British Comedy Guide

Stand Up sketch Page 8

There is a difference being a stupid person, and doing/saying/acting stupid Marc, you know that. Actually you know what, satire is probably the wrong word now I think about it (I'm quite ill today, excuse my temporary mental health). But I do think that to think this is a racist sketch is stupid.

Poor comedian, telling stereotypical unfunny racist gags, audience doesn't like it (because they are not racist), comedian dies, everone rejoices at the death of a dirty great bigot.

The sketch obviously contains racist content, it's undeniable, but the sketch as a whole and the message or intention are clearly anti-racism.

The more I read over the original sketch the more I think it would work better picking on more groups. One racism, one homophobic, one sexist. That way you can't be misconstrued as attacking any particular groups.

Quote: Marc P @ October 21 2010, 9:20 AM BST

What is being satirised here? Sorry I am obviously f**king stupid?

Well, at the very least it's trying to take the mickey out of those old style, Bernard Manning-esque comedians. That's the intent.

Quote: Nat Wicks @ October 21 2010, 9:26 AM BST

The sketch obviously contains racist content, it's undeniable, but the sketch as a whole and the message or intention are clearly anti-racism.

Exactly, that's plainly obvious, I'm not sure how it could be taken any other way.

The point is that satire is a comedic device to attack serious issues of today. This is a comic from the seventies! What it is, is an absurdist sketch. I was commenting on the original incarnation of it mind you. Make it a family member telling jokes at a Xmas dinner or somesuch and it would have more credibility. These jokes are still told in pubs and homes it is true.

Personally I think DB is the DB comedy wise so I offered up my sage counsel on the matter :)

This thread is as mental as a bag of live spanners.

Bussell getting described seriously as a racist for writing a sketch about rubbish old style comics? (who still exist - there wasn't just some great cull in 1979. Unfortunately). Ludicrous.

Agree with Nat that maybe there should be more 'groups' attacked. Wasn't one of Bernard Manning's defences that he had a go at everybody? (Apart from the disabled).

Quote: Marc P @ October 21 2010, 9:32 AM BST

The point is that satire is a comedic device to attack serious issues of today. This is a comic from the seventies! What it is, is an absurdist sketch. I was commenting on the original incarnation of it mind you. Make it a family member telling jokes at a Xmas dinner or somesuch and it would have more credibility. These jokes are still told in pubs and homes it is true.

Then say that rather than making vague comments first! We wouldn't have to have these slightly confused, edging on the potentially narked discussions if you just put your eggs on the table to start with. I think I just made that saying up.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ October 21 2010, 9:34 AM BST

Then say that rather than making vague comments first! We wouldn't have to have these slightly confused, edging on the potentially narked discussions if you just put your eggs on the table to start with. I think I just made that saying up.

I said it was a shit sketch Matthew. Nothing vague about that. Nat said it was Satire and I asked why? :)

Quote: Marc P @ October 21 2010, 9:39 AM BST

Nat said it was Satire and I asked why? :)

You were being purposfully obtuse! Obtuse I say!

Do you mean to call me fat sir, and in fairness I was only responding, playfully - ahem - to the stupid bit, I never called the Bussell racist. So apologies to all. :)

Certainly don't need to apologise as far as I'm concerned. You're a tricky bugger though, you are Marc :P But God damn do I respect you for it :D

Laughing out loud

Cheers.

Phew, it's getting spicy in here!

For the record, I don't really think of the sketch as being satirical in the true sense of the word that Marc describes but then I never said it was satirical. I only mentioned the word satire a few pages ago in response to a couple of posts that said material likely to offend should be avoided.

It's a bit of wish-fulfilment comedy about prejudiced comedians that contains some necessarily contentious material. Whether you like the sketch or not I think that's pretty clear. To most anyway.

Quote: Nat Wicks @ October 21 2010, 9:53 AM BST

But God damn do I respect you for it :D

Nice Anchorman quote :)

I hadn't even realised I was quoting until after I'd posted. 100+ cool points for me Cool

For my 2p's worth, I get the 'joke' and it's not REALLY racist, as Nat kind of says, it's anti-racist.

BUT I agree with Marc and Matt in that it's a fairly rubbish sketch, and no where near the high calibre we are used to from your good self.

So basically no new points of my own to make just agreeing with people... (story of my like really :D).

Quote: bushbaby @ October 20 2010, 8:25 PM BST

Whatever you say David, I will forever more look upon you as a racist

What kind of racist, bushbaby? Personally I find it more of a turn-on to imagine him dressed as a slightly camp Nazi, rather than some skinheaded EDF supporter. At other times I like to fantasise about Bussell being a closet French racist working in Human Resources, discretely binning job applications from people with foreign-sounding names. I'm not being proscriptive, of course, whatever floats your boat, etc...

Quote: Nat Wicks @ October 21 2010, 10:38 AM BST

I hadn't even realised I was quoting until after I'd posted. 100+ cool points for me Cool

Every single one of my 13,000+ posts is, at least, a partial quote of Rodney Bewes or James Last.

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