Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: PEDA: Who, what, where, why

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  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Roasts as a concept are a great idea but the trick lies in being good with words, and manipulating them to a) sound clever b) poke someone and c) do it all without offending anyone.

    Yeah right.
    I have been known to flip over to a channel (often the comedy channel), to see what is on, because an artist is mentioned in the synopsis, only to discover that a "roast" is the subject. I have been appalled at what is considered humorous, and many a Hitler jibe comes into it, along with homophobic content (and that was from a gay guy!) If Fane thought, he might study examples of how to do his contribution, I imagine his efforts would have been text book. Absolutely cringe worthy roast . I think Holmes, Hayden,etc are worse. They meant what they said, with no understanding of how their insults were considered.Fane was doing a roast, which are mostly disgusting (imo) but meant to be derogatory and insulting albeit supposedly funny.
    Jus' sayin'

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Not because i don't think the holocaust was a uniquely horrific event, but because of the way an insincere hyper-sensitivity over the holocaust is used by right wing commentators to shut down anyone who might dare criticise Jewish lobbyists, or the Jewish state.

    And it's a damn shame no one reported Fane's informed criticism of Israeli foreign policy on the night.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    If anything, Holmes generated more controversy than the others; or about as much as Harawira. I don't agree at all that Fane has been treated worse because he's Polynesian.

    I'm talking consequences as well as attention. Remind me how long Holmes was suspended from air as Fane has just been?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I have become very jaundiced these days about the fuss that gets made everytime someone makes a joke about the Holocaust. Not because i don't think the holocaust was a uniquely horrific event, but because of the way an insincere hyper-sensitivity over the holocaust is used by right wing commentators to shut down anyone who might dare criticise Jewish lobbyists, or the Jewish state.

    Oh, FFS, Tom... I'm sorry to tell you this, but perhaps there's a fuss from people who perfectly sincerely regard the attempted genocide of European Jewry as no more amusing than the Rape of Nanking, Pol Pot's Killing Fields or the corpse-filled pits of Srebrenica and Murambi? There's certainly communities in Auckland who get rather dull and humourless about those subjects.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Fane was doing a roast, which are mostly disgusting (imo) but meant to be derogatory and insulting albeit supposedly funny.

    Bad Feminist/Lefty/Everything Alert: I really love the Friars Club roasts. They're so mind-blowingly offensive that they're beyond taking seriously, because they're like a kind of free-floating performance art of hostility. But it's a very difficult comedic skill to master: the element of surprise is what you want, as well as the meanness. (If you're an older, well-respected lady comic, you can be very surprising indeed: I actually cried with laughter at Bea Arthur's bit during the roast of Pamela Anderson, and Chloris Leachman's timing at the roast of Bob Saget was similarly incredible.)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Oh, FFS, Tom... I'm sorry to tell you this, but perhaps there's a fuss from people who perfectly sincerely regard the attempted genocide of European Jewry as no more amusing than the Rape of Nanking, Pol Pot's Killing Fields or the corpse-filled pits of Srebrenica and Murambi? There's certainly communities in Auckland who get rather dull and humourless about those subjects.

    You are missing the point. It isn't that some might find cracking a funny over the rape of Nanking in rather poor taste and object to it with an entirely justified letter to the editor in the Herald. It is that when you make such a joke ABOUT JEWS then an entire right wing, character assassinating, clobbering machine swings into action, and that clobbering machine isn't really interested in the Holocaust - it is interested in making an example of anyone who might question the policies of the Jewish state.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I'm talking consequences as well as attention. Remind me how long Holmes was suspended from air as Fane has just been?

    Holmes' boss as Newstalk ZB, Bill Francis, was always loyal, literally to a fault, to his broadcasters. It's not sustainable to say that Holmes would have been given a week off had he been Polynesian.

    Francis largely upheld the broadcasting standards against Holmes, ordered him to write a letter of apology, and presumably gave him a serious bollocking.

    Meanwhile, a group of academics wrote a letter of condemnation, the race relations conciliator waded in and Holmes was even rapped by the Prime Minister. A member of his TVNZ product staff resigned in protest. By contrast, the Fane business, which involved more offensive speech, is pretty much over now.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    it is interested in making an example of anyone who might question the policies of the Jewish state.

    Again Tom, I deeply regret that the Herald on Sunday neglected to report Fane's nuanced commentary on Middle East politics.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    If you're an older, well-respected lady comic, you can be very surprising indeed: I actually cried with laughter at Bea Arthur's bit during the roast of Pamela Anderson

    Yeah, but you know something: I have the the oddest suspicion that Pamela Anderson's big-titted airhead persona aside, she's actually smart enough to realise what being the guest of honour at a Friar's Club Roast entails. And like Dolly Parton, she's in on the joke more than anyone.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Ta for response, Russell.
    Now, back to that grindstone with me..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Oh, and Tom this is what the "Jewish lobby" ACTUALLY SAID in this instance:

    New Zealand Jewish Council president Stephen Goodman said Fane's apology supported his contention that it was simply a stupid act with no anti-semitic intent.

    "It was just somebody getting carried away with the situation and saying silly things."

    Maybe try and keep commentary to the matter at hand, and away from the chip on your shoulder.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Ta for response, Russell.
    Now, back to that grindstone with me..

    Shit -- that reminds me. I have to make a TV show!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Wish I could be there - love watching other people work :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    Where were we?

    We were informally told he'd slagged off his boss on air, and that was the issue. I expect Collins will be keen to respond.

    Wonder if he wants to roast him?
    OK, Bad Joke.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    Before I put David Fane behind me. One thing that does slightly intrigue me is how much influence - if any - the christianity soaked Polynesian culture had on Mr Fane's outburst.
    The only person who could really answer this is David himself and it would probably mean a level of unflinching introspection which he is probably not capable of in his present sorry state.

    It's blindingly obvious that Mel G's outburst was heavily influenced by his upbringing and his wacko father, its no excuse of course. And I couldnt give a shit about Mel. Im just sort of vaguely curious in Mr Fane's case.
    Guess we'll never know....

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Wish I could be there - love watching other people work :)

    It came up bloody well. We got lots of context and clarification on the PEDA story (Efeso Collins is a very impressive young man), and a good little chat with Simon Wilson about the new Metro. I was a happy little host afterwards.

    So that's 9.10pm tonight, TVNZ 7 ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Turn around. As it should be.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

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