Clarkson and Fry - why?

giant_man

Why is it our presenters can't keep their mouths shut.

Stephen Fry who I do have a respect for academically, made light of the A Bomb and Japan complained, leading to the feckless BBC apologising. Now Fry isn't allowed into Japan as a result.

Jeremy Clarkson taking the pi$$ out of a Mexican supercar on last week's programme, leading to a complaint from the Mexican ambassador in London, taking objection to Clarkson calling Mexicans lazy and feckless.

Why can't Clarkson in particular just keep his fat mouth shut. He just loves himself doesn't he, and has to try and be funny (as always) and this is where it gets him. He's not funny; just a sarcastic baffoon.

I love Top Gear for the cars of course but not for the presenters, popular they are winning awards here and there, but at what cost? Pointless.

northernneil

exactly ... what cost ??

you might not have found him/it funny, I laughed out loud.

I am sure that mexicans think we are uptight pompous lager louts, that germans are unfunny efficient machines, the french are forever on strike and that americans are fat, loud and over the top.

they have apologised though :- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12361790

Anonymous

Thought police next............. :roll:

dabber

giant mancp wrote:

and this is where it gets him.

Precisely... it gets him being a very successful and quite rich man who seems to be having a lot of fun. His whole act is based on him being controversial and generally insulting. It's what he does. If he hadn't been doing it for all these years I doubt whether he'd still be very much in the public eye.

Bobbinogs

I hate all bar one of the aspects of TG but acknowledge that it is one of the most popular programmes on TV.

The one aspect I like (not that it is enough to make me watch it) is that fact that the presenters are real characters rather than the usual bland (but fully representative of the ethnical diversity of the UK) folks on the BBC. Here's to real people, love em or loathe em. Err, apart from Adam Rayner who is a sofa slug.

Omar Little

I don't mind it much, it is just jokes, but what annoys me a bit is that alot of media luvvies who make such jokes at others expense can often not handle jokes or criticism at their own expense. Fry seems to throw a tantrum every few months due to what someone says about him on twitter and Clarkson is very quick to pursue libel action over comments made about him on websites. Likewise Claire Balding - doesn't mind making cruel and condescending jokes to others, yet someone does the same to her and it is onto the lawyers straight away.

Dont dish it out if you cant take it.

mattsaw

Why can't Clarkson in particular just keep his fat mouth shut. He just loves himself doesn't he, and has to try and be funny (as always) and this is where it gets him. He's not funny; just a sarcastic baffoon.

Because he knows that an accidently/carfully planned comment will guarantee himself and Top Gear endless column inches, TV time and internet forum posts publicising the programme.

The cost of s stupid throwaway comment = an apology
The cost of a PR campaign = millions

Those that are outgraged by it probably aren't going to be fans of his anyway, so he loses nothing.

dg74

Get a life OP. Ever heard of boosting ratings? Guaranteed next episode of TG will have an increase in viewers who will actively want Clarkson, May or the little fella to say something 'controversial' so they can complain.

Bloody hell, it's not as if they've not done it before - meant for effect and it works a treat.

Keep it up, Top Gear.

RichN95.

Have Japan apologized for their atrocities in the 30s and 40s yet (especially towards the Chinese, eg Unit 731)? If not, then I suggest they do so before complaining about a joke.

Warwickshire Whizzer

All this talk of Mexicans is making me feel sleepy. :twisted:

mr_goo

RichN95 wrote:

Have Japan apologized for their atrocities in the 30s and 40s yet (especially towards the Chinese, eg Unit 731)? If not, then I suggest they do so before complaining about a joke.

Seems we are living in a world of apologies. During the communist partys' (I mean labour) last 13 years of c**p administration, they apologised for Britains participation in the slave trade.
Do we have to make apologies now for all distant historical acts? What next
will Italy have to apologise to the UK for the Roman invasion ?

On the topic of aplogising. When a bus is not in service, why do the have to
say 'Sorry not in service'.? Surely 'Not in service' is sufficient.

Rant finished.

Homer J

It seems the whole world is having some kind of sense of humour failure

john-e-big-guns

Warwickshire Whizzer wrote:

All this talk of Mexicans is making me feel sleepy. :twisted:

Make me feel like dancing on my hat

Lancslad

Warwickshire Whizzer wrote:

All this talk of Mexicans is making me feel sleepy. :twisted:

Thats because you're lazier than a mexican village.

Warwickshire Whizzer

Lancslad wrote:

Warwickshire Whizzer wrote:

All this talk of Mexicans is making me feel sleepy. :twisted:

Thats because you're lazier than a mexican village.

How dare you, I've been smuggling coke and re-frying beans all night!

Wooliferkins

Clarksons PA is so good he is even getting publicity on a cycling forum for something Hammond said. He merely commented that there would be no complaints as the ambassador would be asleep.

dg74

Warwickshire Whizzer wrote:

Lancslad wrote:

Warwickshire Whizzer wrote:

All this talk of Mexicans is making me feel sleepy. :twisted:

Thats because you're lazier than a mexican village.

How dare you, I've been smuggling coke and re-frying beans all night! [/quote

Any TRUE Mexican knows it's re-fried sick

RichN95.

Mr Goo wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Have Japan apologized for their atrocities in the 30s and 40s yet (especially towards the Chinese, eg Unit 731)? If not, then I suggest they do so before complaining about a joke.

Seems we are living in a world of apologies. During the communist partys' (I mean labour) last 13 years of c**p administration, they apologised for Britains participation in the slave trade.
Do we have to make apologies now for all distant historical acts? What next
will Italy have to apologise to the UK for the Roman invasion ?

What Fry joked about was just as distant as the atrocities (which Japan refuse to acknowledge happened). My point was it was a bit rich of them getting worked up about a joke considering their own stance on that period.

rolf_f

Bobbinogs wrote:

The one aspect I like (not that it is enough to make me watch it) is that fact that the presenters are real characters rather than the usual bland (but fully representative of the ethnical diversity of the UK) folks on the BBC. Here's to real people, love em or loathe em. Err, apart from Adam Rayner who is a sofa slug.

Are you sure about that? It isn't as though all the blokey chatting and joking isn't scripted from start to finish. Whatever personalities they genuinely have, you are only seeing them act it on the screen.

As for Mexican food, come on, he had a point!

freehub

giant mancp wrote:

I love Top Gear for the cars of course but not for the presenters, popular they are winning awards here and there, but at what cost? Pointless.

Go watch something else then.....

Bobbinogs

Rolf F wrote:

Bobbinogs wrote:

The one aspect I like (not that it is enough to make me watch it) is that fact that the presenters are real characters rather than the usual bland (but fully representative of the ethnical diversity of the UK) folks on the BBC. Here's to real people, love em or loathe em. Err, apart from Adam Rayner who is a sofa slug.

Are you sure about that? It isn't as though all the blokey chatting and joking isn't scripted from start to finish. Whatever personalities they genuinely have, you are only seeing them act it on the screen.

Ah, but I also like the line that there is only one office in the BBC in which one can smoke and that is Jeremy Clarkson's. I know it would be illegal under employment law and it is probably an urban myth but I just like the thought of someone poking the righteous in the eye. Don't get me wrong, can't stand any of the presenters but some of the stuff they come up with makes me laugh but I am not a lorry driver, caravan owner or a Mexican lorry driver towing a caravan..but I am ginger, gulp!

Herbie The Dog

Mr Goo wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Have Japan apologized for their atrocities in the 30s and 40s yet (especially towards the Chinese, eg Unit 731)? If not, then I suggest they do so before complaining about a joke.

Seems we are living in a world of apologies. During the communist partys' (I mean labour) last 13 years of c**p administration, they apologised for Britains participation in the slave trade.
Do we have to make apologies now for all distant historical acts? What next
will Italy have to apologise to the UK for the Roman invasion ?

On the topic of aplogising. When a bus is not in service, why do the have to
say 'Sorry not in service'.? Surely 'Not in service' is sufficient.

Rant finished.

I wonder how long it will take for Cameron to apologise for raping a country while his cabinet count their millions? Or Clegg for betraying the Lib....oh I can't be arsed with moaning about that little tw@.

Balancing counter-rant finished.

Ginjafro

I was more shoked by the apparent fact that Mexico produce a car, even if it did look like a Smart Car.

Bozman

QI - it was irony which would be lost in translation.
Top Gear- school boy humour and yet again a good bit of publicity for Top Gear.
The whole episode of Top gear was full of it...... have the Aussies or Germans complained? If you don't like it don't watch it, have a look at Frankie Boyle and that'll give you something to moan about.

Mr_Cellophane

Far too many people have little respect for this country and even less respect for other people.

shockedsoshocked

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgABbHPdwH4

StillGoing

Richard Hammond is a lap dog to the buffoon Clarkson. If it were possible, I think he;d have his babies for him. Clarkson is an egotistical twat to put it mildly. Intelectually and mechanically inept and with as much takent as a hair dryer on full heat. In fact more hot hair comes out of his mouth than an Iranian nuclear power plant on full production. The one sane person from the presenters is James May who doesn't get a look in thanks to the gormless arse licker Hammond. Clarkson and Hammond really should grow up. It may be tongue in sheek "boys" humour, but the pair of them take themselves far too seriously. It was pleasing to see Carol Vordeman put Clarkson in his place with his plastic Doctorate.

Jez mon

philthy3 wrote:

Richard Hammond is a lap dog to the buffoon Clarkson. If it were possible, I think he;d have his babies for him. Clarkson is an egotistical fool to put it mildly. Intelectually and mechanically inept and with as much takent as a hair dryer on full heat. In fact more hot hair comes out of his mouth than an Iranian nuclear power plant on full production. The one sane person from the presenters is James May who doesn't get a look in thanks to the gormless ars* licker Hammond. Clarkson and Hammond really should grow up. It may be tongue in sheek "boys" humour, but the pair of them take themselves far too seriously. It was pleasing to see Carol Vordeman put Clarkson in his place with his plastic Doctorate.

Talentless...talentless?

That's why he's presenting one of the BBC's most successful shows and you are ranting about it on an internet forum

twotyred

+1 Jez mon

dilemna

I wouldn't fancy the chances of Top Gear's three amigos in a Tex-Mex restaurant.

How about by way of apology they do a Mexican wave?

What are the odds on one of their future childish escapades being carried out in ......................Mexico :roll: ?

dilemna

Stephen Fry is a luvvie. Anyway QI is scripted. SF reads out the cards occasionally embellishing them a little.