Comments on: Getting the Sachs

By: Daddy Fantastic

Daddy Fantastic — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 21:29:22 +0000

Regardless of the Daily Mail, Georgina Baillie or the BBC, I’m quite happy to see both Ross and Brand off the air, Ross’s humour relies on stupidity and bad language, while Brands inconvincible smug confidence has no place on my radio or TV. Ross has had the ability to be articulate and knowledgeable, particularly regarding Film and Japanese culture but the most part I still feel their punishment is far too lax, and I genuinely dread their return.

By: Glenn Aylett

Glenn Aylett — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:59:17 +0000

While I think Brand and Ross’s behaviour was well out of order, it must pale into insignificance compared with that foul mouthed bore fest on Channel 4 called Big Brother where the f word is used almost non stop. I can’t condone Brand and Ross’s behaviour, but Channel 4 still allow this obnoxious programme to go out every summer night when they know millions of youngsters are still watching. I would much rather have this trash stopped than a lapse in taste by two broadcasters who have overstepped the mark once. Anyway, the audience figure for a Saturday night radio show must be a tenth of that which tunes into Big Brother.

By: Simon Rueben

Simon Rueben — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 18:55:19 +0000

And now to make matters worse Parky is wading in with his wisdom over the matter: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7704067.stm. In summary, he hates Brand, quite like Ross, and adds nothing new to anything here.

By: Nimrod Gently

Nimrod Gently — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:53:39 +0000

The licence fee is the best and worst aspect of the BBC. It gives the corporation great freedom and scope, but it also makes them very, very vulnerable indeed because a lot of people will always resent having to actually pay for goods and services. The Mail and the MG between them might just have enough clout to potentially kill the corporation, by which I mean the licence fee. No wonder they’re thin-skinned.

To be honest, I think Brand resigning was fair enough and suspending Ross was too, and maybe fire the imbecile of a producer who let the (pre-recorded) item be aired. But that’s about it.

The Daily Mail’s drooling hatred of the Corporation I can understand, being the UK’s most explicitly facistic newspaper, but I remain baffled by MediaGuardian. It’s the Guardian for God’s sake.

By: John G

John G — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:18:53 +0000

Spaking as someone who probably just about counts as the “younger generation” (I’m 29), I have no sympathy whatever for Brand and Ross. Risk-taking, “edgy” humour has its place, and I’m not about to suggest that we go back to the 50s, but these phone calls went too far. Andrew Sachs was not “fair game,” and was clearly offended by the messages that were left. How would Ross like it if someone left messages on his answer phone claiming to have had sex with his daughters? Doubtless the press have had ulterior motives in their pursuit of this story, but I think strong action needed to be taken for what was a borderline criminal offence.

By: Jon

Jon — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:16:15 +0000

I know this has little to do with the Ross/Brand thing, but I think it is interesting that this issue, massively overblown as it is, has prompted some discussion about general standards in TV comedy.

I have to say that I feel things have perhaps gone a bit far. Am I the only person surprised, and slightly shocked, at the frequency with which the f-word is now used on mainstream BBC1 comedy shows? As little as 15 years ago, the F-word was not allowed on ANY BBC comedy shows, even on BBC2. As an avid viewer of TV comedy, the first instance I can remember was in the first series on The Fast Show where it was used once in a 6-art series. I don’t believe it was used again until the first series of I’m Alan Partridge, again once in a series. As little as 4 or 5 years ago, such language would never have made it onto a BBC1 comedy or entertainment show. Yet now, even shows like “Would I Lie To You”, broadcast directly after 9pm on BBC1 will routinely include 3 or 4 uses of “strong language”. It’s not a problem for me generally, but I can’t help but find it embarrasing if I’m watching TV with my Gran in the room, and it severely limits what you can watch with the kids around.

By: Rob Williams

Rob Williams — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:45:40 +0000

The interesting view about this has been that it seems that the younger generation’s view has been ignored in reporting, because they would back Brand and Ross. I wonder what Hugh Carlton-Greene would have made of it or perhaps we are scared of a new age of taking risks….

By: Graham Kibble-White

Graham Kibble-White — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:17:06 +0000

Ooo, and Jonathan Ross has now pulled out of the Comedy Awards. I wonder if he’s been surprised at – apparently – how poorly the public think of him?

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:45:35 +0000

The Mock The Week stuff is utterly ridiculous, dragging out a programme that went unremarked upon eighteen months ago. Although Mark Thompson was, indeed, a stammering fool on Newsnight last night, fair play to the man for refusing to comment while Emily Maitlis continally shouted “My pussy is haunted!” in her best “concerned” voice. Eighteen months ago!

I also disliked, in this Newsnight interview and indeed in much of the coverage, how this is being lumped in with the Queen trailer and the phone-in stuff. They’re completely different issues. If the radiators pack up in a council office and then eighteen months later the vending machine breaks down, it’s not symptomatic of the council collapsing, it’s two unrelated issues. As this is. In one breath people complain the Beeb is too big and out of control, then they argue as if Russell Brand and Richard Marson were sharing an office.

Undoubtedly the worst thing about all this, though, was the appearance on the news the other day of a media figure calling for Ross and Brand to apologise or be sacked… Kelvin MacKenzie! Anyone in a news organisation who thinks that that repellent turd has any right to force people to apologise, given his twenty years of non-stop pissing on graves, should themselves be fired on the spot.

By: Chris Orton

Chris Orton — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:10:20 +0000

Interesting interview from Five Live with Paul Gambaccini:

http://blogs.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ianwylie/2008/10/russell_brand_the_inside_story.html