Fawlty Morals

[Diva]

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) suspended one of its best-known stars while another resigned Wednesday for broadcasting a series of "gross" and abusive telephone calls.

Comedian Russell Brand, 33, and talk show host Jonathan Ross, 47, have been at the center of a row after they attempted to contact comedy actor Andrew Sachs for an interview on Brand's weekend radio show earlier this month.

When it dawned on the pair that Sachs -- who played a Spanish waiter in John Cleese's 1970s TV comedy "Fawlty Towers" -- was not around, they left a series of messages on the veteran actor's phone, joking about Brand's sexual relationship with Sachs' granddaughter Georgina Baillie, 23.

I don’t get it. I have never found these sorts of calls funny. It’s one thing to do the “Is your refrigerator running” bit and quite another to start talking about a sexual relationship with someone’s grand daughter. I don’t care how she looks (I’ve seen some less than proper clothing) it’s still unacceptable. What it boils down to is that these two morons thought about ratings and not about the person’s feelings. Not only did they publicly humiliate the woman (whom one of them dated before) but they tarnished her reputation to her own family. You can’t UNHEAR these sorts of things. It’s out there… and going to be replayed. I think that even giving them the chance to quit was too much. It gives the impression he was taking the high road. If that were truly the case he would have shut the fuck up and stuck to the script.

News
º South Korea only wants blind masseurs (http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUKTRE49T1RG20081030).
º "Economy" sculpture melting away (http://my.earthlink.net/track?id=1018002&add=1&url=/article/str?guid=20081029/4907edd0_3ca6_15526200810291587132028).
º Lego fanatic finds love (http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=29&art_id=iol1225355696850A551).
º Peruvian faith healers for Obama (http://my.earthlink.net/track?id=1018002&add=1&url=/article/str?guid=20081029/4907edd0_3421_13345200810291489330073).
º Traffic cop spots man driving his truck (http://my.earthlink.net/track?id=1018002&add=1&url=/article/str?guid=20081029/4907edd0_3ca6_1552620081029-1289450501).
º Wife beats husband with dumbbell to make him shut up (http://www.jsonline.com/news/33413809.html).
º Girl returns money found in Richard Simmons tape (http://my.earthlink.net/track?id=1018002&add=1&url=/article/str?guid=20081029/4907edd0_3421_13345200810291507020965).
º Woman ambushed at bank kicks gun from hand, punches man (http://www.local6.com/news/17840352/detail.html).
º Chocolate companies combining sweet and savory flavors (http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=29&art_id=nw20081030102650619C903339).
º Man accused of repeatedly shooting gas pump (http://my.earthlink.net/track?id=1018002&add=1&url=/article/str?guid=20081029/4907edd0_3421_1334520081029392786176).
º Allergies could protect against some cancers (http://www.local6.com/health/17846500/detail.html).
º Student wrecks car in botched film stunt (http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=29&art_id=iol122535561188A551).
º Elderly man traded drugs for sex (http://my.earthlink.net/track?id=1018002&add=1&url=/article/str?guid=20081029/4907edd0_3421_1334520081029-793801625).
º Students suspended for calling parents during evacuation (http://www.local6.com/news/17846273/detail.html).

Levity
º YouTube: Skullcrusher Mountain (WTF) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_ryNJVreiY)
º Obama "Bat Signal" (Awesome) (http://goodnightraleigh.com/2008/10/obama-bat-signal-appears/)
º More celebrities without makeup pictures (http://forums.pebblesonthebeach.com/viewtopic.php?p=669)
º Virtual pumkin carving (http://www.coasttocoastam.com/timages/page/pumpkin_sim.html)
º YouTube: Wassup 2008 (I love the end) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq8Uc5BFogE)
º Hawt blonde nekkid on the docks (http://hosted.femjoy.com/galleries/112453_qei054_qcj764/?affid=809211)

[Isotrip]

This is the biggest problem that I have with Radio here in SWFLA. Everything has to be about sex, and everything is done solely for the sake of their ratings. Even the female DJ's here are doing it. One actually said something to the effect of "you can suck on my big swollen *Bleeep*" WTF...? Seriously, why? What purpose does that serve saying that on the air? I realize that sex sells but I don't need to hear it every two seconds from every DJ on the airwaves.

[NCeddie]

Well, hooray for the BBC!

Thanks for sharing this news article.

One can only speculate as to what Andrew Sachs and granddaughter thought in private about Ross & Brand's phone messages, but regardless, they should never have been aired on the BBC, or on any venue in such a way.

For many of us, we just don't want to be subjected to a variety of things, especially without advance warning. As I see it, the BBC has never been a network that allowed for the slippage of standards. I'm glad to know they acted quickly-- no shilly-shallying around.

While I am brutally opposed to censorship (along with the fear of who might decide to be the arbiter), I do approve of the use of content ratings. Aside from the fact that Ross & Brand's bit lacked utter taste, BBC's listeners (to BBC's dismay, obviously) were not prepared for it and thus were without option to avoid it.


PS Andrew Sachs was a joy in the role of Manuel on Fawlty Towers. In fact, everyone was superb.

:angel:

[NCeddie]

I realize that sex sells but I don't need to hear it eve!ry two seconds from every DJ on the airwaves.

I agree, nor on the screen nor anywhere.

I keep waiting, waiting, waiting for the pendulum to at last swing back the other way.



Where are the Mae Wests and legions of other writers/performers who were masters of the double entendre today? Or maybe nobody's that clever today?

Example: from the NBC radiowaves of the 1940's

Burns & Allen Show

Gracie has been discussing a relative who got hit by a truck.

Gracie:
Willie always wore two pairs of pants-- one pair frontwards and one pair backwards.

George:
[interjects] ---So he could [pause] go either way?

Now three generations could be gathered around the parlor radio set and all could enjoy a hardy laugh, yet none could be offended or embarrassed by what they heard!

Trivia:
Gracie declined only one photo session request in her career-- when she was asked to pose outside a mental hospital. Husband George Burns compared this to having Mae West pose outside a brothel.




:angel:

[Isotrip]

I think you hit it right on the head Eddie!!!


Where are the Mae Wests and legions of other writers/performers who were masters of the double entendre today? Or maybe nobody's that clever today?

That is the sad part, I don't think that there are, not in the standard fare of hosts, etc. within the media.

/me waits with Eddie for the pendulum to swing.

[Bones]

I read the transcript and don't see how it's funny.

[Amaurote]

Firstly, Russell Brand is a wheedling, narcissistic reptile. The only people who disagree are generally equally wheedling, confused teenage girls. I didn't hear the call, but it doesn't surprise me, and when I saw the transcript, I couldn't help noticing that this was not one accidental call, but several, with two adult men baying over the phone at someone else's grand-daughter (never mind that she's evidently as media-happy and narcissistic as Brand, or that she initially welcomed the interest - this is about Andrew Sachs, and he's just a nice old guy with a comic talent who everybody likes).

As for Jonathan Ross, think Jay Leno, only imagine that PBS was funded from taxes rather than sponsorship, and that you were paying Leno's inflated salary yourself from federal taxation. Ross is on £6 million a year, which is a big deal in UK terms, even if it is dwarfed by the kind of salaries that are commonplace after syndication in the US: that's about ten million dollars that could be better spent making quality drama (Spooks, Dr Who, Little Dorrit, which the BBC can still do brilliantly when it tries) than fuelling some nitwit's ego.

[Isotrip]

You use the word "Narcissistic" like it is a bad thing.

:p

[NCeddie]

You use the word "Narcissistic" like it is a bad thing.

:p

It is a bad thing. But apparently it sells. That's why shopping in home decor boutiques, trying to find the good stuff is a chore-- the bloody places are top-heavy with mirrors!

:p

[James]

I say "freedom of speech" and "free markets" should be the rules when it comes to censorship of entertainment. If no laws are broken, the guys should be able to be as vulgar as they want as long as people are willing to pay them money. Once they lose their sponsors and listeners they will lose their jobs and no one will do what they did for a while.