The Mash Report – and Kumar and Parris’s segments in particular – has never shied away from tough topics. In past series, Kumar has taken on the rise of the far right, Conservative immigration policies and climate change, somehow making them all funny.
To work out how to do this just tune into any BBC comedy from the past 40 odd years. For the subjects haven’t changed, have they?
The Grauniad appears to use a different definition of “funny” from the one with which I’m familiar.
Does anyone ever watch it apart from those unfortunate enough to be dragged into the studio audience?
I am trying to think of a funny comedy after 1980.The few things I have found funny–“Blandings” or Jeeves & Wooster with Fry and Laurie –are based on older material.
Translated “The Mash report has always focused on the topics that other left-wing comedians cover in their material. It attempts to make fun of people who disagree with the hegemonic opinions of left-wing comedians by appealing to mawkish sentiment and utilising tired tropes such as ‘Tories want poor people to die’, ‘The rich are only rich as they are thieves’ and ‘the rules we make them play by don’t apply to us’.”
BBC comedy, especially ‘current affairs reviews’ seems to consist of “ha ha ha ha ha ha, that Cameron/Boris ha ha ha he’s a TOFF!”.
Honerable exceptions being ‘Just a Minute’ and “I’m sorry, I haven’t a clue”*
* “Lionel Blair excelled at charades with his uncanny impersonation of the author of “On The Beach”, it was remarkable to see Nevil Shute in Lionel’s face”
Serious political humour? It’s south of Citizen Smith.
Well I’ve heard all about this climate change thing. And they never stop banging on about the rise of the far right.
But the Tories have an immigration policy? That, I did not know.
Actually, that’s a lie.
Tory immigration policy is the same as the immigration policy of every other swamp-dwelling party: lie to the public whilst importing as many cut-throats, swindlers and deadbeats as possible. And, when the lying starts to wear thin, legislate to harass and ruin dissenters.
“has never shied away from tough topics.”
Told any jokes about Islam recently? Any ripping the piss out of the gender pay gap?
I don’t even mind comedy being lefty. It’s that it’s so lazy with it. Comedy works by looking at sacred cows, finding a new angle on things.
Scripted comedy usually leaves me cold. My funny bone responds more to adlibbing and genuine wit.
What rise of what far right? Definition? Indicators?
It all went wrong with Elton (Ben, not Reg) and ‘alternative comedy’ (honorable exception The Young Ones) ie: Not funny.
Harry Enfields first couple of series had great moments: Waynetta’s “I want a brown baby like all the other single mums on the estate” wouldn’t be tolerated today.
(sarc) Wow; a non-European man advocating for more non-Europeans to come and live in Europe? With the current far-right Johnson regime in power, he must be in fear of his life on a daily basis. Stunning and Brave indeed. (/sarc)
Told any jokes about Islam recently? Any ripping the piss out of the gender pay gap?
They have a standard response to that point: comedy can only be about punching up, as if that’s the end of the discussion.
That’s why the likes of Dave Chapelle and the Comedy Club’s anything goes sessions are so popular, decent humour has been driven underground.
Was going to say no immigration on Terry and June but it started in 1979 so more than 40 years old.Gah!
W1A (and it’s predecessor about the Olympics) wasn’t bad and showed the BBC could make fun of itself and I did enjoy Rev, but generally comedy and BBC don’t go hand in hand
Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse mercilessly spoofed the archetypal comedy panel show in their fake documentary of the history of BBC2. The highlight was Enfield impersonating Andy Parsons, whose only words were a repeated “The Daily Mail!”.
Certain Islamee chapeez has for decades with impunity been plundering the chaste tresor of native maidens.
But comedy about rapey Bangla taxi drivers is ‘punching down’, ‘cos they’re the victims?
I hereby invoke Lud’s first law of satire:
“Satire is a rueful comfort to the dispossessed and the wise. It is a road map to the wiser, the winners”.
@Mr Ecks
HIGNFY was funny upto 2010 then became mildly entertaing. Post 2015 it became unwatchable like all BBC “Comedy”
RoPs? Can we have a RoP version of Father Ted?
Ofcom – No, don’t even Think about it, divisive hate speech; we’ve alerted police about your thoughts
When I want comedy I watch Fawlty Towers etc
or
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCErEMQf4SmG0wzGV2gxg7jw/videos
or
PJW: The NHS Singing and Dancing Episode
q u a r a n t i n e – Paul Joseph Watson
What a time to be alive!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yFCdrqoK90
The healthcare profession is a joke, and a bad one at that. Crazy how hospitals are so overwhelmed and understaffed that they’re able to pump out endless TikTok videos
Imagine being so woke you hate a president fighting to save lives but have nothing to say about the regime that delivered a mass killing disease. If this scamdemic has done just one thing it’s just how BAT-sh1t crazy some people really are
Hancock emotional as he launches new coronavirus death rules after ‘heartbreaking’ stories
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiDUv19k-bM
Hancock needs to be emotional and weep to see he’s wrong? Twat
I said last week the rule was wrong and evil – no emotion or weeping involved, only some empathy & kindness
Dogs, horses, most mammals want to see & say goodbye to others in their pack
Trump tears down CNN analyst: He’s a showboat, a loudmouth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJf5a9EZI-8
Trump spot on again, he says what BoJo, Hancock etc won’t
Oh look, Glover tentatively breaks ranks
– Christopher Snowdon today:
Trump has gone and done it. He’s defunded the World Health Organisation, for now at least. I’ve written about it for the Telegraph…
https://velvetgloveironfist.blogspot.com/2020/04/whos-sorry-now.html
Full Telegraph is on Pastebin
https://pastebin.com/HYvUpeJi
BoJo & Scott Morrison need to do same, Arden & Trudeau a lost cause
– If coronavirus infection is more widespread than we thought, by definition that means the virus is less deadly; insight from Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Stanford University professor of medicine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NjCitwKJSQ
0.2% or lower sounds about correct. If this proves true, the headline in the New York Times will read: Trump’s Overreaction, Without Evidence of Virus’s Lethality, Destroyed Economy
– Closing America undoubtedly both saved and ruined lives; Trump wants it Opened
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGaNn5SwLLg
Yes, open; shutdown was msm driven hysterical insanity
– Citizens of Michigan protest Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s ‘arbitrary’ stay at home order
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC62S0-N3pI
Those who give up freedom for security deserve neither – Benjamin Franklin
– This clip is worth watching for the total smackdown Jesse Waters lays on the WHO at the end
Media outrage after President Trump halts funding to the World Health Organization
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz3Ko1poKpM