Caveat: I'm in the U.S. and primarily know of Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross through listening to their podcasts--esp. Ross', which I really enjoy--and seeing youtube clips of Ross' Friday Night show (again, find it fun and interesting) and seeing some Russell Brand clips on youtube. I'm much more undecided on Brand since he can, at times, be smartly, hysterically funny and other times, just much too crude/profane.
I was following on the UK news as this whole controversy unfolded. I completely agree that they were out of line with their immature prank, but I do wonder that someone at the BBC didn't stop it from airing. What puzzles me is
1. Why it seems that the massive outrage came days after the event
2. Given other questionable things I've heard/seen on the BBC or BBCAmerica, it doesn't seem that this was so much worse than many of Graham Norton's rude phone calls, etc., yet there's clearly more outrage over Brand/Ross
3. Andrew Sachs' granddaughter, if I've got this right, is an exotic dancer with a group called the Satanic Sluts and has photos on her myspace page that match the description. I don't understand the insistence that the incident would mar her reputation.
Not trying to stir the pot, I'm just trying to understand how this became such a phenomenon.
Karla B.
My own views,
Yes they did go over the mark and some action needed to be taken, but this situation was blown totally out of proportion by our tabloid press.
You make a good first point, the outrage came long after event caused by a national newspaper, repeating it over and over again, this paper has a well known anti BBC agenda.
2 complaints on the night, the audience for that show was very low, but the complaints came in from people 'reading' what they said and not from the people who actually read it.
A well known PR rep on TV acting for Andrew Sachs' granddaughter actually put his finger on it saying a lot was 'Salary envy' and an BBC Bash.
Figures get reported for Jonathan Ross's salary, the BBC cannot comment on this subject, but actually the figures quoted in the papers cover the whole contract, for three shows, the chat show, a Film review show and the radio show the production staff ( some 30 odd) and also extra appearances, no tabloid paper reports the truth on this, the quality press do.
Andrew Sachs' granddaughter has sold her story to news papers and they are more intimate in detail than the calls, Andrew Sachs' actually has been very good not saying too much, not reporting it to the press understanding comic performances go wrong, and can make people upset, IE Spanish waiters were upset in the past re a comedy performance.
2. Your point 2, it was worse than the normal BBC TV and Radio broadcasts and did go over the mark, Norton etc do go close but not that far, as a pre recorded show it should have been stooped and edited, but only 2 others were involved in the show, I understand an engineer and a 25yo producer, and they wouldn't be able to control these personalities.
Hence the victims of this situation the controller of Radio 2, as the systems as I understand were not in place, but she should never ever have gone, because of a Tabloid press campaign that was more against the BBC than the actual event. Salary envy as said against Ross, albeit a bit misquoted.
The press will again run more stories on Sunday.
On point three it will now help her get noticed for her 15 mins of fame like David Beckams so called relationship with.....Well I forgot its after 15 Mins isn't it.
So the summary who gets hurt,
Brand, no he quite will get work, its his style will get another job
Ross, damaged badly now every move is in the papers, his large Halloween party all over the papers today, and whilst his production company is paid ig £'s this is now press intrusion on a big scale and he will have difficulty coming back to any UK TV.
The amount he is paid will reduce whoever he works for in the future as the press if he keeps this deal will be again an open opportunity to BBC bash.
The BBC is again damaged for under reaction first few days then over reaction and MP's jumping on the bandwagon ( a week later) to widen the scope to license fee issues etc to take our minds off the mess on the Economy.
I feel very sorry for Lesley Douglas the great controller of R2, I am sure the tabloid press are very pleased they caused a good person to loose her job!?
Terry Wogan said it all the big damage could be to BBC Children in need in a week or so, this could damage that out of the BBC's reputation.
I rarely buy newspapers at the tabloid end, two have now been canceled form reading!.
My actions,
Brand should have been sacked before he quit it was his show, Ross yes suspended but for a shorter time, Lesley Douglas resignation should have not been accepted, but she will be snaped up by a commercial broadcaster now,
These are my personal views and seem to go again what the 'press' says we all think.
Don't mean to, but want to respond to some of the replies.)
