ChatterBank1 min ago
Are we losing our great British sense of humour because of PC?
41 Answers
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'Del-Boy' seems to think so,
/// 'We have to be so careful nowadays, we have lost a lot of humour because people are too frightened of getting too near touchy subjects.' ///
I know the feeling Del.
'Del-Boy' seems to think so,
/// 'We have to be so careful nowadays, we have lost a lot of humour because people are too frightened of getting too near touchy subjects.' ///
I know the feeling Del.
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Yes, in some respects we are losing it.
I say that for no other reason than the episode of Alan Partridge wgere he is taken to the home of a fan/stalker. The episode makes reference to IRA bombs being made in Dublin, the Irish Potato Famine and dumb waitresses.
But which line always gets blocked out when it it's repeated on Dave, after the watershed?
The line where AP calls the stalker a spastic and a 'mentalist'! Apparently this could be upsetting to people who suffer with mental health issues and handicapped/those with special needs.
I despair.
I say that for no other reason than the episode of Alan Partridge wgere he is taken to the home of a fan/stalker. The episode makes reference to IRA bombs being made in Dublin, the Irish Potato Famine and dumb waitresses.
But which line always gets blocked out when it it's repeated on Dave, after the watershed?
The line where AP calls the stalker a spastic and a 'mentalist'! Apparently this could be upsetting to people who suffer with mental health issues and handicapped/those with special needs.
I despair.
Personally, I think he's completely wrong. 'Touchy' subjects are hit on all the time in new British comedies, panel shows and entertainments generally. In fact it's practically standard.
'Political Correctness' is a myth. Every single case I can think of which is held up as some sort of great example of it utterly falls apart when it's investigated in any detail. It's a peculiarly pervasive British conspiracy theory which holds about as much water as UFO landings or speculations about the New World Order.
'Political Correctness' is a myth. Every single case I can think of which is held up as some sort of great example of it utterly falls apart when it's investigated in any detail. It's a peculiarly pervasive British conspiracy theory which holds about as much water as UFO landings or speculations about the New World Order.
Seriously, if you think British entertainment is being cowed by 'Political Correctness', then I have a challenge for you, if you have the time:
Watch a series or two of 'Peep Show' (it's all available on 4oD and is marvellous - if you haven't, there's no reason not to)
Reflect on 'Little Britain' (no need to watch it again)
Watch the complete series of 'Green Wing'
Watch pretty much anything hosted by Jimmy Carr.
Then tell me if you still think British entertainment is censored by PC.
Watch a series or two of 'Peep Show' (it's all available on 4oD and is marvellous - if you haven't, there's no reason not to)
Reflect on 'Little Britain' (no need to watch it again)
Watch the complete series of 'Green Wing'
Watch pretty much anything hosted by Jimmy Carr.
Then tell me if you still think British entertainment is censored by PC.
Really? Simon Amstell's family comedy, Grandma's House; well, it is about his fictional family; had in him bed with another man, pursuant to a homosexual encounter. He made that funny. Maybe homosexuality isn't a 'touchy subject' [await remarks about unfortunate use of 'touchy'] ?
The days are gone when merely being homosexual or black was supposed to be an object of humour. Times have changed. People ,in general, won't accept such stuff now. Political correctness here is a term used by people who object to what used to be laughed at not being accepted for commissioning. Some of that may be refused as not funny because it relies on crude sexual stereotyping or is demeaning of women and women are half the audience and the men don't find it funny either. Some may be because people don't find tit and bum jokes, of the sort used by ther Two Ronnies, funny. Whatever the material, if it isn't funny to a modern audience it won't get used.
Of course, old people were brought up in different times. David Jason is one whose career developed in different times. But they are no longer the people whose tastes are a dominant force in the market for TV programmes.
The days are gone when merely being homosexual or black was supposed to be an object of humour. Times have changed. People ,in general, won't accept such stuff now. Political correctness here is a term used by people who object to what used to be laughed at not being accepted for commissioning. Some of that may be refused as not funny because it relies on crude sexual stereotyping or is demeaning of women and women are half the audience and the men don't find it funny either. Some may be because people don't find tit and bum jokes, of the sort used by ther Two Ronnies, funny. Whatever the material, if it isn't funny to a modern audience it won't get used.
Of course, old people were brought up in different times. David Jason is one whose career developed in different times. But they are no longer the people whose tastes are a dominant force in the market for TV programmes.
In humour no matter on what subject it revolves round, (blacks, Irish, certain other Nationalities, certain religions, women, mother in laws, homosexuals, people with disabilities, etc, etc). you are bound to offend someone.
All those and more, except of course White Males, the English, the Church of England, Catholics, the Monarchy, one has to be expected to accept jokes about all those, all the time, without it causing any offence.
Now that is strange.
All those and more, except of course White Males, the English, the Church of England, Catholics, the Monarchy, one has to be expected to accept jokes about all those, all the time, without it causing any offence.
Now that is strange.
David Jason is talking nonsense, and the reason why is because he has no idea of what people are watching and listening to. His
Look at Ricky Gervais. Totally un-PC, and sells out tours whenever he goes on the road.
Look at award-winning comedies like Nighty Night, Extras, Peep Show, Curb Your Enthusiam and The Office.
Look at the success of programmes such as Cekebrity Juice.
Look at the career of Frankie Boyle.
Look at the eye-wateringly un-PC comedy of Jim Jefferies (with the jaw-dropping 'lesbians at a dinner party' routine)
Every single one of the examples above show that where you have top flight people working in their field, PC becomes irrelevant. Sir David is a well-loved and well respected figure in his field, but he is certainly no expert if he believes
PC is killing comedy.
In fact, I would go as far to say that comedy is in better health now than it has ever been. Notice the number of stand-ups currently on tour or releasing DVDs?
By the way, the only thing that is capable of killing comedy is bad scriptwriting. Anyone who had the misfortune of catching his latest 'comedy', 'The Royal Bodyguard' might well agree.
Look at Ricky Gervais. Totally un-PC, and sells out tours whenever he goes on the road.
Look at award-winning comedies like Nighty Night, Extras, Peep Show, Curb Your Enthusiam and The Office.
Look at the success of programmes such as Cekebrity Juice.
Look at the career of Frankie Boyle.
Look at the eye-wateringly un-PC comedy of Jim Jefferies (with the jaw-dropping 'lesbians at a dinner party' routine)
Every single one of the examples above show that where you have top flight people working in their field, PC becomes irrelevant. Sir David is a well-loved and well respected figure in his field, but he is certainly no expert if he believes
PC is killing comedy.
In fact, I would go as far to say that comedy is in better health now than it has ever been. Notice the number of stand-ups currently on tour or releasing DVDs?
By the way, the only thing that is capable of killing comedy is bad scriptwriting. Anyone who had the misfortune of catching his latest 'comedy', 'The Royal Bodyguard' might well agree.
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Could this be the same David Jadob - complaining that modern TV is 'too edgy'?
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I wonder whether the failure of his latest venture has prompted these complaints?
http://
I wonder whether the failure of his latest venture has prompted these complaints?
In humour no matter on what subject it revolves round, (blacks, Irish, certain other Nationalities, certain religions, women, mother in laws, homosexuals, people with disabilities, etc, etc). you are bound to offend someone
Do you really think that when white males and Christians are offended, they do not complain?
Could you please explain the thousands of emails and letters received by the BBC related to the broadcast of 'Jerry Springer - The Opera'?
Also, who were writing angry letters to the Daily Mail during 'Sachsgate'? Should you perhaps add 'older white men' to you list of those to treat with kid gloves?
Kromovaracun and I have given you a number of examples of un-PC, successful, award-winning and popular comedies.
What else can we do to convince you?
Kromovaracun - I can't believe I forgot 'Little Britain'. That took the mickey out of handicapped people, had Walliams blacked-up, took the mickey out of gay people, old people, teenagers...
AOG - please explain the country-wide phenomenon of Little Britain - possibly the most un-PC programme ever broadcast in this country.
Do you really think that when white males and Christians are offended, they do not complain?
Could you please explain the thousands of emails and letters received by the BBC related to the broadcast of 'Jerry Springer - The Opera'?
Also, who were writing angry letters to the Daily Mail during 'Sachsgate'? Should you perhaps add 'older white men' to you list of those to treat with kid gloves?
Kromovaracun and I have given you a number of examples of un-PC, successful, award-winning and popular comedies.
What else can we do to convince you?
Kromovaracun - I can't believe I forgot 'Little Britain'. That took the mickey out of handicapped people, had Walliams blacked-up, took the mickey out of gay people, old people, teenagers...
AOG - please explain the country-wide phenomenon of Little Britain - possibly the most un-PC programme ever broadcast in this country.
aog, do you think there are people who are not offended by jokes about the things you list as exceptions? There are . Whether they are heeded depends on whether the complainers and their complaints are such as to affect viewing figures. That depends on the commissioning organisation's perception of what the general audience finds funny. No subject, per se, is 'off limits' and not to be the subject of humour.
Something else that should be taken into consideration - people have just got more sophisticated.
If you look at some of the big comedies from the 70s, such as On The Buses, Mind Your Language or Are You Being Served (which to this day, I still think is one of the best British comedies of all time), you'll notice the humour is much, much broader and 'obvious' than now.
Sitcoms such as the excellent 'Outnumbered', 'The Office', '30 Rock', 'The Inbetweeners',mand 'Peep Show' simply wouldn't have worked back in the 70s/80s because people want more depth from their comedies.
And God knows what they would've made of 'The League Of Gentlemen'.
No - comedy in the UK is in rude health.
Oh - nearly forgot...
Borat
Bruno
The Dictator.
Sacha Baron Cohen - if we are all so PC, how on earth has he got a career? Ali G took the mickey out of black and Asian 'urban youths', Bruno took the mickey out of gays, Borat took the mickey out of Muslim , Jews, gays and Eastern Europeans.
And then there's The Dictator.
If you look at some of the big comedies from the 70s, such as On The Buses, Mind Your Language or Are You Being Served (which to this day, I still think is one of the best British comedies of all time), you'll notice the humour is much, much broader and 'obvious' than now.
Sitcoms such as the excellent 'Outnumbered', 'The Office', '30 Rock', 'The Inbetweeners',mand 'Peep Show' simply wouldn't have worked back in the 70s/80s because people want more depth from their comedies.
And God knows what they would've made of 'The League Of Gentlemen'.
No - comedy in the UK is in rude health.
Oh - nearly forgot...
Borat
Bruno
The Dictator.
Sacha Baron Cohen - if we are all so PC, how on earth has he got a career? Ali G took the mickey out of black and Asian 'urban youths', Bruno took the mickey out of gays, Borat took the mickey out of Muslim , Jews, gays and Eastern Europeans.
And then there's The Dictator.
/// AOG - please explain the country-wide phenomenon of Little Britain - possibly the most un-PC programme ever broadcast in this country. ///
Possibly the most un-PC programme ever broadcast in this country??????
Do you actually believe that?
I could name a few that would make your hair stand up that is unless of course you happen to come from Zimbabwe, that is a joke and in no way meant to offend.
Blimey one has to be so careful.
Regarding most of those excellent, award winning and successful programmes you refer to, it would seem you must watch different channels than myself, because I have never heard of most of them.
Possibly the most un-PC programme ever broadcast in this country??????
Do you actually believe that?
I could name a few that would make your hair stand up that is unless of course you happen to come from Zimbabwe, that is a joke and in no way meant to offend.
Blimey one has to be so careful.
Regarding most of those excellent, award winning and successful programmes you refer to, it would seem you must watch different channels than myself, because I have never heard of most of them.
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