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I watched Bernard Mannings epitaph to himself last night on C4 it wasnt that funny but they showed the scene when he was being interviewed by Mrs Merton when she asked are you a racist Bernard and he replied yes i am and it completely threw her and she was lost for words, Bernard did go on to explain that he never was a racist but he gave that answer because he had been in the biz for 40 years and Mrs Merton only about 2 or 3 and he knew his answer would fuck her, and in fact when i look back at the comedy of the 60s and 70s it was just that comedy whereas the so called alternative comedy of today is much more personal as they tend to take the piss out of an individiual, so what was worse Bernard Mannings racist jokes or todays comedians who go for the throat ?

I watched it too.

He admitted he didn't like blacks, chinks or asians (as he so eloquently put it). I always gave him the benefit of the doubt, and thought it was just in the name of comedy. It seems I misjudged him.

I still don't see much wrong with racist jokes if they're told where the public pay, and know what they're paying for, when turning up.

All jokes are going to be at somebody's expense, somewhere in the world. Ricky Gervais shy's away from racist jokes but has no problem of poking fun at the disabled.........or stupid people. Can you help being stupid or disabled any more than the colour of your skin, or nationality?

We all agree sexism is bad, but black/white/male/female comedians all tell sexist jokes do they not? Or ageist jokes, or jokes about fat people.

The two critics who came to watch his show at the end, just to question and demean him on camera were far worse than he. He took the piss through comedy where the audience knew where they stood. These two got him off guard after the show to moralise him. I mean, did they expect an 80 year old dying man to break down and repent? They were comedians too I think? Bet they don't tell jokes that offend at least someone do they? They're much too sophisticated and intellectual for that sort of thing....

Aren't the words 'humour' and 'serious' near enough polar opposites? Concluding that humour isn't supposed to be taken seriously? Isn't this why I can laugh at a 'woman ironing on a plane' joke without actually hating women in reality?

I did meet Bernard Manning once and he came accross as an ok guy and his jokes in the late 60s early 70s were quite common until the race relations act became law and then the alternative comedy started to take off and some say it was the alternative to comedy, dont get me wrong i have no wish to bring back racist jokes but the Mannings of yesterday either lived or died on stage or at the working mens clubs and believe me i have seen it where the comedian was the joke unlike the smug comedians on TV today who are so well rehearsed and the progs are edited plus the dubbed in laughter then yes i prefer the old stand up comedians !love!!thumbsup!!cool!

I also loved the way that she can call him a racist and yet there she is dressed up as an old person exploting the ageist sterotype.

Sam Slater wrote:

> They were comedians too I think?

That's what they'd have you believe !wink!

Manning always played up to his image and I think he was doing it even in that programme too. He was undoubtedly arrogant and had a high opinion of himself, but who doesn't?

The main thing with Manning and most of the old school was making people laugh. They were gag men and their only responsibility was to get people through the door, make them laugh and send them home happy.

Give me a Manning or a Monkhouse over a dozen Gervais or Ben Elton types any day.

So it would be fine for the black and white minstrel chat show then? you could then take any popular white presenter black him up and film with a totally black audience and as long as the presenter is ticking most of the black stereotype boxes but is not considered weak or stupid that would ok.

"so massa why is you a racist?"

For some reason i dont see a TV company going for that, its fine to consider some groups to be treated in this manner as they wont complain (OAPs).

Well if you put in basic facts 'making jokes about peoples v an individual' then the comedian who can make people laugh about a group is a better comedian. However, whether you call his (BM'S) stuff comedy is another thing. But back in the 70's 80's we didn't have political correctness like we do today. Althuogh in thwecurrent climate we are in, I think political correctness will go full circle. Just walking around a supermarket the other day I heard more than a couple of people tlaking about the 'fucking packies' or saying the fucking 'N' word. I know theyll be frowned upon now. But there was a time when they weren't and i think with all this disharmony in the country, there'll be a time when you can say (and unfortunatley do) what you want again.

One of the critics was Arnold Brown. Now he really is shite. I was once in the audience of a radio show he was recording for the BBC. It was such rubbish I left during the interval. Even though the tickets were free they weren't worth it!

I agree with you.

I was in a DVD shop yesterday and heard the owner and his mate going on about the "fucking Poles" and bemoaning the fact that his application for an adult licence had been nuked by "fucking Pakis, but who is it comes in my shop every day asking for sex films?"

Racism is everywhere and more prevalent now than it was five years ago, in my opinion.