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

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

I'm going to agree with you again!

I do like Brand when he's riffing in a surreal and whimsical way. I don't watch his show on TV or listen to Radio 2, but he was very funny recently on the Chris Moyles show. I have never liked Jonathan Ross though. He's smug and his "humour" on his TV chat show relies overmuch on sexual innuendo. Well, it's beyond innuendo! The show is about him more than his guests and he's certainly not worth all that money as far as I'm concerned.

These big stars always seem to slip into thinking that they're untouchable and that anything they do is wonderful.

I wonder if it's because we can no longer make jokes about national sterotypes? Has "comedy" degenerated to the point where all the comedians can do is be nasty to celebrities in the name of being "edgy"?

Oh, and far from being "edgy", I think Little Britain is long past it's sell-by date. It's become embarrasing to watch them repeat the same tired old jokes week after week. Two naked jocks larking about in the locker room might have an element of humour and shock value once, but time and time again? Purleeeease... (Ditto lady and dog.)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think we may have reached a crossroads.

Gross, misanthropic humour has gone about as far as it can go. It's become mainstream- and boring.

It's time for something else. I don't know what. If I did I'd be a comedy genius- and obviously I'm not.

I enjoyed Little Britain, but we didn't need series after series of the same silly jokes. I thought the American version of the show was really lazy.