what tv show could bbc2 use as filler other than the good life

[davidb]

has anyone else noticed that over the last 5 or 6 years bbc2 has shown the good life in constant rotation ? much as i like it ,cant they show something else occasionally ? ,to the manor born would make a nice change .any other suggestions ? perhaps someone who works for the bbc might read this !

[earlb]

The Black and White Minsterels (not the sweets) that's if we don't get a kick back from that whiter than white P.C brigade.

[davidb]

name='earlb']The Black and White Minsterels (not the sweets) that's if we don't get a kick back from that whiter than white P.C brigade.

there was a good documentary on them a couple of years ago on bbc3

[Gazza]

name='earlb']The Black and White Minsterels (not the sweets) that's if we don't get a kick back from that whiter than white P.C brigade.

There's a wonderful irony in that post



There would be a kick back Earl. Out of all the programmes in all the world, why on earth would we choose one that had white men portraying a historic stereotype of black men and being serious about it?



That's just being naughty

[earlb]

name='Gazza'] why on earth would we choose one that had white men portraying a historic stereotype of black men and being serious about it?

The point is they weren't being serious. It was good wholesome entertainment singa long music. It wasn't meant to insult anyone but just to relive the times of yesteryear when this was acceptable. You can't erase History no matter how much you try. I think I've just had my first Mary Whitehouse experience OR should I say Mary Whitehouse P.C?

And don't forget the reverse where Michael Jackson 'whited' up.

[jaycad]

name='davidb']has anyone else noticed that over the last 5 or 6 years bbc2 has shown the good life in constant rotation ? much as i like it ,cant they show something else occasionally ? ,to the manor born would make a nice change .any other suggestions ? perhaps someone who works for the bbc might read this !

how about 'come dancing with the good life'? just think-richard briers could do a tango with penelope keith,then maybe swap and do the foxtrot with felicity kendal.......actually,someone from the bbc MIGHT read this so i'll stop!!

[CaptainWaggett]

name='earlb']The point is they weren't being serious. It was good wholesome entertainment singa long music. It wasn't meant to insult anyone but just to relive the times of yesteryear when this was acceptable. You can't erase History no matter how much you try. I think I've just had my first Mary Whitehouse experience OR should I say Mary Whitehouse P.C?

And don't forget the reverse where Michael Jackson 'whited' up.

The excellent documentary davidb mentioned made it clear that the show did cause a great deal of offence in the 1960s, something that is often denied now. There was footage of a demonstration outside a BBC studio and, IIRC, interviews with viewers who felt incredibly insulted at the revival of an art form that certainly wasn't intended as a celebration of black culture. Wholesome? I don't think so. Because, if they'd wanted to do that, they could have actually employed black singers. It continued at least 20 years after it should have done - it is shameful that the BBC were still spending money on it in the 1970s.

[batman]

Dr Who ..... it's on every other bloody channel!

[GRAEME]

The Body in Question

[johng]

The Black and White Minstrel Show was harmless entertainment watched by millions.

For those who did not like the programme, be they black or white why not use the small switch on the TV labelled on/off instead of spoiling other peoples entertainment.



If the Beeb were to put the programmes on DVD right now, I could guarantee that they would sell like hot cakes.



This is what is wrong currently, the PC brigade who incidentally are only a very small section of the population take life too seriously.

[earlb]

name='johng']the PC brigade who incidentally are only a very small section of the population take life too seriously.

Furthermore they claim to speak for everyone and are insulted on behalf of others whom they seem to believe haven't a voice.

I remake the point I made earlier "I wasn't insulted when Michael Jackson 'whited' up".

[davidb]

much as i enjoyed the bbc documentary on the minstrels ,i think they belong in a different era .they cant complain at the time they were at the top ,20 years or so . times and tastes change thats all

[CaptainWaggett]

name='batman']Dr Who ..... it's on every other bloody channel!

That would be the best!

[batman]

[Gazza]

I'm not being pc about the Black and White Minstrels - as david says, times have changed. I remember enjoying them as a kid in the 60s but what did I know?



It's the same principle as using a white actor to black up as Othello - there's just no need now.



Best left in the past.

[davidb]

perhaps it would be interesting to see an episode of the minstrels again but its something the bbc would have to handle with care ,perhaps put it out a as part of a themed evening on bbc4 .what im talking about here is just filler in case the snooker finishes early ,which is what theve been using the good life for

[earlb]

I think this debate raises two questions.

1. Does anybody really have the right to stop me seeing an innocent programme and trying to alter my beliefs by a mindless few?

2. All the albums of the B/W Minstrels made it in the charts where people bought them for good listening entertainment. Did it detract from their enjoyment because there was no TV around on their Hi - Fi?

[CaptainWaggett]

name='earlb']I think this debate raises two questions.

1. Does anybody really have the right to stop me seeing an innocent programme and trying to alter my beliefs by a mindless few?

2. All the albums of the B/W Minstrels made it in the charts where people bought them for good listening entertainment. Did it detract from their enjoyment because there was no TV around on their Hi - Fi?

1. Nobody has the right to stop you seeing the programme. For many reasons though, you aren't going to be able to watch it on terrestrial tv any time soon. However, I would dispute the idea that those who felt insulted by the programme were 'mindless'. Just because you weren't insulted by Michael Jackson 'whiting up' doesn't mean that there isn't genuine distress caused by the prevalence of positive images of slavery that still exist here and in the US. (I listened recently to an excellent radio programme by the black poet Lemm Sissay about why he would never go into a pub called the 'Black Boy' and I have to say, I started out thinking that he was taking it too seriously and ended up feeling outraged on his behalf)



2. If the songs work perfectly well without the offensive make-up, why did they need the blackface?



To go back to davidb's question - I'd have thought it would be relatively easy (allowing for the ubiquitous 'rights issues') to chop up extracts from old chatshows or news broadcasts, maybe on asporting theme into appropriately sized chucks which would probably interest the snooker audience (who I assume are mostly over-40s?)

[batman]

Here's a clip ..... what do those who have never seen it before think?



YouTube - The Black and White Minstrels show 1978

[earlb]

Thanks for that Bats, lovely to watch and listen to again.

Interesting to read a posting on that site which says " I laugh at how people always get up in arms about this shit. It's just entertainment. Thats all. Nobody got hurt with this, nor will anyone ever get hurt doing it.

If they ever do, it's because the other person is a close-minded f***, not the other way around.

I wish I had been so eloquent ( you will Oscar, you will)