Some British men said something funny, and were justly supressed. - by AxTng1
AxTng1 on 29/10/2008 at 23:38
I accidentally looked at a newspaper today.
Background for similar hermit types
Jonathan Ross is a British television personality, known currently for his movie review show as well as chatting to celebrities about himself. Historically he was an "edgy yoof" presenter on the Edgy Yoof channel, "4". Known for slightly nerdy interests and "bad taste" comedy.
Russell Brand is also a British TV personality, known locally for being a recovered sex/drink/heroin addict and bad taste comedian. He was also in some films as himself.
Both of these gentlemen were heavily involved in BBC Radio. Then (
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3274807/Transcript-Russell-Brand-and-Jonathan-Ross-prank-call-to-Andrew-Sachs.html) this happened.
Quote Posted by Jonathan Ross, during the call
"Who'd have thought two people like us could possibly have made the situation worse."
That was all I knew until today, when (
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3275850/Jonathan-Ross-and-Russell-Brand-Gordon-Brown-demands-action-from-BBC.html) THE ACTUAL PRIME MINISTER OF THE COUNTRY WHO HAS IMPORTANT STUFF TO DO ADDED HIS 2 PENCE it was all he could spare
I mean wtf.
Quote Posted by Opposition managing to relate this to financial situation
At a time when hard pressed families are feeling the strain on their household budgets, many people will feel annoyed that the BBC licence fee of nearly £140 a year is being misused in this way.
Fingernail on 29/10/2008 at 23:44
To be honest, whilst the reaction has been a little over the top, it was a very stupid and rather insensitive (also not particularly funny) thing to have done. Brand probably doesn't need to quit his radio show in "guilt", it's all got a bit SERIOUS BUSINESS. But still.
You know, you don't just leave unwarranted, offensive messages on someone's voicemail who won't have heard the context of the show. You wouldn't do it in real life; don't do it on the radio. Total failure of self control. Especially on Ross's part, who can be an interesting and funny, and depending on the programme, intelligent broadcaster, but I get the sense he was playing up to Brand there.
AxTng1 on 29/10/2008 at 23:50
From reading the transcript, it seemed as if Wossy was certainly driving the commentary. This was the best bit.
"(
http://www.bebo.com/GeorgieGirl85) Ms Bailie, a burlesque performer known as Voluptua, confirmed she slept with him three times in late 2006 but said: "It was never going to be a serious relationship but I felt I could trust him as a friend. I feel utterly exposed and betrayed. "
So he actually did? I don't know if it matters or not, but I don't think Russell is to blame here. It would be harder to find a relative of someone he HASN'T slept with.
It was quite a good booky-wook.
Ostriig on 30/10/2008 at 00:56
Yeah, ok, maybe a shitty thing for the two radio jockeys to pull, but for the love of
fuck, it's now a government issue? SRS BIZNISS indeed.
Also:
rofl
Scots Taffer on 30/10/2008 at 01:12
It wasn't funny at all, really. It was an unjustified, unprovoked attack on an aging minor celebrity with insinuations of a rather offensive nature. Maybe I'm getting old but that's about as funny as them running up, kicking him in the balls and filming it.
In fact, that'd be funnier.
AxTng1 on 30/10/2008 at 01:25
Quote Posted by Scots Taffer
It wasn't funny at all.
In many other situations I would agree. There are more factors, however...
The show itself was broadcast after the 9PM watershed, and prefaced with the old ""The next programme contains some strong language which some listeners may find offensive." I always thought that was pointless arse-covering, and it doesn't even seem to have worked. Anyone familiar with the public character of these two gents will not be surprised, and Mr Sachs would should have known about Russell if he agreed to appear on his show. The number of complaints was initially small, and only shot up after our beloved news media went into overdrive as it detected a weakness in our proud BBC. At least half of this anger seems to come from "waste of the license fee" type arguments, which I sometimes agree with ((
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hole_in_the_Wall_(UK_game_show)) Hole In The Wall, anyone?)
My preferred solution would be BBC1 and one Radio station as a publicly funded current affairs/news/ceremony and maybe sport channel, and have other BBC channels be ad-supported like their competitors. I'm not sure if this would result in quality or ratings-chasing, but either are better than spending £100 to watch (
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00cr3hj) an ex-popstar doing a documentary about hair.
Ahem.
I found it funny, but I am 19 and was already a fan of Brand and Wossy. At this point I don't even think it is about humour. Freedom etc lol.
Scots Taffer on 30/10/2008 at 01:28
I don't have a problem with the language or the concept of celebrity crank calls, I've found both grossly offensive language and over-the-top crank calls to be hilarious on plenty of occasions. This one simply lacked any of the defining merits in my opinion.
AxTng1 on 30/10/2008 at 01:34
Chances are, the best crank calls are prepared ahead of time. These were apparently improvised as a reaction to him ditching the show with no reason given (afaik). Russell is a sensitive man, and he must have been deeply hurt by thi- OK I cannot in all seriousness justify it in this way, but there seem to be many allowances made for someone who is mostly famous for being a racist stereotype.
This may seem hypocritical for someone who is defending free speech, but even Russell's "deer-in-the-headlights" press reaction was deliberately funnier to me than anything Manuel ever did.
fett on 30/10/2008 at 04:10
Seriously? This is what you guys are on about?
You need more guns and drugs over there. And pregnant Disney stars.
