Brand news
Some great animal facts yesterday. Hats off to ‘a shrimp’s heart is located in its head, which makes decisions difficult’. Haha. Also, pleased to hear cows can have regional accents. That means there are probably some observational comedian cows which make fun of other cows’ accents and consider what would happen if those accents were applied to a range of everyday tasks.
Not surprisingly, a few people thought we should talk about the British Comedy Awards, which took place last night. I narrowly failed to win an award or be nominated for one or be invited to the ceremony or remember it was on TV even. I was running for most of it. Anyway, two comments asked what I thought of it all, and one asked for my opinion of Russell Brand. Happy to oblige. Let’s hope this causes a bit more offence to someone; I’ve not had enough stick in 2011 so far.
So, Brand first of all. I MCed quite a few gigs early in my career in various dark South-East London clubs, and Brand – then a popular but little-known stand-up – would quite often slope onto the stage with his characteristic seedy gait. I got to know him a bit and shared cabs with him once or twice. Then he became the most famous person in the world. I don’t have his number now.
Because of these early gigs, which were always brilliant, my esteem for him as a comic is high, surprising as it might be to some people. He is a very articulate, distinctive and intelligent fellow. There have been times over the past few years when I’ve seen him on TV and winced a bit, because what used to be amusing extravagances of personality in a live gig sometimes looked like grating affectations on telly (deliberately odd hair, too much saying Hare Krishna, etc). Also there was a time when he was on every programme on every channel three or four times at least, and I had mixed feelings when he called his book My Booky Wook and followed it with My Booky Wook II.
But my overall summary of Brand would be that, for all the things about him that annoy the hell out of some people, he genuinely is funny. And – the times I’ve met him – pleasant and humble. So there you go. You will certainly find some comics (and doubtless some people on this site) with a very different opinion. But as we’ve seen, we’re all allowed to disagree sometimes, eh?
As to the Comedy Awards: I’ve never actually watched it, not because of being a sore loser (I can’t really afford to see it as ‘losing’ every time I don’t win an award, or it would be a lifetime of many defeats) – just because of a general distaste for award ceremonies, which I think I’ve spoken about elsewhere on this blog. I never watch the Oscars or National TV Awards or anything like that. I like the Booker Prize actually, but that’s because the people are all authors and don’t know how to behave on camera, and everyone has to listen awkwardly to someone talking about the literary merit of a novel about a Sri Lankan family. That’s my kind of ceremony.
Anyway. As to the Awards themselves, it all seems all right to me – but, as Aislinn points out, they ought to be called the British TV Comedy Awards really, because they are pretty much confined to rewarding people like Harry Hill who are on telly every week. This means they give ‘people at home’ the impression that the only comedy worth bothering with is on very well-known TV shows. This takes out of contention people like (you know I’m going to mention him, but) Minchin, Daniel Kitson, Lee Mack, dear old Key, Josie Long, and many of the other best comedians in the UK. So, yes, I’d like to see them slightly re-branded to reflect the fact that they don’t really account for live comedy at all.
But there you go. There are worse things going on in the world. Including this overpopulation problem. Which I’m going to come back to this week, because it’s interesting.
Posted by Shell on January 25, 2011
I don’t watch the Comedy Awards either because as you say they do not represent live comedy in any real sense at all. The programme just continues the television myth that comedy is all pretty homogeneous and poor – yet they go for it! …So I guess they like what they are ‘fed’ on TV. I simply don’t know why.
Posted by Aislinn on January 24, 2011
Lee Mack did actually win an award – sort of; WILTY won ‘Best Comedy Panel Show’ or something. But, yes, it’s still a valid point, because it’s still only his television work being rewarded, and his live work goes unnoticed (in the context of the awards show).
I’m glad to hear that about Russell Brand. Not a huge fan of his comedy, but have always suspected he’s a pretty nice fellow.
Posted by Sephy on January 24, 2011
Lukey and Natalie0Helene. Thankyou! Ahh Huxley Pig (oink oink). Now I can relax again. And waste a lot of time googling videos of it. THAT is what youtube is for. indulging nostalgia lol
Posted by Tracey on January 24, 2011
Hi Mark. I’ve just caught up with reading the blog, having had a migraine all weekend which finally decided to go late last night. Anyway, regarding the comedy awards I have to say I agree with Felix Dexter – hope I’ve got his surname right – who said that “they lacked the Frankie Boyle/ Vivienne Westwood persona and in terms of judging it by supermarkets we’ve gone from Waitrose to Somerfield.” All very mainstream and about as exciting as contemplating a cold rice pudding.The only bit that made me laugh was when Dara said “Thanks for asking me to present the only award for which I was eligible.” Just about summed the whole dismal two hours up. Russell Brand, for me personally is very gifted on his own but gets far too silly for me if he’s with anybody else.Take care, Tracey x
Posted by amycool on January 24, 2011
I haven’t commented in ages because I’ve been too despairing (not about Mark, but my mortgage provider) so I think I ought to say something today before it gets so long that it becomes too scary.
I love Russell Brand, especially his Ponderland series with the clip of the old men talking about maggots in their cheese. I like his honesty and openness.
We’re planning on adopting when we have children so at least I won’t be adding to the overpopulation (that’s not the primary reason – more that there are children in desperate need of a parent). The problem is that most thoughtful rational people will have as many children as they can afford to support (between 1 and 3), whereas crazy fundamentalist religious people tend to have dozens of the things. So not only are we filling the world with people, but filling the world with poorly educated brainwashed people. Yes, I’m over simplifying the situation and generalising. Basically, I blame religion, which traditionally hasn’t encouraged education, especially when it comes to sex.
I enjoyed watching the comedy awards, especially when Horrible Histories won best sketch show, but I did have to turn over when people were saying how hard being a comedian is and how they deserve to be recognised, when 95% of jobs are probably just as hard if not harder and don’t get an iota of recognition. Goldie Hawn said that comedians have to smile even when terrible things are happening at home, but actually most jobs are like that if you have any contact with the public. Even working in a library, there have been times when I have literally been crying with sadness, but I still act jovial with customers 10 minutes later because I’m paid by taxpayers to give good customer service. I don’t expect a big plastic award because of it. Although it would be nice. I think the reason why most of the nominees are big household names is to increase the viewing figures. As soon as someone comes on doing a rambling speech who you don’t recognise, you flip over to South Park. I say you, I mean me.
Does that make up for my absence of late? Oh and I love the name Huxley, as a result of Huxley Pig and later Aldous Huxley. Obviously I’ll never get to call a child that as they tend to come already named when you adopt. Maybe a chicken though. A tom boy chicken.
Posted by Rachael on January 24, 2011
My favourite thing about awards shows like the golden globes
is seeing them all sat round tables next to whoever else is particularly famous at the time, while the people nominated are often sat way back and have to navigate around everyone else to pick up their awards.
Posted by Glamlovinkitty on January 24, 2011
I agree so much with you about the awards thing. There are so many phenomenally good comedians out there that it grates quite a bit to keep seeing so many of the (arguably) undeserving ones getting all the glory, just because they happened to get a break by appearing on McIntyre’s roadshow.
I think the ones that are ‘popular’ (to the TV viewer, rather than the comedy-club goer) are only so because TV tells people they must like them, and a lot of people are so mind-blowingly lazy that they just accept that and like what they’re told to like. Saves having to, you know, have an original thought.
There are very, very few of the ‘big’ comedians on TV that I’d care to go and see.In fact, I’ve already seen most if not all of them live at some point before they were famous. Didn’t rate them then, either.
The actual awards thing, I didn’t watch, but looking at the list of winners, I feel pretty glad about that.
All these awards things do is re-emphasise the popularity of the names that are already big. We don’t need to watch their egos being massaged.
Posted by Natalie-Helen on January 24, 2011
Sephy!
Who you going to be today Huxley Pig Oink Oink!
A new dream every day Huxley Pig Oink Oink!
Sam is here to play, food is never far away,
A new dream every day Huxley pig Oink Oink!
Sam was the seagull btw. And we mustn’t forget Horace. And Vincent the vampire pig. And Sidney the snake. I always enoyed the episode where Huxley and Sam go into space, not leasst for the line,
“It’s one small step for pig, one giant leap for pigkind!”
The first time I saw the moon landing I thought Armstrong had got it wrong… (Can you tell this was/is a favourite)
In the mean time the over population/ food shortage thing was on the Today Program and is rather nerve wracking. I can’t help but think if the developed world ate less and most importantly threw away less we’d make significant advances on this problem. Not just throwing away food individually but all th food which is rejected by supermarkets for not being perfect.
On the program someone said that they thought part of the problem was that governmetns had noot taken it seriously like climate change 15 year ago. But as governemtns hardly take climate change seriously now I think this over population thing is going to be an issue for a while.
It’s pretty difficult to tell people to stop having babies though. Not only are they all cute and lovely there’s that natural urge to pass on your genes…
^_^
Posted by Hannah Mae on January 24, 2011
Completely agree re comedy awards. As you say, it gives most people the impression that Harry Hill and Michael McIntyre are the only comedians out there. Hardly anyone I know has even heard of, say, Josie Long, which is an awful shame. Not least because she would revolutionize their breakfast routines.
I’ve always stood up for Russell Brand; he seems like a nice guy. Admittedly a bit ridiculous and cringe-inducing sometimes, but ultimately very funny and interesting. He did a series of documentaries called RE:Brand ages ago – you can find them on YouTube – that are worth a watch. There’s one in which he spends time with a BNP youth member, trying to gauge why it appeals to him and stuff, and I feel like he deals with it really well. Sort of friendly and intrigued enough to build trust and rapport, but not so polite as not to take him to task over his horrendous racism. The one called ‘Wanky Wanky’ is perhaps less groundbreaking.
Posted by Dan on January 24, 2011
Russell Brand is annoying but I read an article he wrote in the New Statesman about wikileaks and it was good, which made me dislike him even more, which is weird
Posted by Lukey on January 24, 2011
The pig in question is Huxley pig, I remember because my year three teacher was called misses huxley.
I love brand on a chat show or movie, he can be highly entertaining and funny. But his stand up dosent really cut it with me… It’s just not that funny.
Posted by Josh (the magnificent one) on January 24, 2011
I used to loathe Russell Brand with unhealthy amounts of hatred. Whenever his face was on anything I’d destroy it.
During Sachsgate, though, I found myself finding him really quite funny, and a really nice guy. I’d happily go to the pub with him, and although I might take the piss out of him for “OOH I’M SO WEIRD AND FUNNY”ing, I’d still lend him a fiver.
If I had a fiver.
I don’t know what it says about me that my opinion of someone can be so improved merely by them harassing a pensioner.
Get on it Mark.
Posted by Suzy on January 23, 2011
Gah. Blog has gone again from google reader and phone. Only got round it on phone by searching for a common word (the) so I could see the last 2 blogs!
Posted by Someone on January 23, 2011
Ah, you talk a lot of sense, Mark Watson.
Actually, linking some themes, part of Russell Brand’s ‘revolution’ he always talked about on his radio show was to only let everyone have one kid each. I think it was sort of stifled a bit though once he’d said it, y’know, for some reason. Shys away from controversy, he does. He’s got alright ideals though, I reckon. Thinking about the whole population problem, though, It’s pretty controversy-hinged to begin with, so, maybe I’ll keep my thoughts between me and uni mates. Although unfortunately that makes me sound more sinister. But do people really want to hear about ways to slow down the human race, as it sort of Should go against any living organism’s instinct to do so? Is it awkward? Maybe not because we’re that more aware. Are we? I know nothing.
Posted by Sephy on January 23, 2011
I don’t watchaward ceremonies either because I don’t like to see all the fawning of actors/comedians/whoever do over their peers. It can’t sound sincere when it goes on for 3 hours plus.
I have a question for ‘Can I Help You?’ but I can’t find the last blog so I’m just gonna post it here and hope you read it.
I went home for a family dinner and we were all reminiscing about children’s T.V. an started talking about a programme about a talking pig who had adventrues. I can’t remember the name of it to save my life. There was a wise cracking sidekick (as there always is), I think he was a bird, and another pig who was the main character’s nemesis. My family made out I’m mad and insist they don’t remember, but I KNOW we used to love this show. Please find out what it was called me?
Posted by MusicalLottie on January 23, 2011
I get the impression that Russell Brand is really very intelligent, and I wish his comedy didn’t make me wince so often. As it is I tend not to watch his TV shows, but I’ll take a look if he’s on another show that I know to be usually harmless, because he does intrigue me somewhat.
Posted by Meg on January 23, 2011
I like Russell Brand. He’s always come across as a nice guy underneath all the slightly wince-inducing comedy. I was particularly sad when that whole Brand/Ross thing blew up in 2008 because I thought neither of them deserved the huge amount of abuse that was thrown at them for about a year – just like the FB incident (although you deserved it much less because you genuinely care if you offend people, which I think Brand and Ross don’t so much).
I agree that the British Comedy Awards should be rebranded. My mum and I were talking about that last night and thought it was a shame so many incredible comedians were left out, simply because they aren’t on TV the whole time. Either make the public aware that it’s a show only for TV comedians or include all comedians. The current option isn’t fair at all.
Oh and even though this isn’t first comment, could you possibly talk about your recent first encounter with The Archers as I know of at least one other Watsonian who is an Archers fan (there may be more) and I was intrigued to know your opinion after you mentioned it on twitter. I’ve been listening since I was 5 or 6 and I love it (even though it can be a bit dull sometimes).
Posted by Misha on January 23, 2011
Oops, hit enter too soon. Also meant to say, intrigued to hear about Brand, he always strikes me as a decent enough chap.
Posted by Misha on January 23, 2011
I do think that too, there should be more recognition of live comics too.
Kitson in particular is amazing and highly underrated.
As for this over population thing, please warn us next time, I had a massive panic attack last time.