No F in News

Post by Jane Vernon
I listened to Friday's episode with my Sunday breakfast; I usually
listen to the Friday evening comedy at this time.
I was very disappointed. It seems to be being pushed as a women-only
comedy programme. It only delivered on one of the two points, I'm
afraid. Sigh.
What do otherrats think?

Haven’t heard it yet! Not up yet! No breakfast yet! 😊. Will listen to
the omni if its bearable. I fear it won’t br.

--
BTMS - Equine Advisor Extraordinaire.

Mike

2018-07-22 08:00:54 UTC

And now... No F in New click

--
Toodle Pip

Sid Nuncius

2018-07-22 09:01:58 UTC

Sadly, I agree. One or two amusing moments, but generally it was thin,
not very original material and the presentation was pretty clunky. It
may find its feet after a programme or two, I suppose, but I'm not all
that hopeful.

It reminds me a little of things like that TV series The Real McCoy in
the 90s, featuring black and Asian comedians, and a radio series The
Right Time, featuring older comedians. Both had their moments, but
really weren't very funny most of the time. I'm all for encouraging and
giving more of a platform to groups who are under-represented in comedy,
but it does no good, IMO, to try to promote minority talent (or whatever
the phrase is) with inferior programmes. It's just embarrassing, and if
anything it sets the cause back. Goodness Gracious Me didn't make a big
thing about Promoting Asian Talent; it just was what it was - and it was
brilliant.

I'd rather see more of the many excellent female comedians appearing on
established panel shows, giving a better gender balance than we usually
see at the moment, than things like F in News.

--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)

Vicky Ayech

2018-07-22 09:26:56 UTC

On Sun, 22 Jul 2018 10:01:58 +0100, Sid Nuncius

Sadly, I agree. One or two amusing moments, but generally it was thin,
not very original material and the presentation was pretty clunky. It
may find its feet after a programme or two, I suppose, but I'm not all
that hopeful.
It reminds me a little of things like that TV series The Real McCoy in
the 90s, featuring black and Asian comedians, and a radio series The
Right Time, featuring older comedians. Both had their moments, but
really weren't very funny most of the time. I'm all for encouraging and
giving more of a platform to groups who are under-represented in comedy,
but it does no good, IMO, to try to promote minority talent (or whatever
the phrase is) with inferior programmes. It's just embarrassing, and if
anything it sets the cause back. Goodness Gracious Me didn't make a big
thing about Promoting Asian Talent; it just was what it was - and it was
brilliant.
I'd rather see more of the many excellent female comedians appearing on
established panel shows, giving a better gender balance than we usually
see at the moment, than things like F in News.

I agree. I have a friend who is disabled and an actress/comedian. I
went to early performances where she was one of a group of disabled
women. They did satrical sketches and some were good, pointed and
quite funny but not first class. I was a bit sad as they got by a
little on people wanting them to BE. Some got better and now a couple
have made it and are of merchantable quality. It has to be that or
does a disservice, I feel.

the Omrud

2018-07-22 10:24:43 UTC

It was weak but harmless. My main gripe is that it's in the wrong slot.
Friday 18:30 is for highly-polished scripted comedy. It's not for
improvised chat by mildly funny people. I would have tolerated it more
on a Tuesday evening at 23:00 (e.g.)

--
David

Jane Vernon

2018-07-22 11:13:46 UTC

Yes, that's a good point.

--
Jane
The Potter in the Purple socks - to reply, please remove PURPLE
BTME

http://www.clothandclay.co.uk/umra/cookbook.htm - Umrats' recipes

Sid Nuncius

2018-07-22 11:15:40 UTC

True dat.

--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)

John Finlay

2018-07-23 09:31:24 UTC

It was weak but harmless. My main gripe is that it's in the wrong
slot. Friday 18:30 is for highly-polished scripted comedy. It's not
for improvised chat by mildly funny people. I would have tolerated it
more on a Tuesday evening at 23:00 (e.g.)

True dat.

Does all the above give credence to some people's opinion that women
just aren't as funny as men are....or was the programme mis(s)-scheduled?

Sid Nuncius

2018-07-23 09:48:04 UTC

Post by Jane Vernon
I listened to Friday's episode with my Sunday breakfast; I usually
listen to the Friday evening comedy at this time.
I was very disappointed. It seems to be being pushed as a
women-only comedy programme. It only delivered on one of the two
points, I'm afraid. Sigh.
What do otherrats think?

It was weak but harmless. My main gripe is that it's in the wrong
slot. Friday 18:30 is for highly-polished scripted comedy. It's
not for improvised chat by mildly funny people. I would have
tolerated it more on a Tuesday evening at 23:00 (e.g.)

True dat.

Does all the above give credence to some people's opinion that women
just aren't as funny as men are....or was the programme mis(s)-scheduled?

It was mis-scheduled and the women they assembled (even Zoe Lyons,
unusually) weren't very funny this time.

I think the notion that women just aren't as funny as men was absurd in
the first place and has been publicly and entirely routed by the likes
of Joyce Grenfell, Shazia Mirza, Linda Smith, Sandi Toksvig, Victoria
Wood, Catherine Ryan, Gina Yashere, Jo Brand, Sara Pascoe, Holly Walsh,
Diane Morgan, Lucy Porter, Shappi Khosandi[1], Angela Barnes, Catherine
Parkinson...you get my point.

[1]I think I've got a bit of a thing for Shappi Khorsandi, but don't
tell wofe. (There's no point, she knows already.)

--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)

Jenny M Benson

2018-07-23 10:45:30 UTC

Post by Sid Nuncius
I think the notion that women just aren't as funny as men was absurd in
the first place and has been publicly and entirely routed by the likes
of Joyce Grenfell, Shazia Mirza, Linda Smith, Sandi Toksvig, Victoria
Wood, Catherine Ryan, Gina Yashere, Jo Brand, Sara Pascoe, Holly Walsh,
Diane Morgan, Lucy Porter, Shappi Khosandi[1], Angela Barnes, Catherine
Parkinson...you get my point.

Yes, an impressive collection, but how many male comics would you
consider as funny or funnier as them?

Bring back The Petticoat Line, I say!

--
Jenny M Benson
http://jennygenes.blogspot.co.uk/

LFS

2018-07-23 13:57:05 UTC

Post by Sid Nuncius
I think the notion that women just aren't as funny as men was absurd
in the first place and has been publicly and entirely routed by the
likes of Joyce Grenfell, Shazia Mirza, Linda Smith, Sandi Toksvig,
Victoria Wood, Catherine Ryan, Gina Yashere, Jo Brand, Sara Pascoe,
Holly Walsh, Diane Morgan, Lucy Porter, Shappi Khosandi[1], Angela
Barnes, Catherine Parkinson...you get my point.

Yes, an impressive collection, but how many male comics would you
consider as funny or funnier as them?
Bring back The Petticoat Line, I say!

John Finnemore is very funny. I think he's *almost* as good as Victoria
Wood. And I find Milton Jones very funny too. I only have to look at him
to start laughing before he's even opened his mouth. Tommy Cooper did
that to me, too.

--
Laura (emulate St George for email)

Mike

2018-07-23 14:49:58 UTC

Post by Sid Nuncius
I think the notion that women just aren't as funny as men was absurd
in the first place and has been publicly and entirely routed by the
likes of Joyce Grenfell, Shazia Mirza, Linda Smith, Sandi Toksvig,
Victoria Wood, Catherine Ryan, Gina Yashere, Jo Brand, Sara Pascoe,
Holly Walsh, Diane Morgan, Lucy Porter, Shappi Khosandi[1], Angela
Barnes, Catherine Parkinson...you get my point.

Yes, an impressive collection, but how many male comics would you
consider as funny or funnier as them?
Bring back The Petticoat Line, I say!

TC was a ‘visual’ comic I think.

--
Toodle Pip

Btms

2018-07-23 17:47:20 UTC

Post by Sid Nuncius
I think the notion that women just aren't as funny as men was absurd
in the first place and has been publicly and entirely routed by the
likes of Joyce Grenfell, Shazia Mirza, Linda Smith, Sandi Toksvig,
Victoria Wood, Catherine Ryan, Gina Yashere, Jo Brand, Sara Pascoe,
Holly Walsh, Diane Morgan, Lucy Porter, Shappi Khosandi[1], Angela
Barnes, Catherine Parkinson...you get my point.

Yes, an impressive collection, but how many male comics would you
consider as funny or funnier as them?
Bring back The Petticoat Line, I say!

I was in a pub when Tommy Cooper came in and ordered a drink. The he
revised his order. I had real trouble stifling my laughter. He wasn’t
meaning to be funny. He wasn’t funny but somehow,he was very funny.

Milton Jones humour is just a lot of puns. Very amusing but nowhere near
Vic Woods i ho.

--
BTMS - Equine Advisor Extraordinaire.

Btms

2018-07-23 14:21:01 UTC

Yes, an impressive collection, but how many male comics would you
consider as funny or funnier as them?
Bring back The Petticoat Line, I say!

😆

--
BTMS - Equine Advisor Extraordinaire.

Sid Nuncius

2018-07-24 18:22:40 UTC

Post by Sid Nuncius
I think the notion that women just aren't as funny as men was absurd
in the first place and has been publicly and entirely routed by the
likes of Joyce Grenfell, Shazia Mirza, Linda Smith, Sandi Toksvig,
Victoria Wood, Catherine Ryan, Gina Yashere, Jo Brand, Sara Pascoe,
Holly Walsh, Diane Morgan, Lucy Porter, Shappi Khosandi[1], Angela
Barnes, Catherine Parkinson...you get my point.

Yes, an impressive collection, but how many male comics would you
consider as funny or funnier as them?

Oh, quite a lot - but I agree with Laura; it's not a matter of gender,
people are either funny or they're not.

I've just this minute received a mailing from Bush Hall, which is just a
short nun's canter from here, inviting people to a recording of Where's
The F In News tomorrow evening. I think I'll pass; it's 7.00pm to
9.30pm which is a gruelling stint. I begin to flag if a TNQ recording
goes much over an hour, however funny it is, so 2.5 hours of possibly
not-that-good comedy doesn't appeal much.

(If anyrat does fancy it, details are here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wheres-the-f-in-news-tickets-46928584660 )

--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)

Jane Vernon

2018-07-23 11:22:11 UTC

Post by Jane Vernon
I listened to Friday's episode with my Sunday breakfast; I usually
listen to the Friday evening comedy at this time.
I was very disappointed. It seems to be being pushed as a
women-only comedy programme. It only delivered on one of the two
points, I'm afraid. Sigh.
What do otherrats think?

It was weak but harmless. My main gripe is that it's in the wrong
slot. Friday 18:30 is for highly-polished scripted comedy. It's
not for improvised chat by mildly funny people. I would have
tolerated it more on a Tuesday evening at 23:00 (e.g.)

True dat.

Does all the above give credence to some people's opinion that women
just aren't as funny as men are....or was the programme mis(s)-scheduled?

Well, if you choose less funny women and air the programme at a peak
time, then naturally they're going to give credence to the opinion.
This is mainly my objection.

Why didn't they use funnier women, then, I hear you ask. Because they
are already doing other programmes, albeit in a minority with male
comedians.

--
Jane
The Potter in the Purple socks - to reply, please remove PURPLE
BTME

http://www.clothandclay.co.uk/umra/cookbook.htm - Umrats' recipes

LFS

2018-07-23 13:57:46 UTC

Post by Jane Vernon

Post by Jane Vernon
I listened to Friday's episode with my Sunday breakfast; I usually
listen to the Friday evening comedy at this time.
I was very disappointed. It seems to be being pushed as a
women-only comedy programme. It only delivered on one of the two
points, I'm afraid. Sigh.
What do otherrats think?

It was weak but harmless. My main gripe is that it's in the wrong
slot. Friday 18:30 is for highly-polished scripted comedy. It's
not for improvised chat by mildly funny people. I would have
tolerated it more on a Tuesday evening at 23:00 (e.g.)

True dat.

Does all the above give credence to some people's opinion that women
just aren't as funny as men are....or was the programme mis(s)-scheduled?

Well, if you choose less funny women and air the programme at a peak
time, then naturally they're going to give credence to the opinion. This
is mainly my objection.
Why didn't they use funnier women, then, I hear you ask. Because they
are already doing other programmes, albeit in a minority with male
comedians.

I think the writing was poor. I didn't look to see the gender of the
writers.

--
Laura (emulate St George for email)

the Omrud

2018-07-23 15:17:53 UTC

Post by Jane Vernon

Post by Jane Vernon
I listened to Friday's episode with my Sunday breakfast; I usually
listen to the Friday evening comedy at this time.
I was very disappointed. It seems to be being pushed as a
women-only comedy programme. It only delivered on one of the two
points, I'm afraid. Sigh.
What do otherrats think?

It was weak but harmless. My main gripe is that it's in the wrong
slot. Friday 18:30 is for highly-polished scripted comedy. It's
not for improvised chat by mildly funny people. I would have
tolerated it more on a Tuesday evening at 23:00 (e.g.)

True dat.

Does all the above give credence to some people's opinion that women
just aren't as funny as men are....or was the programme
mis(s)-scheduled?

Well, if you choose less funny women and air the programme at a peak
time, then naturally they're going to give credence to the opinion.
This is mainly my objection.
Why didn't they use funnier women, then, I hear you ask. Because they
are already doing other programmes, albeit in a minority with male
comedians.

I think the writing was poor. I didn't look to see the gender of the
writers.

I'm not convinced there was much writing. I suspect it was mostly
unscripted.

--
David

LFS

2018-07-23 13:54:41 UTC

Post by Jane Vernon
I listened to Friday's episode with my Sunday breakfast; I usually
listen to the Friday evening comedy at this time.
I was very disappointed. It seems to be being pushed as a
women-only comedy programme. It only delivered on one of the two
points, I'm afraid. Sigh.
What do otherrats think?

It was weak but harmless. My main gripe is that it's in the wrong
slot. Friday 18:30 is for highly-polished scripted comedy. It's
not for improvised chat by mildly funny people. I would have
tolerated it more on a Tuesday evening at 23:00 (e.g.)

True dat.

Does all the above give credence to some people's opinion that women
just aren't as funny as men are....or was the programme mis(s)-scheduled?

Some women are extremely funny. Think Victoria Wood and Fascinating
Aida. Some men are not funny at all. Think Count Arthur Strong (shudder).

I don't think the weakness of the programme had anything to do with
gender, could just as easily have been men or even a mixed group. I
think the writing was weak.

I am fed up with all this discussion about gender in comedy. What
matters is that people are funny.

--
Laura (emulate St George for email)

Penny

2018-07-23 15:43:31 UTC

On Mon, 23 Jul 2018 14:54:41 +0100, LFS <***@gmail.com>
scrawled in the dust...

Post by Jane Vernon
I listened to Friday's episode with my Sunday breakfast; I usually
listen to the Friday evening comedy at this time.
I was very disappointed. It seems to be being pushed as a
women-only comedy programme. It only delivered on one of the two
points, I'm afraid. Sigh.
What do otherrats think?

It was weak but harmless. My main gripe is that it's in the wrong
slot. Friday 18:30 is for highly-polished scripted comedy. It's
not for improvised chat by mildly funny people. I would have
tolerated it more on a Tuesday evening at 23:00 (e.g.)

Good point.
I also agree on the 'harmless' - it didn't make me laugh (it takes a lot to
do that) but I smiled once or twice and it didn't have me reaching for the
mute button.

Post by John Finlay
Does all the above give credence to some people's opinion that women
just aren't as funny as men are....or was the programme mis(s)-scheduled?

Some women are extremely funny. Think Victoria Wood and Fascinating
Aida. Some men are not funny at all. Think Count Arthur Strong (shudder).

He, or indeed the very foretelling of him, always makes me reach for Mute.

Post by LFS
I don't think the weakness of the programme had anything to do with
gender, could just as easily have been men or even a mixed group. I
think the writing was weak.
I am fed up with all this discussion about gender in comedy. What
matters is that people are funny.

Indeed.

--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959

Serena Blanchflower

2018-07-24 07:31:21 UTC

Post by Penny
scrawled in the dust...

Post by Jane Vernon
I listened to Friday's episode with my Sunday breakfast; I usually
listen to the Friday evening comedy at this time.
I was very disappointed. It seems to be being pushed as a
women-only comedy programme. It only delivered on one of the two
points, I'm afraid. Sigh.
What do otherrats think?

It was weak but harmless. My main gripe is that it's in the wrong
slot. Friday 18:30 is for highly-polished scripted comedy. It's
not for improvised chat by mildly funny people. I would have
tolerated it more on a Tuesday evening at 23:00 (e.g.)

Good point.
I also agree on the 'harmless' - it didn't make me laugh (it takes a lot to
do that) but I smiled once or twice and it didn't have me reaching for the
mute button.

That's very much how I felt about it, as well.

--
Best wishes, Serena
And, while it was regarded as pretty good evidence of criminality to be
living in a slum, for some reason owning a whole street of them merely
got you invited to the very best social occasions. (Terry Pratchett)

BrritSki

2018-07-23 17:48:07 UTC

Post by LFS
I am fed up with all this discussion about gender in comedy. What
matters is that people are funny.

Btms

2018-07-23 18:03:26 UTC

Post by BrritSki

Post by LFS
I am fed up with all this discussion about gender in comedy. What
matters is that people are funny.

And another wave from way down here in Cornwall.

--
BTMS - Equine Advisor Extraordinaire.

carolet

2018-07-23 18:47:28 UTC

I haven't heard it yet. As it was on Friday at 6:30, I was expecting to
hear it as the Friday Night Comedy podcast, but that is offering me
"Newsjack Unplugged", something that I am finding truly unfunny.

I do wonder why "No F in News" should be deemed worthy of going in that
slot, but not in the podcast that usually delivers whatever is aired in
then.

--
CaroleT

Btms

2018-07-23 20:41:26 UTC