Is Frankie Boyle the new Bernard Manning?

[sp1814]

Is there now a strong case for getting Frankie Boyle off the telly in the same way that broadcasters turned their backs on Bernard Manning and Jim Davidson?

http://www.dailymail....nd-The-Buzzcocks.html

Or does his 'bleeding edge' style of comedy push the boundaries in a way that actually advances comedy?

[China Doll]

Sorry Andy, but I think your extreme comparrisons actually take away from your argument and make the argument ludicrous. It was a fairly solid argument but I agree with ummmm, your comparrisons let your argument down rather than help.

[ummmm]

Ok...I still don't get it though :-)

[andy-hughes]

OK, I'll take that on board - thank you.

[youngmafbog]

Its quite simple.

We live in a democracy, so simply vote with your feet. If no one watches then it will be taken off.

Anything else is nothing short of censorship and not demacratic.

[andy-hughes]

Actually, it isn't simple, and therin lies the problem.

As a society, we must walk the line between freedom of expression, and protection of our vulnerable individuals, which is an endless difficult problem addressed on a daily basis.

I can see the apparent logic of your statement, but that doesn't quite answer the issue here.

Frankie Boyle's popularity and success are not in question. What is questionable is the rightness of his humour being broadcast on mianstream TV.

I repeat an earlier point - FB should join Roy Chubby Brown who is massively popular, and who's material is available to paying audiences, with posters that confirm 'If easily offended, stay away'.

[craft1948]

I loved Frankie Boyle on Mock the Week, he was definitely the funniest person on there. I watched about 10 minutes of Tramadol Nights and switched it off, not because I was offended but because I was bored.

[youngmafbog]

AH, quite, there is no harm in putting up warnings on any item. However banning is a totally different matter.

Personally I find the man abohrent, but that is no reason to diprive others from enjoying his apparent humour.

[ummmm]

It's actually got better Craft....

[andy-hughes]

I have never advocating banning FB - i think that kind of sledgehammer censorship should be used with extreme caution.

No, my issue is the fact that FB is allowe national airtime under the umbrella of 'comedy', when you would have to seriously wonder about the humour of some of his material.

Call it 'edgy', 'bleeding edge', 'alternative', or what ever, but putting it out under the guise of something to be laughed at - that's simply not acceptable.

[ludwig]

// OK, I'll take that on board - thank you. //

I don't think your extreme comparisons take away from your argument andy. I think they serve to illustrate and support it perfectly. Please take that on board as well.

[Gromit]

What is bad taste, is subjective.

One person may find a joke about the Queen very offensive, while it might not bother the next person. The comedy should not be censorred because it offends one group, providing the material is within the law.

FB picks unusual, and often, out of bounds subject matter. That deliberate aim to shock again will devide audiences, some will not think it is clever, while others will find it refreshing. It is subjective.

The people who want him banned appear to be saying "I don't find it funny, so no one else must watch". They should let it stand. If the show loses viewers in a big way, it will not return. All the headlines are doing is attracting people to the show who want to be shocked, and then them saying "it is shocking, it must be banned".

I assume the shows are checked to make sure they do not break any laws. There is no law that says something can be banned if it is not funny. Viewers (and advertisers) are the only ones to have the power of keeping it off the telly, by not watching it.

The people who have not watched it, but are getting their outrage second hand, should be ignored. Tabloid campaigns just keep the sheep busy.

[andy-hughes]

Thank you ludwig - appreciate it.

[ludwig]

Gromit - I'm pretty sure if they brought back 'Minipops' and 'The black and white minstrel show' there'd be a sizeable fan base for both - and I'm prettty sure they'd be legal, but that doesn't mean they should do it.
At some point somone has to say - hold on, it doesn't matter that there are people out there who like this cr&p. It's wrong to broadcast it.

[jackthehat]

..........and still no-one has explained just *why* the argument that he's 'pushing the boundaries' is an excuse for his type of comedy.

Which boundaries ? And why push them...........and to where ?

[ummmm]

I don't think he's pushing the boundaries. I think it's just his type of humour. It's a like it loath type.

[China Doll]

I don't think he is pushing boundaries really... people have always laughed at satire and society has always provided plenty to be satiric about. I think his originality is only his shock value. His humour isn't particulary edgy to me.

[andy-hughes]

Excellent points ludwig and jack - it reminds me of the line in the first 'Jurassic Park' film where Jeff Goldblum's character says "Yes, you can do it, but does that mean you should do it?'.

Yes, taste is subjective, but can you honestly say that his observation about Harvey and Jordan could be perceived by anyone as 'funny'?

Shocking? OK. Scandalous? Yep. Cutting Edge? Edge of what?

There are plenty of commedians who are making humour out of various situations which some may consider unfit for a humourous approach, but who on here will stand up for FB and confirm that they thought this remark was amusing, and made them laugh?

And no retreating into the "It was one joke (!) in the whole routine ..." because that is not an adequate defence.

OK - over to you ...

[eyethenkyew]

Ken Dodd's a comedian. Ronnie Corbett's a comedian. Rory Bremner's an impressionist/comedian. Al Murray's a comedian. Alan Carr's a comedian. Rhod Gilbert's a comedian. Billy Connolly's a comedian.

Frankie Boyle is not a comedian.

[ummmm]

Andy - Hands up. The first part of the joke I found funny. The second part...I didn't.

[joeluke]

There will only ever be one Bernard Manning (RIP)

Boyle is not fit to be mentioned in the same sentence as Manning

Comedians tell offensive jokes.....fact.......it's how they make a living.....so what if those jokes offend people?......they are just words and as has been said earlier if you are easily offended then don't watch/listen