Russell Brand, Jonathan Ross and Andrew Sachs Debacle

[Ark]

If this did go further and they got sacked, whats the future hold for programs like phone jacker which is all prank calls

 

Hopefully they'll all be banned. Good, then they'd think of some decent programmes to broadcast.

[Firestorm]

Hopefully they'll all be banned. Good, then they'd think of some decent programmes to broadcast.

 

You'd Think so.. but then they did give Russell brand a show.. soo im not really holding much hope! so our TV license goes on shows that we hardly ever watch or listen too... my opinion everyone get sky + scrap TV licensing.. job done!

[Tannhauser]

There are worse things said about people all the time on TV, direct insults on programmes like HIGNFY, Buzzcocks and 8 out of 10 cats. Just because this was said on an answerphone, and subsequently broadcast (upsetting 2 listeners), rather than in front of millions on TV, I don't see what's so different?

 

Yes, I don't think there is that much difference, but it raises a question about what's legitimate to broadcast for entertainment.

 

Whether it's right to make that call and then broadcast it isn't affected by (a) How many people complain, whether it was two or ten thousand and (b) whether there are shows that say far worse (if you throw your rubbish on the street and your neighbour fly-tips, it doesn't make your action any more defensible, right?)

 

I watch all of those shows and I enjoy them, but that's no justification. Burning nets full of cats was very popular in France for centuries and people wept with laughter as they died....it doesn't make that right either.

 

The thing that this case - trivial in itself - has made me think about is that there seems to be no limit to what you can say about someone on TV/radio without any fear of the consequences. If somebody on TV wanted to make a joke that the Queen gets off by taking a sh*t on Prince Phillip, I'm sure they would do so. The only thing that might prevent it would be if the producer thought they would get too many complaints - not whether it was too offensive for those who were the butt of the joke.

 

It makes me wonder where entertainment is heading, if the only controls are the tastes of a desensitized public.

[Tannhauser]

so our TV license goes on shows that we hardly ever watch or listen too... my opinion everyone get sky + scrap TV licensing.. job done!

 

What a terrible thought. I don't like JR and RB, but the Sky alternative....yech. Non stop crappy CGI films, footie and The Simpsons. Lowest common denominator TV for ever.

[CardiffSupra]

Not really that funny and blown way over the top, Far far worse has been said and nothing has been done about it. Only 2 people complained on the day it went out ..... says it all really.

[ivan]

If this had happened to my grand father, I know how I would feel. I wish Mr Sachs every success in any action he takes against the perpetrators.

Let's just hope he does make a complaint. Without his action the police can't do a thing.

 

Basically it's a story of 2 funny guys, a fit lass and a grumpy old man.

2 guys who think they're funny.

[Lbm]

But then, to be fair, I think you're an idiot.

 

Only kidding. Just.

 

Wait a minute...!

 

I believe Mr Sachs is not taking it any further.

[R Black]

So said satanic chic gets her face plastered everywhere, more media coverage than she has managed on her own, makes a pretty penny or two, possibly becomes a minor celeb, it was easier for her than being in brother, for how ever long that dross lasts, she gains big style, in her day/night job im sure she gets worse abuse. Yes the bbc waste yr money they do it all the time, but not in this instance as its giving loads of people something to rant about

[RobSheffield]

Pair of nobheads, belated input but true nonetheless

[Chris Wilson]

So said satanic chic gets her face plastered everywhere, more media coverage than she has managed on her own, makes a pretty penny or two, possibly becomes a minor celeb, it was easier for her than being in brother, for how ever long that dross lasts, she gains big style, in her day/night job im sure she gets worse abuse. Yes the bbc waste yr money they do it all the time, but not in this instance as its giving loads of people something to rant about

 

 

Personally I thought it a set up from the start, to provide some bint who's doing an honest prostitute out of a job some free publicity, probably in return for letting the ex druggie "pleasure" her But I'm just a cynical old *astard.

[heartworm]

Personally I thought it a set up from the start, to provide some bint who's doing an honest prostitute out of a job some free publicity, probably in return for letting the ex druggie "pleasure" her But I'm just a cynical old *astard.

 

I love every single one of your posts Mr wilson

[mkirby]

Just said on the news theres been 26000 complaints now!!

 

get over it, it was a joke!! i can think of alot more important things going on in the world than them 2 prats LOL

[benkei]

It's just something for people to complain about to temptorarilly put some kind of meaning into their sad, lonely lives.

So Ross and Brand got carried away, who cares? None of this happened by accident, it's all orchestrated to get publicity and make money for the people involved.

In a few weeks no one will be talking about it, something else will come up and everyone will jump on that band wagon... They've got their publicity and made some more money, and the public gets to moan about something... And so the circle of life continues!

[Guest supragall]

just heard on the news that russel brand has resigned frm the radio show

[RedM]

Seems like there's a few hypocrites on here. Hands up those who moan that this country is too PC and you can't say this or you can't do that for fear of upsetting someone.

 

It's odd that, because it's some old geezer who has, arguably, survived as a celebrity on the strength of one sitcom from decades ago, it's a crime worthy of national debate and censure...

 

YET....if it were *picks idea out of the air* a Muslim guy getting upset about something that someone on the radio had said then I bet a fair few people in this thread wouldn't be backing them in the slightest.

 

Discuss.

[chilli]

For anyone who hasn't heard the messages, it's nowhere near as bad as the press are making out. So Mr Sachs has found out his granddaughter, member of 'satanic sluts', isn't a virgin and someone said the f-word once on his answerphone. I'm not sure that exactly warrants a criminal investigation. Wow, 0.03% of the population have complained about it (guaranteed 95% haven't even heard it). Total non-story.

 

There are worse things said about people all the time on TV, direct insults on programmes like HIGNFY, Buzzcocks and 8 out of 10 cats. Just because this was said on an answerphone, and subsequently broadcast (upsetting 2 listeners), rather than in front of millions on TV, I don't see what's so different?

 

BTW Andrew Sachs had totally shirked his commitment to appear on Brand's show, with no explanation and wasn't answering any of his phones, hence how this started in the first place. It wasn't like they picked him at random.

 

 

Well said! Criminal investigation? Totally laughable. One swear word, a message that whilst not polite or politically correct, was actually true, about a "satanic slut"! lol

 

Ok so it wasn't right and needed an apology. Much worse gets said, you've only got to watch one of many comic sketch programs that mock the famous to see much, much worse. Blimey, what a load of nonsense!

[marc_p]

Personally I thought it a set up from the start, to provide some bint who's doing an honest prostitute out of a job some free publicity, probably in return for letting the ex druggie "pleasure" her But I'm just a cynical old *astard.

 

You might be a cynical old 8astard, but your a cynical old 8astard that I agree with

 

Seems like there's a few hypocrites on here. Hands up those who moan that this country is too PC and you can't say this or you can't do that for fear of upsetting someone.

 

It's odd that, because it's some old geezer who has, arguably, survived as a celebrity on the strength of one sitcom from decades ago, it's a crime worthy of national debate and censure...

 

YET....if it were *picks idea out of the air* a Muslim guy getting upset about something that someone on the radio had said then I bet a fair few people in this thread wouldn't be backing them in the slightest.

 

Discuss.

 

Couldn't put it better myself

[jamesmark]

Seems like there's a few hypocrites on here. Hands up those who moan that this country is too PC and you can't say this or you can't do that for fear of upsetting someone.

 

It's odd that, because it's some old geezer who has, arguably, survived as a celebrity on the strength of one sitcom from decades ago, it's a crime worthy of national debate and censure...

 

YET....if it were *picks idea out of the air* a Muslim guy getting upset about something that someone on the radio had said then I bet a fair few people in this thread wouldn't be backing them in the slightest.

 

Discuss.

 

I love it when you're masterful, NOT!!

 

Seriously well said Martin.

[Rob]

Andrew Sachs does a lot of voicework and commentary/narration for documentaries on the Beeb, so he's a bit of a grand old man of the BBC, for what that's worth.

 

I like Brand, he's not afraid to push the boundaries, we need people like him to further mankind, he's up there with Chuck Yeager, Henry Millar, Shostakovich and Chris Langham.

[Pete]

Didn't it all start because he didn't turn up to appear on the show?

 

I hate it when people don't turn up for appointments. I've heard worse. If anyone should be suspended it's the producer who LET them behave like this on air. They were just being entertaining in their own way.

[Jake]

if it were

a Muslim guy getting upset about something that someone on the radio had said then I bet a fair few people in this thread wouldn't be backing them in the slightest.

I bet people wouldn't be backing Mr Sachs if he had a long and boring record of getting easily offended at the drop of a hat and wanting people dead.

[RedM]

I bet people wouldn't be backing Mr Sachs if he had a long and boring record of getting easily offended at the drop of a hat and wanting people dead.

 

Who says he hasn't?

[Gerry]

As a rule, what celebrities say and do is of zero interest to me and I resent it crowding out issues of real importance in the papers and on TV.

 

On this occasion though, I think it's worthy of a bit of attention. Seems to me that there's growing trend for guys like them -and the broadcasting authorities - to take absolutely no account of those on the receiving end of humour and satire. If you are in any way in the public eye, you're fair game

 

This is a good example. A 78 year old guy who was in the public eye 20+ years ago is apparently fair game. To me, it doesn't matter if his grand-daughter is the biggest trollop in Europe, they were still intruding into a personal relationship between grandfather and grand-daughter - and doing it on a national broadcast.

 

What disturbs me is that there's apparently no limit to how vicious or intrusive shows like this can get. In fact, the more outrageous, the better, because it's good for the ratings. That's the arrogance that lies behind it, on the performer's part and on the BBC's: "we can do what we like, because the public loves it."

 

 

Sums it up for me...

[Jake]

Who says he hasn't?

I did.

 

If he does, I'm not aware of it.

[RedM]

I did.

 

If he does, I'm not aware of it.

 

Why would you be?

 

Anyway, not all Muslims have a long and boring history of wanting people dead. I could have chosen any number of situations to highlight that some people need to remember what they've written, what side they've backed or what exactly they're getting worked up about.