- This topic has 26 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 4 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
There were parts of the Blackadder series that I found massively self indulgent, up its own back side, and not even remotely funny.
The late Rik Mayall’s Flash Heart cameos, for example.
But I found Rowan Atkinson – admittedly reciting scripts written by others – consistently hilarious from Blackadder II (the original was a bit rubbish and didn’t know whether it wanted to be Monty Python & The Holy Grail or something else) onwards.
That just serves to heighten my disappointment at discovering what a right-wing libertarian tool he seems to me to be in these later years.
He’s also one of these people who think that if you call yourself a “comedian” none of the rules apply to you and you can say literally whatever you like – in fact it’s your job to “offend.”
I would be interested to know what the good people on TRF here in the Lounge think.
Is this just my slightly pinko personal politics clouding my mind yet again?
Ps: I always thought Mr Bean was comedy for brain donors and I’d rather watch paint dry than sit through an episode of it.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I’ve never watched Mr Bean ( thank goodness). Of course, the true star of Blackadder is Baldrick and, thankfully, Tony Robinson is an all round good guy. The bit at the beginning, when Blackadder falls off his horse makes me laugh no matter how many times I see it. But sadly, Rowan Atkinson is a complete (please feel free to add your own expletive; he isn’t worth me getting into trouble for saying what I really think).
Thank you, Moehat – it’s not just me, then!
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Mr Bean was worse than dreadful. He was creepy in it and seemed to think if he pulled a stupid face we would fall about. Turned off is more likely.
My sis’s man somehow, I knew it was a bad idea, coaxed us into going to see the 3rd Johnny English. Cringeworthy doesn’t come close, even my sis’s man apologised for dragging us along.
I saw him intervied a while back and like a lot of “comedians” he seemed quite subdued, dull even.
I did like him in some of Blackadder, not the first series. He’s a comic actor rather than a comedian.
Haven’t seen or heard from him for a while so not sure about his politics. I just think he found a roll that he, eventually, fitted into nicely. The rest I could do without.
Thank you, too, BigG, for your comments.
Being a fairly reclusive chap, I don’t really discuss these things with others in real life, but when I briefly watched a bit of Mr Bean when it first was broadcast two things really shocked me.
Firstly, that a comedy actor with what I considered a relatively high-brow profile – Not The Nine O’Clock News, Black Adder – could be involved in such moronic slapstick drivel on prime time ITV – and secondly that this utter nonsense was so popular.
But then I had seen the same in newspapers – work on really clever material for a pittance at papers like The Guardian and The Independent or rake it in working for the mass tabloids but feel like you needed to take a shower when you got home.
Mr Bean will be where Atkinson made his money.
My father used to reckon stupid people harbour deep insecurity about their lack of intellect so their comedy needs were different to those of intellectual audiences.
Whereas a bright audience had no insecurities and loved the “unexpected juxture positioning of incongruities” (a definition of comedy back in the day) dim audiences actually loved being able to predict the punchline coming up, and even join in with it as it was delivered, as it made them feel better about themselves.
A bit like watching an old replay of a horse race, knowing the result, and pretending they had a bet on the winner.
That was his theory as to why such utterly predictable rubbish was so immensely popular and went out in prime time ITV slots.
He was, of course, a complete intellectual snob!
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Never really seen Mr Bean but isn’t it aimed at children as much as at adults?
I agree with some of Atkinson’s comments about the need to protect free speech. Otherwise I do not know what else he has said.
His brother Rodney has been involved in Eurosceptic politics for years, even when it was on the fringes of political debate. Rodney’s wife Lynn was a prolific commenter below the line on several political blogs but she seems to have disappeared recently. She is quite a big racing fan as well.
I have no idea if Rowan Atkinson shares his brother’s opinions.
This really comes back to the perennial question of can you separate the artist from the man? Personally, I have no such trouble. I would not watch or read very much if I took into account the politics of the actors or writers!
I believe Philip Larkin is the greatest British writer since WW2. Since his death, his official biography and published correspondence has made it quite clear he was a racist, with opinions that were very right wing even by the standards of the day. But it does not stop me reading his poetry and thinking some of it is absolutely beautiful.
Trying to determine someone’s politics before deciding whether to laugh or not is bizarre. Makes no sense at all
Richard Hamilton was a great British artist but profoundly left wing and yet his work is often brilliant even when I disagree with his stance. His work is often very political too
Agree Larkin is a great.
Don’t know exactly what Atkinson has said but when people start spouting off about free speech, they are usually only referring to their own free speech. What many of them actually want (don’t know about Atkinson specifically) is freedom from consequence.
From a quick search he’s also been going on about ‘cancel culture’ which is another load of rubbish. People who claim to have been ‘cancelled’ are usually doing so to six and seven figure number followers on Twitter or on TV.
Has he used the ‘w’ word yet? Think that would be a line on my bingo card.
People in the limelight who keep their traps shut on these divisive so called issues deserve the most respect imo.
Perhaps steve coogan should keep his sanctimonious deeply woke boring trap shut too richard?
He’s an absolute pain and not a nice bloke by many accounts
But doesn’t stop me thinking/ that the early partridge was as good as anything I’ve seen on the box in years
Unless the politics directly drive the comedy (and I can get left leaning gags happily) what’s this thread all about?
I even like certain ken loach films ffs. Talented naturalistic Director at his best
It’s exactly the same as suddenly not liking an artists work because you find out he supports man Utd
‘Perhaps steve coogan should keep his sanctimonious deeply woke boring trap shut too richard?’
If he’s mouthing off about these issues then he’s included in my last paragraph. I wasn’t only referring to people on one side of this pointless argument.
Thank you for your comments CAS and Richard – perfectly fair and valid points from both of you, I feel.
Another observation my father used to make was that television took us all together too close to our sporting and comedy heroes and the less we knew about their personal lives/views the happier we would be in our perpetual illusions about them.
He would no doubt say the same thing about the Internet.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I was more referring to all the woke stuff, it’s such a manufactured and subjective thing that you’ll never get anywhere if you argue about it till the cows come home.
The thread raises the point that some people will struggle to enjoy someone’s work if they turn out to have differing opinions. Some don’t care, for others it raises a dilemma, a few might go out and burn all their Blackadder and Mr Bean DVDs.
It’s a fair question I think. Should you separate the artist and the work? Most of the time I’d say you probably should. Can you is quite another question and perhaps what this thread is about. I’m sure there’s a line somewhere even for those who don’t let it bother them.
Keep it shut celebrities, you know it makes sense
More fair and valid comment from you Richard, I think.
I can still enjoy old Blackadder II to IV reruns and Atkinson is IMO an outstanding comedy actor.
I just have to bury his views in the deepest recesses at the back of my mind in order to do so, that’s all!
I’m a political nomad tbh – I think Steve Coogan was hilarious as Alan Partridge but can’t stand his sanctimonious centre left views any more than I can abide Atkinson’s latent right wing libertarianism.
Right or left, they’re all abusing their fame platform to foist their views on people.
TV and newspaper interviews started this downward spiral – it was a much better world than we didn’t know what any of them thought about politics, or about anything!
And it’s sport as well as comedy and other entertain – How many Tories probably thought Gary Lineker and Gary Neville were cracking football players and great blokes before the advent of social media??!!
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"It doesn’t help that the lines of celebrity and politican are being blurred. You have celebrities thinking they are politicians, politicians thinking they are celebrities.
I don’t mind them using their powers for good (Rashford and the school meals stuff for example) but keep out of the real polarising arguments.
Of course they are free to speak out if they choose to, I’m free to tell them to button it.
Absolutely 100% this.^
What were (are) Donald Trump and Boris Johnson other than “celebrity politicians?”
Politicians are meant to be: honest, principled, have integrity and a genuine desire to serve their country – in other words….BORING.
They are not there to entertain.
The world seems to have forgotten that.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.