Ahem. Anyway, an interview with Chris Barrie is in The Sun today to celebrate the release of the first series of Spitting Image. This just has to be littered with mistakes, right? Well, let’s take a look…
Actually, the article itself isn’t that bad, with a few nice ideas from Chris as to how public figures would be portrayed if Spitting Image was around today, even if he does talk about the ‘PC Brigade’ who would restrict the programme’s humour. I’d love to know who makes up this brigade, because I’ve never met a single one. And in any case, wasn’t Spitting Image always a bit of a liberal wank-fest anyway? Not that I’ve ever objected to that – it formed my political outlook – but clearly Chris has gained the impression that there’s a dominant sensitivity to satire nowadays, and I’m curious as to why. If he’s talking about TV executives, my opinion is that they’re probably more sensitive about the large amount of money that the original series cost, rather than its content.
Anyway, the sentence that really flabbergasted me was this;
Chris continued: “The Brittas Empire was a lot of fun to do. People do describe him as the original David Brent.”
Eh? Why does every comic figure who’s a bit of a tit have to be compared to David Brent? In any case, Brittas was far more extreme and more complex, IMHO; he was the pivot for every plot, rather than being just a bit of a wanker who ran the place. If you DO think they’re that similar, then try describing David Brent as ‘Brittas-esque’; which doesn’t work, proving the two characters really aren’t that similar at all.
Ah well. At least there aren’t any real glaring errors, and Chris puts in a good word for TEH DWARD, opining that money should be diverted from period dramas into comedy. I don’t think that’s really how things work, but I certainly agree with the sentiment that comedy in TV needs more of a commitment and a budget. The days when ITV could produce a show on Spitting Image’s scale seem to be long gone. Which reminds me; buy the DVD!
Marleen / February 1, 2008 at 12:20 pm / #
Didn’t you know? That’s how it works! Gordon Brittas was the original David Brent and Basil Fawlty was the original Gordon Brittas. And I don’t quite know what the relation between Basil Fawlty and David Brent is then, but I’m sure it starts with “grand”.
;)
Nick / February 1, 2008 at 12:31 pm / #
When Chris talks about the politically correct brigade then he could easily be talking about the sort of cretins who complain when Madeleine McCann is mentioned by satirists even when there is no joke at her expense.
Dave / February 1, 2008 at 1:04 pm / #
Ricky Gervais invented laughter.
Steve Harris / February 1, 2008 at 6:44 pm / #
God, I detest that smug git…but, moving on…
No, sorry, I cant…
Dave / February 1, 2008 at 8:55 pm / #
>I?d love to know who makes up the ?PC Brigade?, because I?ve never met a single one
Police Constables?
Steve Harris / February 1, 2008 at 9:12 pm / #
I think there is a PC brigade but I dont think it’s anything new, it just has different targets and themes these days and of course, a new name/description.
There have always been groups of people about who will moan about anything and everything. Ok, there is an element of genuine care and compassion in these groups but I honestly believe many of the do-gooders simply get a kick out of complaining and have no interest whatsoever in the subjects they claim to be protecting.
I’ve met a few over the years and they seem to fly in the face of the silent majority.
Personally, I think Chris may have forgotten the flack that Spitting Image got at the start and just how many people objected to it for numerous reasons.
I think perhaps, his point may be that the media are more likely to run shy of anything risky these days.
Having said that, I saw nothing worse in Spitting Image then than you would encounter today in shows like ‘HIGNFY’ and ‘Buzzcocks’ to name but two.