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BBC 3 Launch Night

Shortfatdyke

07:44 / 10.02.03

I was unfortunate enough to catch a bit of this last night, in particular a new comedy show called Little Britain, by Matt Lucas and David Williams. I was absolutely gob smacked, and am seriously considering making a complaint to the BBC about it. But only if I can find a decent way of describing much of the show as a load of fucking homophobic shit. There seemed to be a theme running through it, of mincing, simpering, pathetic gay men. It was nasty, 1970s style 'humour'. As the B3 website says:

"All of modern Britain is here including Daffyd, the only gay man in his village (and that’s the way he wants to keep it!)"

For Matt Lucas - who played Leigh Bowery in the stage show Taboo - to be doing this kind of stuff makes it more baffling.

Eloi Tsabaoth

10:54 / 10.02.03

Ah, but it's Ironic. Do you see?
BBC3 in general looks like reheated crap anyway. Paul Calf? A Swiss Toni sitcom? Dramaumentarys about Vinnie Jones and the Appletons? And claims about the amazing originality of a subversive animated sketch show...

glassonion

12:34 / 10.02.03

is it simply ironic or was it maybe a piece of comedy on the point that prejudices and hang-ups extend even to the marginalised? i also thought there was a point being made there about the pride of the village weirdo who finds isolation easier than competition, and claims to do it in the name of their 'individuality', or decaying ego. the guy lucas played in that sketch wasn't actually gay, if you remember.

anyway, that's all obvious but yr right about the 70sness of comedy today. jonathan ross can't be on air for ten mins without doing a chinaman impression, and anyone with a westcountry accent better run for cover these days.

Shortfatdyke

13:46 / 10.02.03

Hmm. If it had been just the one sketch, I might have put it down to my bad mood last night. But what about the simpering poof Prime Ministerial aide? And in the pub sketch, the mincing was derogatory, rather than knowing. I have no problem with camp gay men and screaming queens, but I also know an insult when I see/hear it. The Monty Python army parade ground scene springs to mind as a example of how to do this kind of thing properly.

I never saw Swiss Toni on The Fast Show, but I know Paul Calf worked well several years ago. This does indeed look like a channel that's run out of ideas before it even starts.

Shortfatdyke

13:55 / 10.02.03

Just in case anything thinks I've had a sense of humour failure, here (hopefully) is Monty Python getting it right:

Our Lady of The Two Towers

14:01 / 10.02.03

Well BBC Three is just a mix of BBC Choice and the reruns of comedy shows that stopped when Play shut down, and with Johnie Vaughan, Charlie Higson and Paul Whitehouse involved, how could it not be the home of the new smugstocracy?

If you too are willing to make a show for the BBC for no money, then you'll get your own free slot on BBC Three. I just wish they'd show the League Against Tedium again so I can video it, then implode.

rizla mission

14:09 / 10.02.03

I don't exactly expect a lot from TV, but looking over the listing for this channel, it seems to reach spectacular new heights of ass-ness.

[Mail style outrage]
Why, to think they cancelled the League Against Tedium and commisioned all this crap instead is just an insult to all right-thinking people!![/Mail style outrage]

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