bullying, mean-spirited, unfunny, pointless. Talking truth to power is one thing, but Andrew Sachs isn't power- and talking truth to him was completely out of order.

3. Comedy is a dangerous game. I understand how, when you're riffing, you can get on a roll and lose sight of where you're going. That's one reason why Brand's show is pre-recorded- so an editor can take out the bits that don't work/are totally disgusting.

4. I'm sorry Brand went and Ross didn't. Mind you, I don't think it's done Brand any harm. It just adds to his legend.

5. I like Brand. No, let's rephrase that.  I'm slightly in awe of Brand. I think he's an amazing talent. I've never mistaken him for a nice person.

6. His column in this morning's Guardian is headed What a Barmy, hysterical, cosmic week- and it's all about football. Now that's class.

7. I don't like Ross. He's one of those broadcasters I mostly avoid ( Terry Wogan's another). I find him smug.

8. I don't know why the BBC pay him so much money. I think that was always a mistake.

9. Apparently most people under 30 can't see what the fuss is about. I don't fully understand this, but I'm willing to step aside because, after all, they own the future.

10. I don't want to be part of any crusade that's being preached by the Daily Mail.

And now, back to the travelogue.

Comments

[glitzfrau.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I'm 33, so my opinion probably doesn't count as that of The Youth. But for what it's worth, really can't stand this kind of 'edgy' comedy that makes childish bum and poo jokes, interlarded with good old misogyny and homophobia, and calls it 'pushing the envelope' or 'rebelling against political correctness' or whatever. Telling old men they should kill themselves is nasty and cruel. Humiliating your ex-lovers on air for being slutty enough to sleep with you is misogynistic and vile. Thing is, this was only a step beyond what I often see on Mock the Week or Little Britain or other 'edgy' programmes. I think it went too far, but I think a hell of a lot of other 'edgy' stuff goes too far, too. Here's two links:

Charlie Brooker says being nasty about Kerry Katona is inhumane and petty-minded

Academic points out that the Little Britain emperor has no clothes

The first author is hip, the second young. So you're not alone in your distaste.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Charlie Brooker rocks.

I see Little Britain as being in the tradition of Dick Emery. It used to make me laugh. And some of those characters and catch phrases are indelible. But I think the American show was lazy and misjudged. Take Daffyd out of his village- where everyone was so much hipper (and gayer) than he was- and you completely lose the point.

I think misanthropic comedy has gone about as far as it can go. When everything is edgy and shocking then nothing is.

[jfs.livejournal.com]

thank you for the Charlie Brooker link especially; that's a great article.

I think Brand and Ross have been given a reminder about the nature of celebrity (something which is not related to talent) - the whim of the crowd can turn in a second, and behaviour that had you lauded previously can have you castigated from then on.