Panel shows such as QI and Mock the Week will no longer have all-male line-ups, the BBC's director of TV has said.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26107011
What will be the effect of this?
No all-male panel BBC shows
It's strange that it has come to this.
But at least it means the makers might actually put some effort into finding funny women, rather than just automatically booking a vaguely famous woman with no comedy connection whatsoever to sit in the corner and look shocked at the edgy jokes (See Louise Redknapp, Lorraine Pascal, etc).
Quote: Nogget @ 9th February 2014, 12:33 PM GMTPanel shows such as QI and Mock the Week will no longer have all-male line-ups, the BBC's director of TV has said.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26107011
What will be the effect of this?
Yay
More shappi korsandi and Katy brand
Can we ensure there's always a black one
And a yellow one
And a ginger one
And a gay one
And a Buddhist one
And a funny one
OH NO ALL MY FAVOURITE SHOWS WILL BE RUINED BECAUSE NO WOMEN ARE FUNNY.
Etc.
Truth hurts zooo?
Jo Brands ok
And Sue Perkins
Thats about it
The rest are generally awful
Quote: zooo @ 9th February 2014, 12:40 PM GMTmight actually put some effort into finding funny women
The problem isn't finding funny women, there are plenty of those about, it's about finding ones who can shine in a panel show environment.
A female comic might be great with her rehearsed set, her vajazzle themed comedy songs and a twenty minute story about her ex-boyfriend, but she may not automatically be prepared for the aggressive, quick witted, cut and thrust of the panel show format. Just as many male comedians with a similar rambling routine don't get chosen for panel shows.
Instead of the pretty actress / presenter looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights, we're going to get a slew of less attractive comedy mutes looking like rabbits caught in the headlights.
Do we really need an army of Holly Walsh's sitting around silently for 25 minutes, uttering one half hearted attempt at a gag and getting a pity laugh from the audience?
I think the producers will play it safe and stick with the pretty girl format.
Quote: lofthouse @ 9th February 2014, 1:01 PM GMTTruth hurts zooo?
Lofthouse. Our resident expert on truth. 
Why don't you go on them Zoo, you probably have better credentials than some who get on.
It's PD isn't it which is a substrata of PC. No it shouldn't have to come to it but the figures don't lie, if you leave a club to pick its members, it will pick its own. All you have to do as a broadcaster and or government and or bank and or etc. is be less clubby and self serving at the top. Run it for the people more than your own private little empire and you will naturally pick more diversely, because that's what will reflect, represent and please the public more.
How ridiculous. Surely to be fair to both genders, we would need to have even number of male and female guests each episode?
I'm sure that if was the case of there were more females who appeared, no one would putting a rule in place saying they had to have at least one male guest.
Mr & Mrs used to this.
It's not that everyone in charge is a raving sexist, it's just that it's normal at the moment to book all male panels. If they need a kick up the bum (with this rule put in place for a while) to force them out of their rut then so be it. Then in a year or so it will feel normal to have mixed panels. Then the rule won't be needed anymore.
It's not like they're being forced to have equal numbers of men and women on every show (le gasp). It's just one woman. In a panel of five or so people. The world will not end.
Quote: Marc P @ 9th February 2014, 1:42 PM GMTMr & Mrs used to this.
Quote: zooo @ 9th February 2014, 1:44 PM GMTIf they need a kick up the bum (with this rule put in place for a while) to force them out of their rut then so be it.
I agree with zooo, there are far too many panel shows on television at the moment, so let's go quota mad, fill them full of unfunny people, destroy what we liked about them in the first place and et voila! No more panel shows.
Personally, I think the panel show format is sexist, that is why there are no all female panel shows.
I'm looking forward to seeing Dara O'Briain in drag.
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ 9th February 2014, 1:49 PM GMTI agree with zooo, there are far too many panel shows on television at the moment, so let's go quota mad, fill them full of unfunny people, destroy what we liked about them in the first place and et voila! No more panel shows.
Personally, I think the panel show format is sexist, that is why there are no all female panel shows.
Loose Women
Quote: zooo @ 9th February 2014, 12:40 PM GMTIt's strange that it has come to this.
Yes, but if they need their hands forced to do the decent thing, then so be it I suppose. Any one of us could easily find funny women to put in a panel show each week, the fact many don't, or allow a single token woman to sit in who often isn't even a comic, is just weird at this point.