British Comedy Guide

The Last Taboo? Page 2

Quote: SlagA @ April 21 2009, 9:59 AM BST

This makes the assumptions that: the only fresh comedy is about taboo-breaking; and anything that doesn't break taboo is mindless repetition.

I'd disagree with either.

Precisely. Just because next year's hottest new sitcom will be about the misadventures of a lovable coprophagic paedophile, it won't necessarily be funny or clever. Fawlty Towers isn't remembered for breaking taboos (although abusing hotel guests, attacking a Spanish waiter, dragging a corpse around a hotel, hitting a bratty kid and groping an Australian tourist's boob probably were new). And prior to Extras I hadn't seen Barry off EastEnders wanking off over a novelty pen before. And although South Park is often hilarious when it breaks taboos, Family Guy breaks fewer taboos and is funnier.

I also think you're going to struggle to sell really dark stuff because it is offputting to a wider audience.

Quote: chipolata @ April 21 2009, 12:05 PM BST

I also think you're going to struggle to sell really dark stuff because it is offputting to a wider audience.

Like Marmite. :)

Quote: Dolly Dagger @ April 21 2009, 12:10 PM BST

Like Marmite. :)

How to explain Twiglets then?

Quote: Kenneth @ April 21 2009, 12:17 PM BST

How to explain Twiglets then?

Healthier than crisps.

Quote: chipolata @ April 21 2009, 12:05 PM BST

I also think you're going to struggle to sell really dark stuff because it is offputting to a wider audience.

How does the old quote go: "No one has ever lost money underestimating the intelligence/taste of the American people."

Quote: SlagA @ April 21 2009, 9:59 AM BST

This makes the assumptions that: the only fresh comedy is about taboo-breaking; and anything that doesn't break taboo is mindless repetition.

I'd disagree with either.

I know there is still new uncontroversial comedy being made, but when a comedy piece is made to be controversial it seems to be repeating elements that have allready been done thus the shock factor is lost. When that happens the comedy loses its main attraction and we end up with weak comedies that take up air time and dilute the real talentthat's out there.

Quote: Kenneth @ April 21 2009, 12:20 PM BST

How does the old quote go: "No one has ever lost money underestimating the intelligence/taste of the American people."

I think there's a difference between lowest common denominator fare (Coming of Age, Two Pints) and dark, taboo breaking comedy (Jam, Human Remains - both of which just got one series).

Oops, sorry, I had misconstrued "dark stuff" as "gross" - such as next year's hit sitcom about the coprophagic paedophile. Yes, it saddens me that stuff deemed to be 'dark' such as A Very Peculiar Practice, Brass Eye and Nathan Barley just can't be found on DVD in Australia - although Human Remains is all over the shop and was very popular here.

Quote: Kenneth @ April 21 2009, 4:35 PM BST

although Human Remains is all over the shop and was very popular here.

It was brilliant. Curious that it would go down so well in Australia, while it pretty much died on its arse here.

Quote: Dolly Dagger @ April 21 2009, 8:36 AM BST

The Last Taboo? Is that one there's only one sickly fruity vodka drink left at a party?

Ha ha!
I'm old enough to remember!

Back to the OP.
Taboos can be very temporary. Jade died recently, and we've all been a bit respectful. Soon there will be gags. Diana died, and people were *jailed* for taking some of the remembrance flowers. What would have happened to people making gags about her back then? Execution? Now of course, we can all happily make lame gags.

I didn't hear any Fritzl gags for a while, but after a month or so, a few started to crop up. The old adage of 'comedy + tragedy +time' held true; it took a little time before normal people could laugh at anything to do with it. Now I could add an irreverent "although I was in stitches as the news broke of course" but even now, that would be distasteful (although not as distasteful as a mouthful of Herr Fritzl's [ COME ON, BEHAVE ].

Quote: NoggetFred @ April 22 2009, 7:27 AM BST

Jade died recently, and we've all been a bit respectful. Soon there will be gags.

Speak for yourself. I had no idea who Jade Goody was until I read a newspaper article mentioning that Michael Parkinson had upset some people because he pointed out that she was a shallow, stupid media whore. Although he used more rather more polite terms, saying she represented "all that is paltry and wretched about Britain". Fair comment. There were online jokes about her on the day she died.

Quote: NoggetFred @ April 22 2009, 7:27 AM BST

Diana died, and people were *jailed* for taking some of the remembrance flowers. What would have happened to people making gags about her back then? Execution?

I recall people making jokes about Diana's death the day after her fatal accident. Arguably she had a few things in common with Jade Goody. Likewise, plenty of Fritzl jokes began appearing shortly after his arrest.

I have nothing against gallows humour provided there is no malice, but I am repulsed by public outpourings of grief for vacuous celebrities. Mourn those you knew, not those the media loved.

If Diana was the princess of tarts, was Jade the princess of farts?

Quote: NoggetFred @ April 22 2009, 7:27 AM BST

Back to the OP.
Taboos can be very temporary. Jade died recently, and we've all been a bit respectful. Soon there will be gags. Diana died, and people were *jailed* for taking some of the remembrance flowers. What would have happened to people making gags about her back then? Execution? Now of course, we can all happily make lame gags.

How can you compare the two?

At least I'd 've given Diana one.

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