Lammy

​OK - let's play the artistic comedy battle. Seriously? By we- I mean obviously myself, the fans, and the actual comedian that did it. First, I don't think there's anything inherently racist about applying make-up to look like another race. Disingenuous, maybe... could it have gone to an actual person of that race... maybe. Ben Kingsley did it in Gandhi. Robert Downey Jr is great in Tropic Thunder. Some minstrel shows can be enlightening, although it is totally unpleasant if the show is simply a white dude blacked up acting stupid with no story or context. ANYWAY: Tony Ferrino does not come across as sleazy or stupid to me- but a parody of the cheesy dance offs we see imported from Portuguese TV. Always so smooth with his dance moves and women. It's actually ahead of the times by 20 years because we see that on Strictly Come Dancing now. The Fast Show does another thing similar where everyone has a tan and says Scorcio during the weather report. Because ya know, it's always hot abroad. Chris Morris's Fur Q Uzi Lover, pretty spot on with gun and gangsta culture. "cunt bitch, cunt bitch mothafucka uzi lover uzu like a metal dick in my hand, magazine like a testicle gland" <-- that condenses a lot of mysogynistic and violently nonsensical lyrics in a succinct way. As for the SNL Japanese Office, Steve Carell all yellow faced actually took the time to learn Japanese and the joke is that there are remakes of Japanese shows when really the Office isn't one of them. Borat explores interesting reactions of how racist and uncomfortable people's reactions are to him. Notice that all of my examples had a lot going on and a satirical element and a self awareness to the absurdity of it all. I do not feel I am hypocritical at all when I say that there is a degree of humour listed above that is just more sophisticated than what Clarkson is dishing out. Is that good enough for you? We've gone on a huge tangent already but I had to stress it out. How do you defend Jeremy Clarkson's use of slope? That he is playing a caricature of a very bigoted and opinionated old man? Even so, the humour is never laughing at his portrayal or our reaction to the portrayel, but always directly against his subject. That's just plain bullying mate. I'm not saying it's entirely his fault, it's definitely the writers/Producers and BBC's fault too for not thoroughly making sure the content was accountable. Also you can read Steve Coogan's article on Top Gear here: http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/feb/05/top-gear-offensive-steve-coogan ​Actually no I'm not, my next hypothetical of "Fuck you to Danny Cohen", who we knew he had tensions with, was far more likely. Clarkson didn't have to tell the BBC. But thanks for the personal attack, bro. Stay classy.

​Oh right... so Jeremy Clarkson only called him the usual "motherfucking useless shit cunt nonce puff nigger slope lazy mexican that drives like a woman"? Just another day for Jezza then! Hahaha but seriously... verbal abuse is not acceptable in the real world. It's still incredibly suspicious that Clarkson himself reported what happened to the BBC days before contracts were finalised. Is the guy trying to negotiate better contracts via manipulation of the system and foreign markets? A big fuck you to Danny Cohen and going out in a bang? Hmm... gotta wait for more facts to appear and what Oisin says...

Is that a yes to your unconditional love for Jeremy Clarkson? He really shouldn't be let off because he makes a lot of money and is an 'artist'. I think transparency is good. The BBC should not shut up, and neither should the vocal critics. Also not a fan of the commercially driven cynical attitude as Philip Bloom pointed out. Surprised you are to be honest... I bet you if indeed Oisin was assaulted (verbal or physical) , and we polled the public, it wouldn't just be the 'minority' that would agree with the BBC's suspension of Clarkson! Or do you mean yes you do pay TV License? Because you should get a refund dude as you don't need to pay it. You still get to eat the cake and enjoy Jeremy Clarkson! Me, I'm a little bitter as only Netflix is worth my cash these days IMO. ​We can actually defend that. We can also defend Ricky Gervais' skits with yellowfacing on SNL's Office Japanese. And we can defend Sasha Baron Cohen's stuff too. Edgy humour but there's no hypocrisy going on here. They genuinely do have the moral high ground as artists because their humour is defensible. Jeremy Clarkson's level of artistry is closer to Katie Hopkins than the above mentioned!

Andrew, it sounds like you have unconditional love for Jeremy Clarkson "If you don't like the tone, don't watch it" wont cut it in this argument. As I said earlier I find Clarkson, entertaining in small doses, though he does say a lot of dumb things. I can see Steve Coogan (haha or Frankie Boyle) taking over and I'd watch that. If Mark Kermode decided to branch into cars instead of films, defo on my watch list too! Top Gear has always had rough patches with the show since it began in 1977. It can re-invent itself. I disagree with you that Clarkson is better than 99% of presenters. I'd rather my £145 license fee per year go to more shows that I actually love though. Do you still pay TV License there in Berlin, Andrew?

Well, yeah political correctness can be abused and misused by people that don't think. I think it can be confusing with censorship, hate speech and political dissents here. I'm actually against censorship. I am all for transparency. Jeremy Clarkson has already gotten away with and apologised for saying 'nigger' so it's irrelevant really. I don't think any of us are seriously venting for his blood because of 'special needs Ferrari' comment. He can say whatever he wants. Then we can conclude, with evidence, his persona lacks manners and thoughtfulness. That's the right of free speech. And now in real life with possibly punching someone? Geez... Anyway the framework of this conversation is that the money winner Jeremy Clarkson's is not above the law. I think K-Robert made a great point, lol a percentage of his income... well people do get fined for assault I guess?

Presbytis, like I said earlier it's all about context... there's nothing wrong with desiring equal rights and a more fair world. The methods to do that however, can be questioned. Your example is an issue of a manipulative Politician more than anything else. If, as you say, the "white guilt voters" were directly told "I will change our flag or make sure every child will not go hungry" - I'm pretty sure anyone would side for the latter and question why that Politician ever had to give that choice. As for Andrew's statements. well, yeah he seems to be having 3 tangents here, all of which are off-base. Maybe we should have a separate articles for his opinions on money, criticism, and creativity? This actually just boils down to Jeremy Clarkson getting into a "fracus" with Oisin Tymon. If we find out that he didn't punch him, or didn't threaten to punch him, and it was just a shouty whinge or something that got out of hand, then I don't see any reason why BBC can't air the 2 last episodes and keep working with Clarkson. If it turns out that Clarkson did do what he allegedly did, then the BBC are put in an awkward situation and I don't think Clarkson is above getting away with it this time. I am still deeply concerned about the posts saying "I'm all for better representation of women, ethnic backgrounds etc" yet agreeing that a "vocal minority" should "shut up". Hahaha oh dear guys. The thing about the BBC is that it has to stick to being fair because everyone pays the TV License fee. Heaven forbid if it turns like the Fox network! That has terrible things going on... [although I do admit I love shows like 24 and House that have come from it... the news and bigotry is massive]

Great post Dan. You've changed my mind that the show could still carry on without Jeremy Clarkson. Although as far as I'm aware, the show is a very family unit so it'd be a total revamp. I would absolutely love Frankie Boyle presenting! He's pretty much got the balance of edgy and funny really well. Plus his Knightrider sketch makes me laugh out loud thinking about it.

I do agree the timing is suspicious. How public was this fight with the Producer? Anyway Jeremy Clarkson is Top Gear, and I don't doubt he can find an equally successfully stint on other more commercial oriented networks. Remember when Jonathan Ross switched to ITV?

​ 'Politically correct' is used in a pejorative sense here... it's simply a term used for caring about other people's feelings and minimising unnecessary offence. In your example, you say your country is wasting money on changing a flag, when it could be used to feed starving children, right? That's already a lot of assumptions on the way budgets are made. Why does it have to be one or the other? I'm sure there are other ways money is being wasted too? And let's assume that you are right that the nation is dipping in their child poverty fund to change a flag... that isn't caring about people, that's just gross misallocation of funding! Just like when North Korea starves their country increase military and build fake streets to look good for outsiders! The only broader topic that I can gleam from Andrew's post is nothing to do with "pandering to PC culture" - his only valid points are "TOP GEAR IS A REALLY SUCCESFUL SHOW THAT MAKES A LOT OF MONEY" and "I LIKE TOP GEAR".

​Agreed. I believe the line is drawn if it can be defensible to say or do it. If the Producer was punching Clarkson, then Clarkson is within his rights to defend and punch back. Given the right context, anyone can say the word "nigga" (yes, I'm typing it out because "the N word" sounds worse in my opinion). White comedians like Louis CK and Ricky Gervais say it to, arguably and can be defended, to great effect. Jeremy Clarkson is indefensible and unfunny when he's using it to choose cars though... And totally, punching someone for having a cold steak of their own fault is baaaad.

​I did and I found it irrelevant. What was done was just poor management and lack of common sense. Using Political correctness as a false cause, and a loaded question. And what's with the name calling?

That's just lacking common sense.

I was specifically for what constitutes as comedy and bullying and political correctness. The "It's funny because it's racist" thing is what was said on Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe on Jeremy Clarkson. In the article Andrew misses the mark about the "special needs" and the critics of the show of Top Gear... actually some do watch the show and it's not to do with political correctness censoring the creativity of the show... it's about calling him out for being a terrible human being. [as I said Brooker and Coogan do brilliantly]

I've got to say I feel uneasy with with Andrew's implication that minorities are to blame, that the BBC are too easy to fall under political correctness. This is dangerous territory here... I must say some of Jeremy Clarkson's work is entertaining, much like I find Stephen Colbert's right wing character entertaining. And fast cars are always cool to see. As to the above point - I would say Andrew's post is nothing like Charlie Brooker, because that guy is a champion for the minorities (as comedy should be uphill battle) and because of the good points Jimmy and Philip laid out. If we're talking about some of Clarkson's humour, Brooker (and Steve Coogan) has already picked it apart as mostly bullying rather than comedy; "Haha it's funny because it's racist." - on point wit. But let's not get confused here... this isn't to do political correctness. This is to do with Clarkson possibly being unpleasant, overstepping the line and possibly punching someone.

Ahah naw dude, these film festivals get funding and are sponsored with such guys like Audi and L'Oreal etc. These are top class cinematographer giving their outlooks and experience rather than any technical lecture on gear. I'd love to attend this one but I dang forgot to apply last October. Hrm maybe I can sneak in out the back with my Professional Festival Accreditation somehow...