[News] Fawlty Towers episode removed from UKTV

[Lower West Stander]

In Fawlty Towers, The Major is there to be a racist old ****, and for us to go - "Wow! Look at that dumb old codger!". However, stupid people (and this may shock you, but there's often a big overlap between stupid people and racists) don't get that the man on the telly is supposed to be laughed at.

They think he's right.

These racist old TV shows need to be taken down lest future generations of idiots forget that The Major's racial slurs are now unacceptable in modern society. It's uncomfortable but we need to adjust our attitudes and stop trying to think up excuses to try and keep accessibility to these shows.

Undermining your own argument.

By calling FT racist you are underlining the stupid views you highlight in the first part of your post.

 

[Hampster Gull]

****ing crazy

 

[Bakero]

I am puzzled as to what those on here who describe themselves as socialists actually believe in. The old USSR, which was a staggeringly repressive regime was called The Union of Soviet SOCIALIST Republics. Hitler's Nazi party , another staggeringly repressive regime, was called The National SOCIALIST German Workers Party. One is ultra left wing, the other is ultra right wing, and they are universes apart. Which branch of socialism do you belong to?

Spain is currently run by the PSOE, which is the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. What's your point? I doubt many NSCers identify as Nazis or Stalinists.

 

[cunning fergus]

You chat some absolute shit don't you. This isn't the same building changing names, you thought Liam Rosenior went to a completely different school - hence the 'privilege' comment. The school you provided the URL too = private school. Liam went to what is a state funded school - now an academy. So nothing like the random WHL reference you provided.

Admit it - you don't live in Bristol do you?

Ha, calm down me babber.

The school changed its name, it was Colstons now it’s Cothamblahblah. If people refer to the old name then confusion reigns. Councils changing buildings names and road signs regardless of the status of a single school will sow the seeds of confusion on a much greater scale......but it’s good that their budgets will allow for it and they have no other priorities. So that point stands.

 

[cunning fergus]

Christ, you've been absolutely owned and you're still back for more. Did you even notice I was arguing against the removal of Fawlty Towers and in favour of free speech before you tried to change the subject and got something completely wrong about one of Brighton's recent black players?

This is a football forum, no more no less. We exchange views, some posters are funny some are not blah blah.

My life is not in tatters because of the views from the wet mattress brigade on here.

I’ve got designer clobber to get into this weekend.......mint (as they say in Bris).

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Blazing Saddles has got to go!

One of my favourite comedy film scenes ever is Mel Brooks dressed as an Indian Chief stopping the black family of the future sheriff in the wagon train. He looked at his companion, said: "hast du die Schwarze gesehen? Man, they darker than us". And then sends them on their way. The number of times the word "ni66er" is used is enormous...... but the whole point of it is blowing racism apart. A masterpiece!

 

[LlcoolJ]

"cunning fergus" once again confirming that he has the least appropriate user name on the forum.

Hilarious stuff!

 

[LlcoolJ]

Blazing Saddles has got to go!

One of my favourite comedy film scenes ever is Mel Brooks dressed as an Indian Chief stopping the black family of the future sheriff in the wagon train. He looked at his companion, said: "hast du die Schwarze gesehen? Man, they darker than us". And then sends them on their way. The number of times the word "ni66er" is used is enormous...... but the whole point of it is blowing racism apart. A masterpiece!

It is brilliant.

 

[Nixonator]

Why is it uncalled for? I don’t understand the reactions from some people on this thread. I can only assume that they are unaware of exactly how racist this episode of FT actually is. I see some posters that were fine with pulling down the statue now saying removing an old racist episode of a much loved British sit-com as “a step too far.” We’re currently going through a period of attitude adjustment with regards to institutional racism and old sit-coms that used racist language are as much a part of this as statues of slave traders. There are no exceptions or excuses. This episode used racist language. It’s gone. And there will be more to follow.

You can't be much of a reader, if you agree with it being removed on that basis alone.

Whatever happened to context? The Major character is there as national and demographic self-mockery, as so many of Cleese's characters were.

It comes down to the usage of the words not the words themselves (which can simply be sounded out if necessary). In this example used to satirically characterise a senile, upper-class old war veteran, out of touch and set in his ways.

If I was a better man I would be more bothered about the precedent this is setting and where society is heading. Alas, I couldn't care less. The banning of this episode gave me a good laugh, just as Fawlty Towers did many moons since.

 

[W3 BHA]

Whilst I would find it hard to make a good case for not getting rid of individual things that are identified as representing racism, homophobia and other intolerences, I am a bit afraid that the zeal with which we are now tearing things down, banning tv programmes and films, causing bands like Lady Antebellum to apologise for their name and generally slagging off anyone who doesn't fit with the new ideal is taking us headlong into another McCarthyism type era in which no one will be safe from the accuser.

 

[clapham_gull]

After an internal review and an amended warning on the start of the programme will be back online in few days.

https://www.theguardian.com/culture...tacks-stupid-removal-of-fawlty-towers-episode

 

[Sirnormangall]

Blazing Saddles has got to go!

One of my favourite comedy film scenes ever is Mel Brooks dressed as an Indian Chief stopping the black family of the future sheriff in the wagon train. He looked at his companion, said: "hast du die Schwarze gesehen? Man, they darker than us". And then sends them on their way. The number of times the word "ni66er" is used is enormous...... but the whole point of it is blowing racism apart. A masterpiece!

Spot on - it’s all about laughing at them, not with them.

 

[Weststander]

After an internal review and an amended warning on the start of the programme will be back online in few days.

https://www.theguardian.com/culture...tacks-stupid-removal-of-fawlty-towers-episode

Thanks for that update. Common sense prevails.

Cleese and Booth, clever writers, were clearly parodying a racist upper class idiot. It was not a cheap shot at an ethnic minority, which was commonplace in that era.

 

[LlcoolJ]

Thanks for that update. Common sense prevails.

Cleese and Booth, clever writers, were clearly parodying a racist upper class idiot. It was not a cheap shot at an ethnic minority, which was commonplace in that era.

And the Major is actually one of the best comedy characters ever created. Emphasis on "comedy" because you're supposed to laugh AT him.

He's brilliant, because he's a ****ing idiot. Which is the point.....

 

[Swansman]

After an internal review and an amended warning on the start of the programme will be back online in few days.

https://www.theguardian.com/culture...tacks-stupid-removal-of-fawlty-towers-episode

Nice. Great to see this good old show getting a bit of attention!

I think it was my first meeting with British culture (except for mr Bean who I was afraid of since I got the closet paedophile vibe from him). I remember my mother always watching it and that I couldnt understand a word but found it funny anyway.

 

[Weststander]

And the Major is actually one of the best comedy characters ever created. Emphasis on "comedy" because you're supposed to laugh AT him.

He's brilliant, because he's a ****ing idiot. Which is the point.....

Aside from the now controversial bit, hilariously the long term guest the Major always waiting in the bar at 5:59 for his first drink of the evening, checking his watch “That time already” expressed with faux surprise. Clearly a piss head. With the humble elderly sisters lurking in the background. Cleese and Booth nailed so many human quirks into 12 glorious episodes.

 

[Bold Seagull]

And Fawlty Towers gets its biggest boost in new viewers in many a year.

If I was a broadcasting channel exec I think I’d be going through our library to see what I could ‘take off air’ fairly publicly, only to reinstate a few days later...

 

[nicko31]

common sense at last

 

[Super Steve Earle]

Nice. Great to see this good old show getting a bit of attention!

I think it was my first meeting with British culture (except for mr Bean who I was afraid of since I got the closet paedophile vibe from him). I remember my mother always watching it and that I couldnt understand a word but found it funny anyway.

There weren't any words...

 

[southstandandy]

And Fawlty Towers gets its biggest boost in new viewers in many a year.

If I was a broadcasting channel exec I think I’d be going through our library to see what I could ‘take off air’ fairly publicly, only to reinstate a few days later...

Like many other programmes reviewed recently. The Little Britain dvd box set has been going for stupid prices on ebay recently. Might think about selling a few of my old box sets!