The Mail - Unjustified Hysteria Over British Comedy?

[Kromovaracun]

I was browsing the Mail website after reading another thread on AB, when I came across this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2255507/Channel-4-sick-comedy-Comedians-Jack-Whitehall-James-Corden-guzzle-wine-egg-trade-obscene-jokes-Queen-Philip-Susan-Boyle.html?ICO=most_read_module

Essentially, the author seems to be arguing that TBFQOTY was an offensive, shocking and distasteful display which should never have been broadcast. They hate it so much, in fact, that they reprint 'the worst parts' all over their article. Did any of you who watched the quiz find it offensive? Does anyone reading the Mail's cherry-picked quotes find them offensive?

This isn't the only time the Mail has published sensationalised nonsense about the state of modern comedy - e.g. Jan Moir's baseless tirade against 'a cabal of foul-mouthed Left Wing comedians' who were alleged to 'hate' Michael McIntyre. (you can see Stewart Lee's response here: http://www.chortle.co.uk/features/2011/07/19/13653/stewart_lee:_what_i_really_think_about_michael_mcintyre)


Should we listen to these concerns about modern comedy, or are they overblown? And aren't these the same people who on another day will claim that the 'PC Brigade' is censoring all public discourse to stop offending people?

[Mick-Talbot]

Did any of you who watched the quiz find it offensive?

Not one bit offensive. Mountain/molehill springs to mind.

[VHG]

You have to remember the Mail like to feel "shocked" by things and expect all their readers to be shocked as well.

I remember watching a Monty Python sketch in the 1960s about John Cleese taking his dead mother to an undertakers in a sack and the undertaker asking if he wanted to bury her or eat her.

"Well I am feeling peckish" says Cleese and the audience start booing (part of the show) and in the end "invade" the stage to stop the sketch.

I am sure the Mail were "shocked" by that as well.

Comedy has always upset some people (particulalry those who "want" to be shocked).

I saw some of the Jimmy Carr end of year show and found their behaviour rather juvenile and they will probably be a bit embarressed when they watch it.

[douglas9401]

My only problem was from an animal rights stance when wee Jimmy Corden kept forgetting to feed his one trick pony.
Jack Whitehall should know better.

[Buenchico]

It's not even factually correct. (Surprise, surprise!):
"They were egged on by Jonathan Ross – who lost his job with the BBC after making an abusive phone call to the veteran actor Andrew Sachs during a radio show".
JR was suspended for a while after that badly-judged incident but he then resumed working or the BBC. At a later date he chose to leave the BBC.

I didn't see the show but I DO the humour of some of those featured to be rather puerile at times. However I do NOT believe that is a good reason for preventing transmission of a programme that others will enjoy.

As a republican I'm ALWAYS happy to see the (so-called) Royal family ridiculed and reviled.

[Buenchico]

Typo:
>>>but I DO the humour

[emmie]

i did watch some of the show, and found some of the comments quite offensive, not sure why Jack Whitehall found it necessary to make such awful comments about his sister, if he has one, don't suppose she is too pleased if so. I don't rate this sort of thing as comedy, as to JR, bloated egotist who's star has definitely fallen through the roof. Won't read the mail take on it, not interested. There has been plenty of rude and sometime nasty comments from other comedians about Michael Mcintyre, having heard some, they are just jealous and made out of spite.

[jno]

didn't see it but just reading through the list they kindly printed, I must say the "jokes" by Whitehall look amazingly unfunny. Did anyone sober actually laugh?

[emmie]

no i didn't, and if i were his sister i would be angry, unless they have a similar sense of warped humour.

[boxtops]

I watched it, and I thought it was funny, although there were a couple of "crumbs, they'd never have got away with that a few years ago" moments - but as has been said before, if you watch certain programmes, you get certain levels/types of comedy. People can say things on TV these days and get away with it - witness F Boyle. These progs are known for irreverence, if you don't like it, people don't have to watch.

[naomi24]

I didn't see it, but I don't care for talentless comedians who rely on insults, shock value, or bad language to get their laughs. I don't want them censored - I simply have no interest in them, so choose not to watch.

[Sqad]

boxy........-;)

[modeller]

The English sense of humour was known throughout the world for its sublety
and nuances both qualities requiring intelligence and talent.
Bad language , reference to bodily functions , and insulting those who can't
hit back requires neither of of these qualities. You can hear similar remarks made in nursery schools . It used to be the case that when talented comedians started to fail they would resort to some crudity to get a laugh.
Not any more, now it's mainstream and with the over use of canned applause we the viewers are conned into thinking we are missing something.
I have read your link and quite simply, whatever it was , it wasn't funny.
Maybe it wasn't meant to be and that is its object.

[anotheoldgit]

For one who is always critical of the Mail, why do you bother browsing (I think that was your excuse) it's web site, if what you come across upsets you so much?

/// Should we listen to these concerns about modern comedy, or are they overblown? And aren't these the same people who on another day will claim that the 'PC Brigade' is censoring all public discourse to stop offending people? ///

Like all 'entertainment critics' the Mail has every right to voice it's opinion on modern comedy just as any other critics have the right to voice their opinions on Films/plays/Shows etc.

It is their opinion, and they have every right to voice it, even if one disagrees with them.

Incidentally it may come as no surprise to you, but I agree with them on the state of modern comedy, I do not know if anyone of you saw the disgusting performances in Alan Carr's New Years Eve Show last night, it wasn't even 'Adult' entertainment, it consisted of childish throwing around of food, seeing how much one could stuff into one's mouth, and guzzling drink from the nipples of an Alan Carr ice statue, not to mention lewd and disgusting innuendos aimed at the Royal Family.

[modeller]

What do shows tell us about our society ? Do they reflect our values , opinions, intelligence etc. or are they imposing them on us ?

[anotheoldgit]

Buenchico

/// As a republican I'm ALWAYS happy to see the (so-called) Royal family ridiculed and reviled. ///

Would you be equally happy to see 'black folk' ridiculed and reviled?

How far must we allow modern comedy to go, do we allow it to focus it's 'humour' at the Royal Family, the Pope, the Church of England, old People, the Disabled, Children with Cerebral Palsy, but at the same time make it a complete no-no to turn it's attention on ethnic minorities, Gays, Islam etc?

[Baldric]

I saw most of the show, with the exception of JR who's very existence offends me I didn't see a problem, bit near the knuckle here and there but then so are a lot of things!

[emmie]

it was like a bear pit, most unedifying, it's why i didn't watch much. If any one thinks making jokes, of a sports star genitalia and telling the howling audience that you would pay good money to see him tup your sister then i suspect that the likes of chubby brown, an odious man by any stretch of the imagination lives on in these people. Comedy is according to taste but would have thought that they can be funny without resorting to so much bile. I once liked Frankie Boyle, but making crude jokes and nasty comments has firmly put him in the bin. It doesn't have to be puerile to be enjoyable, and sorry not good tv.

[Kromovaracun]

em10:

"There has been plenty of rude and sometime nasty comments from other comedians about Michael Mcintyre, having heard some, they are just jealous and made out of spite."

Would you care to provide some examples?

AOG:

"For one who is always critical of the Mail, why do you bother browsing (I think that was your excuse) it's web site, if what you come across upsets you so much? "

I browse their site for two reasons:

a) it comes up a lot on AB, so I end up reading links that people post;
b) because I disagree with them a lot. There's not much point only reading things you agree with.

"It is their opinion, and they have every right to voice it, even if one disagrees with them. "

I never said they didn't. I'm just exercising my own right to criticise their views.

"[...] at the same time make it a complete no-no to turn it's attention on ethnic minorities, Gays, Islam etc? "

None of those things are 'no-nos.' South Park, for instance, has achieved huge international success (including massive popularity in the UK) precisely for its no-holds-barred ridiculing of the topics you've described. Or, if you'll only accept indigenous examples, you could also count Peep Show.

---

Regarding this particular show - I didn't watch it, because I don't currently have access to 4oD. And I don't find the quotes in the Mail article particularly funny, either.

What I have a problem with, though, is the idea (used far too often by people of all political/social stripes) that 'I'm offended' is considered a valid complaint. The idea that people have some kind of inalienable right not to be offended - which in this case therefore means that Jack Whitehall can't possibly be allowed to make crummy jokes about the Royal Family for some reason.

[Kromovaracun]

ack. Why do my posts always end up so long? :'(

[jno]

I think "I'm offended by this" is just as valid a response as "I love this".