Fawlty Towers - Dont mention the war episode censored (2 Viewers)

[The Military Workshop]

'The Germans' episode was edited to omit racist language – only for some viewers to then complain that the BBC was ‘airbrushing history’.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...cist-lines-classic-Fawlty-Towers-episode.html

Pretty sure Rob would have posted about this "outrage" if I had not spotted it first.

If that episode has issues what about some of Ricky Gervais's live shows ?!

Brett

 

[waynepoo]

'The Germans' episode was edited to omit racist language – only for some viewers to then complain that the BBC was ‘airbrushing history’.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...cist-lines-classic-Fawlty-Towers-episode.html

Pretty sure Rob would have posted about this "outrage" if I had not spotted it first.

If that episode has issues what about some of Ricky Gervais's live shows ?!

Brett

True, maybe the difference is that John Cleese has talent where Ricky Gervais has none what so ever hence no one noticed.
Wayne.

 

[Rob]

'The Germans' episode was edited to omit racist language – only for some viewers to then complain that the BBC was ‘airbrushing history’.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...cist-lines-classic-Fawlty-Towers-episode.html

Pretty sure Rob would have posted about this "outrage" if I had not spotted it first.

If that episode has issues what about some of Ricky Gervais's live shows ?!

Brett

Hi Brett,

Yes we watched this on Sat night and the missing lines about the Indian Cricket team were obvious. The character of the Major even in the seventies was of a potty old Dinosaur with bigoted views, a sort of Corporal Jones on steroids if you will . I'm no fan of ' pc-ness' at all but I'm not comfortable with the use of either of those words to describe anyone, there's a big diff I believe between something absurd like a council deciding they want to call Christmas ' Winterval ' for fear of upsetting non Christians:rolleyes2: and the use of these names that hark back to a bygone era and all the darker meanings of such words. On top of this the BBC must be on super look out following all that's happened lately especially when just the other day they showed a kids programme that featured an impression of none other than Jimmy Saville, it was a human error but as I've said elsewhere the BBC seems to be stumbling from one disaster to another right now . Just my view mate and I'm sure plenty will believe its ok to leave them in (I have the dvd boxset which of course is fully uncut).

As for Mr Gervais I guess maybe the only reason it gets shown is because maybe its late at night with plenty of warnings before. Thing is Brett I can't make up my mind whether this guy is funny or not? Sometimes he makes me laugh and sometimes I simply switch him off. I also thought the US version of 'The Office' far superior to the original version.

Cheers

Rob

 

[UKReb]

Rob,

Brett's post and your comment reminded me of an incident when I took my wife Trudi over to Gibraltar last year for a long week-end. I wanted to show her my old stomping grounds when I was based there in the late '70s. We were staying at The Rock Hotel, quite old but still a magnificent building. After dinner we repaired to the bar and I happened to tell her that it was in here that the British/Russian spies Kim Philby & Guy Burgess first met in 1937. Sitting at the bar was a well dressed and very eloquent old gentleman who overhearing my comment said "Yes and it was here that they planned to assassinate General Franco, but discovered they were both frightened of guns" he than added with a smile "Of course they were terribly drunk at the time".

We then got into a long and thoroughly enjoyable discussion with him for the rest of the evening. He was a retired British Army Colonel who had finished his military career attached to the Gibraltar regiment and decide to stay on the Rock. It was a comment he made when I told him we were off to Tangiers-Morocco the next day on the Mons Calpe ferry that reminded me of Ballard Berkeley who had played the Major Gowen character in Fawlty Towers. He said "Oh! Good Lord I don't go there-never did get on with Arabs".

Like most of the old British veterans he too had strong views on revisionist history and the extensive political correctness that is being rammed down our throats and his final comment stayed with me the rest of that week-end

"Mark my words "young man" (I loved that bit) the way we are going- in fifty years time- our children will be taught that it was both Hitler AND Churchill that started the Second World War.

Bob

 

[Scott]

Old shows should be left alone as time capsules. There are cases of racism in media that were just "those times" and some where racist is the villain or buffoon. The Major is lovable but it's obvious that he's a fossil, like Prince Phillip.

If kids are watching and think racism in old shows is funny there needs to be some parental guidance. If jerks watch them for validation of racism then there's no helping them. Song of the South bootlegs can be had from white power websites.

Gervais is funny but his humor in The Office is that uncomfortable humor that I don't care for as it's too close to true. I like his stand up.

I looked up "Winterval" . That's an old story from the 90s with urban myth variations added by "War on Christmas" types.

 

[Rob]

Old shows should be left alone as time capsules. There are cases of racism in media that were just "those times" and some where racist is the villain or buffoon. The Major is lovable but it's obvious that he's a fossil, like Prince Phillip.

If kids are watching and think racism in old shows is funny there needs to be some parental guidance. If jerks watch them for validation of racism then there's no helping them. Song of the South bootlegs can be had from white power websites.

Gervais is funny but his humor in The Office is that uncomfortable humor that I don't care for as it's too close to true. I like his stand up.

I looked up "Winterval" . That's an old story from the 90s with urban myth variations added by "War on Christmas" types.

Yes, I used it as a generalization of the many instances of pc gone mad:rolleyes2:

Rob

 

[Rob]

Rob,

Brett's post and your comment reminded me of an incident when I took my wife Trudi over to Gibraltar last year for a long week-end. I wanted to show her my old stomping grounds when I was based there in the late '70s. We were staying at The Rock Hotel, quite old but still a magnificent building. After dinner we repaired to the bar and I happened to tell her that it was in here that the British/Russian spies Kim Philby & Guy Burgess first met in 1937. Sitting at the bar was a well dressed and very eloquent old gentleman who overhearing my comment said "Yes and it was here that they planned to assassinate General Franco, but discovered they were both frightened of guns" he than added with a smile "Of course they were terribly drunk at the time".

We then got into a long and thoroughly enjoyable discussion with him for the rest of the evening. He was a retired British Army Colonel who had finished his military career attached to the Gibraltar regiment and decide to stay on the Rock. It was a comment he made when I told him we were off to Tangiers-Morocco the next day on the Mons Calpe ferry that reminded me of Ballard Berkeley who had played the Major Gowen character in Fawlty Towers. He said "Oh! Good Lord I don't go there-never did get on with Arabs".

Like most of the old British veterans he too had strong views on revisionist history and the extensive political correctness that is being rammed down our throats and his final comment stayed with me the rest of that week-end

"Mark my words "young man" (I loved that bit) the way we are going- in fifty years time- our children will be taught that it was both Hitler AND Churchill that started the Second World War.

Bob

Bob, nice story my friend and you know his worry is not so far fetched, I've read a remark on here that all but said all countries were equally to blame. But that's not a road I want to go down on here anymore mate, peace, love and can't be bothered with it anymore!^&grin

But I do have a question about censorship especially at the Beeb . Me I find the ' N' word as used in Fawlty Towers totally wrong in this day and age, it really does belong in the past. But how come at just 9.30 pm the BBC show (the excellent but expletive riddled) 'Thick of It ' , not only is it full of the F word but the C word is also used. Now I know parental control after 9pm ' watershed' bla bla, but do they really think some kids won't see it and that they are absolved of responsibility because its 1 min past nine??? Just seems they don't know what they are doing right now.

One final BBC rant. Who on earth thought it a good idea to make such a big thing about Prince Harry killing Taliban yesterday. Is not every member of said organization, disgruntled of Woking or total fruit cake going to think of him as more of a target now? Myself and my better half were talking about this this morning, somehow the whole thing sounded rather odd, can't quite put finger on it and ' boasting ' is not the right word, but fom the Beebs point it didn't seem very professional ???

Rob

 

[GICOP]

Bob, nice story my friend and you know his worry is not so far fetched, I've read a remark on here that all but said all countries were equally to blame. But that's not a road I want to go down on here anymore mate, peace, love and can't be bothered with it anymore!^&grin

But I do have a question about censorship especially at the Beeb . Me I find the ' N' word as used in Fawlty Towers totally wrong in this day and age, it really does belong in the past. But how come at just 9.30 pm the BBC show (the excellent but expletive riddled) 'Thick of It ' , not only is it full of the F word but the C word is also used. Now I know parental control after 9pm ' watershed' bla bla, but do they really think some kids won't see it and that they are absolved of responsibility because its 1 min past nine??? Just seems they don't know what they are doing right now.

One final BBC rant. Who on earth thought it a good idea to make such a big thing about Prince Harry killing Taliban yesterday. Is not every member of said organization, disgruntled of Woking or total fruit cake going to think of him as more of a target now? Myself and my better half were talking about this this morning, somehow the whole thing sounded rather odd, can't quite put finger on it and ' boasting ' is not the right word, but fom the Beebs point it didn't seem very professional ???

Rob

Hi Rob

Who's this bloke :tongue:, don't think he lives on my Private Estate ^&grin

Cheers

Martyn

 

[Rob]

Hi Rob

Who's this bloke :tongue:, don't think he lives on my Private Estate ^&grin

Cheers

Martyn

LOL!^&grin^&grin

Sorry mate not aimed at you!^&grin:wink2:

Should have said ' Disgruntled of Cheltenham ' :wink2: Bet the next post will be from an angry Miss Marple!!^&grin:wink2:

Rob

 

[GICOP]

LOL!^&grin^&grin

Sorry mate not aimed at you!^&grin:wink2:

Should have said ' Disgruntled of Cheltenham ' :wink2: Bet the next post will be from an angry Miss Marple!!^&grin:wink2:

Rob

I didn't think so for a minute Rob {eek3} ^&grin

Cheers

Martyn

 

[Mitch]

Its a shame people are quick to forget the history behind these shows. they depict an era when such terminology was accepted and, terms were used in comedic setting not, as an outright insult. They have done the same in OFAH with terms for Pakistani's yet, you can hear it if you buy the DVD!!! I don't watch much TV at all but, have all these series on DVD anyway which are uncensored. I have watched these episodes with germans before and, some thought it very funny while some were not so amused. I think its down to the manner in which Germany was shamed into feeling guilt for WWII and, that everything should be seen as a collective guilt for generations to come. Fortunately, Germany is now beginning to address its history in a better manner but, there is a long way to go.

The BBC really is dying a thousand cuts and, its about time the archaic manner in which we have to fund this so-called institution is given the clean Alexandrian cut.

PC is what it is but, when you cannot ask for a black coffee at white city for fear of upsetting and oppressing some ethnic group times are bad.
Mitch

 

[Scott]

Yes, I used it as a generalization of the many instances of pc gone mad:rolleyes2:

Rob

Most times what is called "PC" is what upsets old people.:wink2:

 

[Scott]

.........

PC is what it is but, when you cannot ask for a black coffee at white city for fear of upsetting and oppressing some ethnic group times are bad.
Mitch

Really? I always order mine black w/o a raised eyebrow. :wink2:

 

[ccdc11]

As my wife and have always loved fawlty towers and this is a shame in the same way American tv won't show speedy gonzalez any longer.
So welcome to the uk to American pc gone amuck.

 

[Rob]

As my wife and have always loved fawlty towers and this is a shame in the same way American tv won't show speedy gonzalez any longer.
So welcome to the uk to American pc gone amuck.

They don't show Speedy anymore?! {eek3} Worlds gone mad.

Rob

 

[Scott]

As my wife and have always loved fawlty towers and this is a shame in the same way American tv won't show speedy gonzalez any longer.
So welcome to the uk to American pc gone amuck.

Maybe these are the old ones with Speedy's two drunken lazy stereotype friends singing about Marijuana as the cat tries to get them.




Speedy is actually a major character in the newest generation of Looney Tunes. See Cartoon Network.

 

[Mitch]

I was in the canteen of the metropolitan training facility and asked for a black coffee and, it was almost like one of those westerns where everything stops and a dry brush flows by!!! The BBC when I visited had signs stating that beverages should be asked for in certain ways as to avoid offence. Ironic as This was when the undercover programme ''the secret policeman'' broke showing allegedly racist police officers at a training centre.

You have to ask for coffee or tea without milk or, someone will be offended. similar with the term nitty gritty as in getting to the nitty gritty its deemed offensive and derogatory.
Mitch

Really? I always order mine black w/o a raised eyebrow. :wink2:

 

[Rob]

As well as the Black Coffee example Mitch stated we also had schools wondering if they should stop calling blackboards the name they'd always been called and call them chalkboards . Of course PC is not just about race issues there is also the absurd over reacting to health and safety, so we get kids no longer allowed to play conkers in some schools that have seen kids play it for generations and other schools who won't take their kids on field trips anymore for fear of accident. Well thats a fine idea, as long as kids don't ever leave their homes for a bike ride/swim/walk to the shops/ski holiday/game of football or rugby etc etc etc. Perhaps if they were allowed to do more we wouldn't have a childhood obesity epidemic!



Rob

 

[Scott]

I was in the canteen of the metropolitan training facility and asked for a black coffee and, it was almost like one of those westerns where everything stops and a dry brush flows by!!! The BBC when I visited had signs stating that beverages should be asked for in certain ways as to avoid offence. Ironic as This was when the undercover programme ''the secret policeman'' broke showing allegedly racist police officers at a training centre.

You have to ask for coffee or tea without milk or, someone will be offended. similar with the term nitty gritty as in getting to the nitty gritty its deemed offensive and derogatory.
Mitch

I once asked for an O'Douls at a bar on St. Patrick's day in Manchester, N.H. THAT turned heads.

 

[Scott]

As well as the Black Coffee example Mitch stated we also had schools wondering if they should stop calling blackboards the name they'd always been called and call them chalkboards . Of course PC is not just about race issues there is also the absurd over reacting to health and safety, so we get kids no longer allowed to play conkers in some schools that have seen kids play it for generations and other schools who won't take their kids on field trips anymore for fear of accident. Well thats a fine idea, as long as kids don't ever leave their homes for a bike ride/swim/walk to the shops/ski holiday/game of football or rugby etc etc etc.......

Rob

Most chalk boards in the my area are green.