Hey, great to see The Fosters. Always so sadly left out of these 'race and sitcom' documentaries when it made such a big impact in my opinion.
Beyond A Joke Page 2
I thought it was a total travesty last week. Spent far too much time looking at On The Buses, and demonstrated that they'd mis-remembered and/or missed the point of the show entirely. One of the heads claimed that Stan and Jack were 19-year olds played by middle aged men?!! I mean ... Christ. Did any of these people actually watch the shows since original broadcast? I highly doubt it.
Can't believe that they resorted so early on to wheeling out the same old faces who could be relied upon to criticise that kind of comedy unquestioningly - yes, thinking mainly of Jo Brand here. It's a pity that they couldn't find people to be objective about it.
I really had high hopes for this series, so am really really disappointed.
Yes, it happened again tonight, from Jo Brand and Shobna Gullati.
Yep. Sigh. Not quite as bad as last week, surprisingly, but still far from the impartial discussion that the show makes itself out to be. Like I said previously, I'm really disappointed with it.
Even the narrator was in on the act tonight though, just 2 minutes in jumping on the Rivers of Blood bandwagon. Really missed some good opportunities in this series. Sigh.
He sounds a bit like Harry Hill that narrator.
Shobna was shocking. Talking about the 1970s sitcoms being "us and them", highlighting differences, blah blah, and then when another show was brought up, started off with "The British and their humour..." Well make up your mind you daft cow. You're either "one of us" or you're not.
That Journalist woman was a bit annoying for me. It's a shame more negative comments weren't left for 'Allo 'Allo!.
Quote: Aaron @ May 18 2009, 9:35 PM BSTI thought it was a total travesty last week. Spent far too much time looking at On The Buses, and demonstrated that they'd mis-remembered and/or missed the point of the show entirely. One of the heads claimed that Stan and Jack were 19-year olds played by middle aged men?!! I mean ... Christ. Did any of these people actually watch the shows since original broadcast? I highly doubt it.
Can't believe that they resorted so early on to wheeling out the same old faces who could be relied upon to criticise that kind of comedy unquestioningly - yes, thinking mainly of Jo Brand here. It's a pity that they couldn't find people to be objective about it.
I really had high hopes for this series, so am really really disappointed.
Totally spot on Aaron.
I suppose though that this show is not being used as a public back-slapping exercise but more of a look at the sitcoms from the 1960s, 70s and 80s and is looking at the aspects of these shows. Still, I'd prefer a more balanced view as in having both points of view looked at as in having a fan of the shows fighting in their corner and praising their favourite sitcoms instead of just having the negative viewpoint rammed down our throats.
Yes, exactly. I don't mind people criticising shows I like, and I don't mind people praising shows I don't, but there are limits. They concentrated solely on the (mostly perceived than actual, IMO) negatives, and ignored any opportunity for positive, un-emotional, objective discussion.
Just wait until we've got BCG Productions Ltd.
Quote: Aaron @ May 18 2009, 10:48 PM BSTJust wait until we've got BCG Productions Ltd.
Do you want to expand a little more on that? 
The thing is with Jo Brand's tirade last week against the characters Stan and Jack was that they were comedy characters written to make us laugh and millions of that era will say they did that. She should also remember that a lot of classic and funny comedy characters have their darker, seedier side such as Rigsby (Rising Damp), Fletcher (Porridge), Basil Fawlty (Fawlty Towers), Harold Steptoe (Steptoe And Son), and there are others but the most important fact is they continue to make us laugh which is what they were written to do, so what is the problem?
Quote: bigfella @ May 18 2009, 10:51 PM BSTDo you want to expand a little more on that?
Not really.
Quote: Aaron @ May 18 2009, 10:56 PM BSTNot really.
Secrets, Secrets !
Quote: Craig @ May 18 2009, 10:56 PM BSTThe thing is with Jo Brand's tirade last week against the characters Stan and Jack was that they were comedy characters written to make us laugh and millions of that era will say they did that. She should also remember that a lot of classic and funny comedy characters have their darker, seedier side such as Rigsby (Rising Damp), Fletcher (Porridge), Basil Fawlty (Fawlty Towers), Harold Steptoe (Steptoe And Son), and there are others but the most important fact is they continue to make us laugh which is what they were written to do, so what is the problem?
Well exactly. I'm glad they had the balls to say that Mind Your Language was too stupid to be racist, as I have always heald this opinion.
Didn't understand Shobna saying that the writers of On The Buses and other sitcoms were misogynists, I don't think Wolfe and Chesney hated women, surely most single men (myself being one of them) fancy their chances with the birds, but I for one don't hate women.