talkmagic.co.uk

Tenko wrote:I feel ashamed that the legal system hasn't locked both of them up, and thrown the key away.

Either you're joking or your avatar is undoctored.

As far as I know prank phone calls while upsetting and annoying and in Andrew Sach's case humiliating aren't actually illegal or the fonejacker would have been thrown in prison long ago

I think we are laying the blame at the feet of the wrong people....

Sure Ross and Brand were idiots for doing what they did.
And yes, the producers of the radio show should have said no to broadcasting it.

Yet the truth of the matter is only 2 people phoned in and complained after the show was broadcast.

All the other complaints came after a tabloid newspaper printed what had been said, and provided their online readership with a handy "click here to complain" link!

Then, and only then, did the non Radio 2 listeners get to hear about it.

Nowhere does the newspaper actually mention that Brand did sleep with Andrew Sachs grand daughter - neither does it mention that she worked as a professional in the sex industry.

We all know Ross is goby and egotistical.
We all know Brand is a bit of a loose cannon.
What we weren't told by the tabloid journalism that portrays itself as the moral compass of the country, is that the girl in question is not exactly an angel herself.

So yes, I agree that the recording should not have been broadcast - but let's face it, the grand daughter hasn't exactly been wounded by any of it has she.

Kerching $$$$

I lay the blame at the feet of a reactionary media and certain members of the oversensitive, agenda-driven public. It's exactly the same situation that cost Don Imus his job in the US. A ridiculous comment made, in a joking manner, ruined a career.

I don't like Russell Brand. I think he's a mindless twit with absolutely zero comedic talent. However, he should not be reprimanded for doing exactly what he was hired to do. They didn't hire him for searing political commentary, or brilliant social dialogue. He's a moron comic who says stupid things and tries to be shocking and edgy (while looking more like a moronic douche with the intellect of a 2 year old). Suddenly everyone is surprised by what he did???

We're quickly moving into a terrifying world where we're all expected to be nice and politically correct. Why can't I like you? Why can't I make fun of you? Where is it written that you have the right to not be made fun of?

Spud - you mentioned that a person in a comedy club can get up and leave, if offended. Couldn't Mr. Sachs just hang up the phone? Have you never told a joke or made a comment at someone else's expense? Are you absolutely sure that your actions have never offended someone?

It was a bad joke, people. Can't we leave it at that? I find it absolutely hilarious that the two voices shouting the loudest about decency and immoral behavior - have wished horrific pain and embarrassment, sexual violation, and, in one case - gruesome murder for a prank phone call!

Gentlemen, I respect you both as magicians and members of this forum. However, if the two of you are standing atop that moral high ground, I will happily wallow in the slums with the rest of the deviants.

Farlsborough wrote:Interesting - I have to totally disagree with you there Spuddy!

Firstly, people seem to think edgy comedy = swearing. Comedians have been swearing for... ooh... quite some time now. Edgy comedy is called precisely that because it's on the edge of what the majority see as acceptable. So it will make some people say "that's immoral", "that's disgusting", "that's too far" occasionally - that's the point. I'm not saying it's always good, I'm just saying... to say "I love edgy comedy, but that's too far, and at least with (such-and-such) you knew what you were getting..." seems a bit of a contradiction - maybe in the 60s the F-word was edgy, but not anymore


And secondly, I believe censorship is *exactly* the problem here. Ok, with Ross, perhaps they hoped he was long in the tooth enough to know better, but they hired twice fired from radio, nymphomaniac, Russell "Silliness and Going to Far is My Middle Name" Brand. They knew they were playing with fire and it's exactly what they hired him for - to be edgy and to reach an audience they were failing to reach before. But to do that, you've got to have trust in the systems that are in place to stop your tempestuous starlet from getting you into trouble, and that's what failed here.

My biggest worry is that through this, the BBC have shown that their own system of investigation and discipline is a joke, and they are open to being bullied into ham fisted measures, which may mean that they stop taking chances on comedy like Brand provided. I may not be a Brand fan, but I welcome new, creative and yes - edgy - stuff. If that happens, it's going to be "My Family" on at night, and I really will stop paying my license fees.

yes i see what your driving at.....but.....when i say i like edgy comedy what im kinda saying is it has to be funny. And i dont think that phoning an old guy up and giving him an MI very funny.....ok he never but you see what im driving at.......unless of course its richard desmond or norman tebit

Interesting to see the interview material with Georgina Bailie last night on channel 5...

"When I said I thought they should be sacked, I was angry and upset. Now... I don't think that. I don't think they should leave our screens."

Erm, OK. *slow clap...*

Im not even sure Andrew Sachs really knew what his grand daughter did for a living. Apparently now she wants the men...Jonathan And Russell to have their jobs back...make your mind up woman