BBC and the papers

Benny · October 30, 2008, 09:15:15 AM

Russell and Ross, the 'big' saga. I'm not sure how many people heard the offending skit but I actually got irate about this last night.

A minimal number of people complained at the time, the papers get hold and turn it into a national scandal calling for heads to roll. It's simply ridiculous.

I don't like Brand, but I happened to download his podcast for the commute in and that particular one was funny. Purile, immature - yes. National crime - No. What adds to it is the innocent little girl in the paper today spilling the beans. She's no innocent, and without going all 'Judge Pickles' (for you older readers), I don't think her honour is much at stake.

It was tasteless and harsh. It was played to Sachs before airing. If anyone is at fault it's the producer of the show and that's it.

Jabbs · October 30, 2008, 09:28:18 AM

I didn't like what the two R's did. I liked it less because I thought it was Live. It wasn't Live then? It was played to Sachs BEFORE airing?

The two R's are less and less to blame.

It's just people looking to stir things up and there has to be scapegoats doesn't there? Well there doesn't HAVE to be, but there is.

Purile, tastless, childish humour.....we love this sort of thing (although this humour was too far imho). A lot of us laugh at Chris Moyles and Scott Mills who are often childish.

So yeah I agree the bosses that let it play and Sachs who heard it before should also be blamed!

Anonymous · October 30, 2008, 09:32:10 AM

It was played to Sachs before airing but it he was on a mobile phone and he claimed the line was bad and he couldn't hear it properly.

This so called humour is getting more and more out of line as time goes on. It was uncalled for and, as has been stated, whoever gave the nod for it to be aired needs his head examined. I notice that we haven't been given his/her name!!!

Doorman · October 30, 2008, 09:32:17 AM

Quote from: Benny;249127...It was played to Sachs before airing...

But he was NOT happy about it being aired. You seem to imply that he was OK with it. :g:And yes, it's the producer(s) who should be castrated er..castigated.

Benny · October 30, 2008, 09:54:44 AM

I'm not condoning the level of the humour. I'm more annoyed at the mob-mentality and hate crowd that the red-tops have whipped up. I really am beginning to despise the way this country operates.

Wrong- yes, funny - arguably, when the BBC pay for 'near the edge' comedians they get what they pay for, they want to appeal, they get a free tax kick (licesnse fee) to do it and it's down to the producer, not the individuals.

If I write a letter to a client calling them ar**holes, then I ask my boss if that's ok. If it's sent, it's his issue, not mine. That is what he is here for.

Oh and to compund it, which I forgot to mention, Mr Sachs wife was in hospital, how could they be so callous......

Carr0t · October 30, 2008, 10:22:40 AM

Yeah, I don't agree with what they did, I think it was going a bit too far, but as you said a whole 2(! So many!) people complained at the time, out of a listening figure estimated at about 400'000. It was only when the papers got hold of it and ran with it that everyone else got up in arms.

Anonymous · October 30, 2008, 10:22:53 AM

:withstupid:

Absolutely agree

OldBloke · October 30, 2008, 10:27:59 AM

As a joke, would it have been acceptable to leave a message on his answerphone saying his granddaughter had died? Not in my book. Just as it's not acceptable to me for someone to leave a message on an *any* elderly gentleman's answerphone saying 'I f*cked your granddaughter'.

Here's a couple of guys (who are not 'cutting edge' comedians by a long chalk as it happens) acting without thought or care for their target and thinking it's funny. It might be to some people in their audience but, sorry, I don't get it.

As for the young producer about to be hauled over the coals - I bet he/she thought 'Hey. This is two of the most highly paid comedians at the BBC doing this. It must be 'cutting edge'. Who am I to say it's wrong?'

Old 'hanging judge' Bloke

Zootoxin · October 30, 2008, 11:27:11 AM

I think its about time those two egomanic's were brought down to ground level especially Brand, who the hell does that guy think he is.

What you got to remember if a bunch of kids were leaving obscene messages on your grandfathers/ fathers answering machine you'd go loco..

The girl is far from whiter than white though I think we all know that, the fact she has been socialising with the likes of brand says it all really what did she expect from him?

I have to agree with Benny on the fact it became a media circus and everyone just jumped on the band wagon which can be dangerous but it seems in this instance it was necassery for those planks to get their just deserves.

Didn't look like the BBC even had a clue it had happened.

Liberator · October 30, 2008, 12:04:02 PM

Quote from: BBCBrand has resigned from Radio 2 and Ross has been suspended.

Latest from the BBC lynch mob page.

I haven't listened to the podcast yet and so will reserve judgement.

Penfold · October 30, 2008, 12:22:32 PM

You tube: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=U7IHJ66wj9g

Here's a transcript:

(courtesy of the Daily Telegraph)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3274807/Transcript-Russell-Brand-and-Jonathan-Ross-prank-call-to-Andrew-Sachs.html

Russell Brand (RB): "This is Andrew Sachs's answerphone. Right Jonathan, well this is unconventional..
Jonathan Ross (JR): "Don't worry I'll blurt something out"
RB: "Don't blurt something out, not on the answerphone Jonathan.
Andrew Sachs's answerphone: "Sorry I can't answer at the moment, but please call again or leave a message. Speak after the tone, thank you."
RB: "Hello Andrew Sachs this is Russell Brand. I am a great appreciator of your work over the decades. You're meant to be on my show now mate, I don't know why you're not answering the phone, it's a bit difficult - I'm here with Jonathan Ross."
JR: "Hello Andrew..."
RB: "That's Jonathan Ross speaking now. Anyway, we understand.. anyway.. we can still do the interview to his answerphone..."
(The two presenters exchange banter)
JR: "He f***** your granddaughter!" (laughter)... I'm sorry I apologise. Andrew I apologise... I got excited, what can I say. it just came out."
RB: "Andrew Sachs, I did not do nothing with Georgina - oh no I've revealed I know her name! Oh no it's a disaster.
"Abort, abort. Please watch that show. I am out of The Bill, starring Andrew Sachs, I'm out of The Bill... Put the phone down, put the phone down, code red code red. I'm sorry Mr Fawlty I'm sorry, they're a waste of space..."
JR: "... How could I carry that round in my head like a big brain blister all day? I had to pop it and let the pressure out...
"Like it's really bothered us though, he's the poor man sitting at home sobbing over his answer machine...
"If he's like most people of a certain age he's probably got a picture of his grandchildren when they're young right by the phone.
"So while he's listening to the messages he's looking at a picture of her about nine on a swing."
RB: "She was on a swing when I met her. Oh no!"
JR: "And probably enjoyed her."
RB: "Let's ring back Andrew Sachs... What if he answers this time? Oh no Jonathan please. I'll do anything."
(Andrew Sachs's answerphone message comes on for a second time.)
RB: Andrew this is Russell Brand. I'm so sorry about the last message. It was part of the radio show. It was a mistake."
JR: "It was just a joke. If there is any truth in that, I don't know. It was just a joke."
RB: "It was just a joke that we done. I didn't ask him to say it though..."
JR: "It might be true, but we didn't want to break it to you in such a harsh way."
RB: "Ok, look the truth is, Andrew I'm ringing you to ask if I can marry, that's right marry your granddaughter, Georgina the granddaughter."
JR: "And I'd like to be a page boy."
RB: He wants to be a page boy. We're going to have a Fawlty Towers-themed wedding."
JR: "No, no, you've spoiled it..."
RB: "No I'm sorry I'll do anything. I wore a condom. Put the phone down. Oh, what's going to happen?..."
JR: "You'll never become king rat in the Variety Club now Russell Brand."
RB: "Oh no that's over for me. I'm never going to be king rat in the Variety Club. Jonathan I think we've made the situation worse."
JR: "Who'd have thought two people like us could possibly have made the situation worse."
RB: "How could we with all our skills, our social skills, our talents our experiences."
JR: "Our intentions were pure."
RB: "You know the only way we can make this better don't you?"
JR: "Let's phone him again. Let's leave a nice message."
RB: "Listen, we've got to make it better. We'll phone Andrew Sachs back. We've got to stop upsetting Manuel. This time Jonathan I'm convinced we can make it better."
JR: "What should we not mention, the war?"
RB: "Don't mention the war, don't mention his granddaughter. Don't say: 'You only ever played Manuel'... Don't mention The Bill in a negative way. Yes! We'll just sing to him. I'll make up something as I go along."
JR: "I'll be Bing Crosby to your David Bowie."
RB: "I've always seen our relationship as a Christmas-themed hit."
(The answerphone message plays again).
JR: (as the message plays): "She was bent over the couch..."
RB (singing): "I'd like to apologise for these terrible attacks - Andrew Sachs.
"I'd like to show contrition to the max, Andrew Sachs.
"I'd like to create world peace, between the yellow, whites and blacks Andrew Sachs, Andrew Sachs.
"I said some things I didn't of oughta, like I had sex with your granddaughter.
"But it was consensual and she wasn't menstrual it was consensual lovely sex.
"It's full of respect. I sent her a text. I've asked her to marry me...
"Oh Andrew Sachs, will you marry Jonathan, it sounds like he wants to now."
JR: "This has made it worse, I feel it's made it worse, you've trivialised the whole terrible incident. It started fine and then you went on about nonsense."
RB: "You said you wanted to marry him..."
JR: "I wasn't really listening to you, I was concentrating on my back harmonies... There's only one way we could possibly make this better."
(Brand laughs)
RB: "What can we do?"
JR: "Let's use up the rest of his tape, this time with a heartfelt and sincere apology... Pretend you're Gordon Brown and make a beautiful speech rescuing the country from the credit crunch and rescue him from the inner turmoil you've caused by saying that you jumped on a relative."
RB: "Yes, you're right Jonathan, you're right. Only by doing the exact thing that we've done three times already can we make the situation better."
JR: "If you learn one thing from history, it's do not repeat your mistakes."
RB: "Don't repeat them."
JR: "So let's do it right this time."
RB: "Thank God Jonathan."
JR: "Maybe this time... I want to do the song this time."
RB: "You're not doing the lyrics. You'll balls it up. And can't do backing it's not in my nature."
JR: "But you talked about his granddaughter's menstruation."
RB: "Look we've got a golden opportunity here, to make Andrew Sachs happy."
JR: "... we should go in a little bit more relaxed this time."
RB: "Right yeah that's true, let's not look at this as the last time we're going to call Andrew Sachs."
(Ross laughs)
JR: "... The wonder of technology is such that we can keep doing this for hours."
RB: "And even after the show's finished Jonathan we can find out where Andrew Sachs lives, kick his front door in and scream apologies into his bottom... We can just keep on troubling Andrew Sachs... let's do it, right, ok.
"You pretend you're Andrew Sachs's answerphone."
JR: "Hello, Manuel is not in right now. Leave your message after the tone."
RB (as the phone rings again): "Alright Andrew Sachs's answerphone, I'm ever so sorry for what I said about Andrew Sachs."
JR: "Just say: 'Sorry'."
RB (laughing): "I'll kill you!"
JR: "Don't say you'll wear him as a hat, just say: 'Sorry'."
RB: "Sorry, right."

Doorman · October 30, 2008, 12:36:36 PM

I've been mulling this over all morning and have come to the conclusion that any 'over-reaction' by newspapers, phone calls to the BBC etc. etc. is the result of years of frustration caused by: Snotty nosed kids giving you lip, stabbings, shootings, lack of basic manners, corporate greed, outrageous 'bonuses', useless politians, dumbing down of our education 'system', text speak when there's no need for it, nobody taking responsibility for their own action ("They gave me the wrong kind of ladder") illegal immigration, welfare scroungers, speed cameras, waste disposal nazis, corruption, LORD(ffs!)Mandelson, councils wasting money, Social services gauleiters, Power company bastionards, parking meters, overcrowding of this tiny island, damn me I don't know where to stop! And the whole crock of s**t (oh yes, language filters) comes down on the personification of moronity....Russell Brand. Wossy should have know better. How long has he been in showbiz? :ranting2::ranting2::ranting2::ranting2::ranting2::ranting2::ranting2::ranting2::ranting2::ranting2::ranting2::ranting2::ranting2::ranting2::ranting2::ranting2:

Phew! That feels better. I'm off to my bunker.

OldBloke · October 30, 2008, 01:12:06 PM

Wish I'd said that

.

DogMeat · October 30, 2008, 01:19:36 PM

Imagine, if you will, any previous scenario you have experienced featuring either of these two characters. Hold that image.

Now, imagine exactly the same scene with other people in their place, doing exactly the same thing.

Exactly. Neither of them really add any particular value other than bad hair and a speech impediment.

Just get that talent-vacuum Chris Moles off the Beeb payroll and my year will be complete...

:lmfao:

TeaLeaf · October 30, 2008, 01:38:18 PM

Quote from: dogmeat;249157just get that talent-vacuum chris moles off the beeb payroll and my year will be complete...

:lmfao:

+1 (that's for the LFSers here...)
QFT (that's for everyone else)