Quote: Griff @ January 26 2010, 8:30 PM GMTThe inquiry may or may not be doing its job. But to suggest that it is not of national interest, and that therefore Newsjack should not have featured it on a topical show, remains an idiotic assertion.
I knew they would feature it, that's why I made it the focal point of my sketch. And by national interest, do you mean the every day man in the street or the various media outlets?
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ January 26 2010, 8:37 PM GMTWho did a sketch parodying the acting style in satrical radio shows - you know the way their voices always go 'up' at the end? (or did I imagine it?)
I think Stewart Lee done a bit about radio 4 comedy in this vein.
Quote: Griff @ January 26 2010, 8:40 PM GMTEveryone in the f**king world has made that observation about teenagers and Antipodeans so I don't see why somebody wouldn't have wheeled it out for topical shows as well.
But it's a different sort of 'up' - not like asking a question but like an excited !!!!!!!!
Was it Stewart Lee?
Quote: Griff @ January 26 2010, 8:30 PM GMTGood luck with your sitcom writing and I may be at Clown Chowder this weekend to buy you a pint.
I'm not falling for that one again, you were supposed to be at the first one, I wore my new dress and everything.
You never showed. 
Quote: scratchyr @ January 26 2010, 8:42 PM GMTI think Stewart Lee done a bit about radio 4 comedy in this vein.
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ January 26 2010, 8:19 PM GMTYes, except perhaps disgruntled geography teachers who went round with placards that said 'Not in my Name!'
Wow, I had no idea geography teaching was such an oversubscribed profession. A million of the buggers.
The Iraq enquiry is a sham, but public opinion has meant that it has had to become rather less of a sham than its progenitors intended, which makes it, well, interesting.
As usual with your self-conscious iconoclasm there is no sense of an alternative agenda being offered, just the self-righteous bleating of someone whom it seems wants to be seen as too-cool-for-school.
And the problem with your sketch, other than the lack of wit, is that although Newsjack is a big, soft target, you have actually failed to come up with a reasonably recognisable parody. If you had succeeded in skewering the show, and in being funny, it might have come across as less mean-spirited.
Quote: Timbo @ January 26 2010, 8:46 PM GMTAs usual with your self-conscious iconoclasm there is no sense of an alternative agenda being offered, just the self-righteous bleating of someone whom it seems wants to be seen as too-cool-for-school.
Welcome to the BCG!
Newsjack is a soft target, because it's not very good and only kept in the conciousness of this Forum because it has had contributions from other BCG members.
After a bit of Morrace-ian like research, I had a look through the 'Best Radio Comedy' thread and Newsjack was hardly mentioned.
Yes, I am too-cool-for-school and thanks to my recent ASBO and having to sign the Sex Offender Register, apparently, I'm too-old-for-school as well. 
Quote: sootyj @ January 26 2010, 8:14 PM GMTMorrace if you don't stop using the Kingscross disabled shitter as a pretend therapy clinic, then SCOPE are going to kick you up the bum.
Yours sincerely Boris Johnson(Mrs)
London Mayor and lovable rascal
Dear Boris
I shall have to stop using the Kings Cross clinic anyway, as one of my patients, Sootyj, wrecked it after a session with a local crack-whore. (Photo below) - Morrace
This all got a bit angry very quickly, although it seems to just be simmering at the mo, so no need to close the thread... yet.
But please, keep the heat turned down.
I can understand why this particular sketch irked a few but, as writers, we need to be aware of the contradiction in defending certain comedy as not being controversial or in bad taste and poo-pooing other people's protests, while getting angry about comedy that transcends our own taste boundaries.
We can't have it both ways. We can't expect one group to chew on their bile in distressed silence or expect them to switch off the TV if they dislike what they see, and then reserve the right to protest as we see fit when our sensibilities are similarly offended.
PS - Sooty, made some very good remarks that made me 
And Morrace.
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ January 26 2010, 8:54 PM GMTNewsjack is a soft target, because it's not very good and only kept in the conciousness of this Forum because it has had contributions from other BCG members.
Quite, so the only reason you posted your parody was to get a rise out of BCG members, which is not far off of trolling; the point I was making was that you succeeded in causing annoyance, not because your parody was accurate and funny, but because it wasn't. But I doubt that will trouble you.
Right, now it's my turn to leave. Sorry to cause you trouble yet again SlagA, I've closed more threads recently then...*looks around furtively for comedy gold*...then James Corden's bicycle shorts tailor?
*RC slinks off in embarrassed shame over his weak James Corden gag*
Quote: Timbo @ January 26 2010, 9:03 PM GMTQuite, so the only reason you posted your parody was to get a rise out of BCG members, which is not far off of trolling; the point I was making was that you succeeded in causing annoyance, not because your parody was accurate and funny, but because it wasn't. But I doubt that will trouble you.
Championing something because you have a vested interest is 'spamming' - also against the rules. My parody was accurate though. Um, so there. 
Quote: Morrace @ January 26 2010, 8:54 PM GMTDear Boris
I shall have to stop using the London Gerkhin , as it has badly chafed my chuff, and wrecked it. In future I will stick to a session with a local crack-whore (Bear Grills). (Photo below)
Morrace
Morrace for the last time no one is going to lubricate London landmarks for your depraved lust.
Here, I'm not expressing a personal opinion, I'm in moderator mode. And I hope that any lurking industry bod reading this thread will realise I have to moderate and so cannot take a side.
What I'm trying to say is that the anger in this thread isn't over the quality of the sketch, the delivery of dialogue, character, or the density of its laughs (or not). The anger is at the subject matter: whether it's the contributors to the show or criticism of Newsjack itself, etc.
However we've often shrugged off people's protests about comedy subject matter that doesn't personally make us angry. When we hear of people phoning to complain about TV shows we tend to think of them as repressed Mary Whitehouses who have nothing better to do than whine. Our response is often, "If you don't like it then don't read / watch / listen."
The contradiction comes when it's our turn to protest. Why should we expect other people to take their anger elsewhere but reserve the right to express ours whenever it suits us?
I'm also contemplating what it says that this sketch has attracted perhaps more anger and posts than Sooty's Haiti sketch. No offence to Soots as I defend his right to offend me as and whenever he wants.
He rarely does offend me, if anyone is wondering.
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ January 26 2010, 9:07 PM GMTChampioning something because you have a vested interest is 'spamming' - also against the rules.
That argument might hold water if the Newsjack thread had appeared in 'Other British Comedy' rather than in 'Writers Opportunities'.
And even in there no-one can really be said to be bigging the show up.
Quote: SlagA @ January 26 2010, 9:23 PM GMTWhat I'm trying to say is that the anger in this thread isn't over the quality of the sketch, the delivery of dialogue, character, or the density of its laughs (or not). The anger is at the subject matter: whether it's the contributors to the show or criticism of Newsjack itself, etc.
No I criticised the quality of the sketch; though I did also question the motivation in posting it.
Quote: Timbo @ January 26 2010, 9:31 PM GMTNo I criticised the quality of the sketch; though I did also question the motivation in posting it.
Agreed. I should have added the phrase, "In general..."