Are The Bbc Wrong To Ban 'it Ain't Half Hot Mum' From Our Screens?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2583111/It-aint-half-daft-BBC-ban-racist-Dads-Army-creator-JIMMY-PERRY-BBCs-refusal-repeats-greatest-hits.html

[jno]

for all I know, Al Jolson loved African Americans and could speak jive fluently. But he was still blacking up and it still looks creepy. Maybe it will look wonderful again in 100 years, in which case screen them again then. In the meantime, the BBC are right to take today's tastes, not yesterday's, as the benchmark in deciding what to screen today.

[emmie]

going on the article and i did read it in my paper, Michael Bates didn't black up, he wore make up. He was born and brought up in India and spoke Urdu and Pashtu fluently, and the only reason that he got the part, according to Jimmy Perry was there wasn't a lot of choice of Asian actors. I remember it fondly, alongside Hi De Hi and the wonderful Allo Allo which still makes me laugh.

[woofgang]

see now I don't think that Allo Allo or Hi de Hi have stood the test of time either, but Dad's Army, for some reason has.
A comedy that I have never seen repeated which is lovely (I have it on video) is Clarence with Ronnie Barker and Jo Tewson. There aren't many episodes and its pretty silly but wonderfully gentle stuff.

[anotheoldgit]

/// The human response to shock and fear is often to laugh, but it has nothing to do with being amused, so when FB's audiences laugh, and hold their heads in their hands, it is not because they think what he just said was amusing - just that it was so offensive that their only reaction is to laugh as a release of tension. ///

Where have you got this piece of human Psychology from Andy?

If it is true what you say about Boyle's audience, why do they go along to his shows, surely if they found him un-funny they just wouldn't go along, and those who do, why don't they just walk out instead of laughing and holding their heads in their hands?

[woofgang]

Its not the complete answer but I do think that there is a difference between one off live performances and recorded stuff. not saying its okay if its live because its not, but by me it kind of compounds the offence to show repeats of offensive material.

[grumpy01]

Don't think it should be banned as it depicted life in the 1940's in war time India.However,it was like a lot more comedy programmes of that time which were run and run until they became boring.As the late Ronnie Barker said "always leave them wanting more".Dad's army has been spoilt now by re-runs and re-runs of previous series.To show the film at a Bank Holiday is one thing but to have it on every Saturday night is a shame.

[emmie]

Al Jolson
wiki

He enjoyed performing in blackface makeup, a theatrical convention since the mid 19th century. With his unique and dynamic style of singing black music, such as jazz and blues, he was later credited with single-handedly introducing African-American music to white audiences. As early as 1911 he became known for fighting against anti-black discrimination on Broadway.

if you have never seen him, watched him on film, then do, he was a wonderful entertainer.

[redman41]

I watch 'Mock the Week' quite a lot and find it very funny !
However, it is not for those who are easily offended.
I also like Qi, which can be quite rude, but funny, and informative.
TV has moved on from the days of Mary Whitehouse and that is either good or bad depending on your view point.

[hc4361]

Michael Bates actually had mixed parentage - British and Indian.

[New Judge]

Of course the most racist character in the series was Bearer Rangi Ram played by Michael Bates. He insisted on referring to himself and the Army officers and men as “We British” but treated the “wallahs” employed by the camp appallingly and referred to them as “damned natives".

“I expect the death knell was Michael Bates with his face blacked-up.”

Actually Bates did not need to appear “blacked up” but played his part with a light tan, 237. He was an anglo-Indian, born in Uttar Pradesh, then part of British India, and he served as a Major with the Brigade of Gurkhas in WW2. As part of his service he served with the Chindits behind Japanese lines in Burma. As well as this he spoke fluent Urdu so was probably appropriately cast in his role.

The series was a light-hearted take on the British Army in India during the war. It showed the ridiculous ineptitude of the two English officers (Col. Reynolds and Captain Ashwood) and, if anyone should take offence at it, it should be currently serving army personnel and perhaps some sensitive gay people (the members of the Concert Party were constantly referred to as “poofs” by BSM Williams).

But the answer is simple for those folk so easily offended. On most TVs there is an “off” button and, I believe, another with which one can change channels.

[emmie]

the BBC is happy to foist Mrs Brown's Boys on us, and though its not on now that truly dire so called comedy My Family, IAHHM i would watch it if its on, Windsor Davis and the rest of the cast were excellent.

[hc4361]

Woofgang, I enjoyed Clarence, too, but Barker was very disappointed in it and the critical response to the series made him retire from acting.

[emmie]

Jimmy Perry said that the show was large based on his own life.

[Zeuhl]

Michael Bates was a very talented actor and respectful of Indians and Indian culture but the script inevitable required him to invite people to laugh at Indian stereotypes and to do so to a culture other than your own is a very difficult thing to do without it misfiring.

That's obvious. English comedians making fun of English peculiarities will always be more acceptable than a foreign comedian doing so.

Here is a great example from the brilliant and late lamented Felix Dexter of the elegant and proper way to make fun of a certain type of black people

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgyEOctCsf0

[boxtops]

Yes, they're wrong.

[hc4361]

Zeuhl, it was Bates' culture.

[whiskeryron]

How dare the PC brigade threaten to cut off comedy shows of this calibre. I know that I can switch off but nowadays we get all sorts of dodgy scenes thrust at us which we have little control over ( killings,rapes,homosexual acts to name but a few) but innocuous comedy programmes with absolutely no intent to be nasty to anyone to be banned, I give up.