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Original poster

Mrs Browns Boys - how is it ok?

166 replies

wavingwhilstdrowning · 01/12/2021 09:20

Please be gentle if I am missing something massively obvious here!

I have never sat through a whole episode of MBB I will admit I find it intolerable but I don't understand why it is ok.

It is totally unacceptable to dress up and do a mocking impression of a trans-woman and lots of older comedies are now removed from iPlayer due to a change in what is acceptable. So why is it ok to dress up as an older working class woman a perform a grotesque caricature?

I realise I am probably missing something. The writer says it is not the same and he would never be racist or homophobic - but this sexism is ok? www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/mrs-browns-boys-political-correctness-b1780721.html

I am a very thick skinned middle aged Northern woman, tbh I just don't watch, it doesn't bother me that much, but I don't understand why women are fame game for the BBC. I'd appreciate your opinions.

OP posts:
Ariela · 01/12/2021 21:40

Pantomime dames....same ilk

Livpool · 01/12/2021 21:41

My PIL love it - I think it is dire. My MIL is from Northern Ireland though

OhWhyNot · 01/12/2021 21:46

It’s not mocking a trans women

It’s mocking a stereotype of an Irish working class older women

It’s it mocking the stereotype or women

I think the stereotype

I find it amusing at times but can happily pass on it

Interested in this thread?

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TV
coodawoodashooda · 01/12/2021 21:52

@Sweetchocolatecandy

Wow OP if you find men dressing as women offensive don’t ever watch Ru Paul’s Drag Race or go to any sort of drag night! Do you find French and Saunders sketches and things like Kevin and Perry offensive as well?
It's old comedy. I really liked it when it first came out.
KimDeals · 01/12/2021 22:04

@crowsfeet57

Personally I love it. It depicts an elderly woman with very fixed views and she can come across as intolerant when first confronted with issues, but then she changes her mind when she sees it in the context of her own family. She also challenges the priest on occasion about rigid thinking in the catholic church for example about gay marriage. Whilst she does favour her boys and argues with her daughter she always comes through for her in the end.

The humour is vulgar but traditionally much humour is. Brendan O Carroll never intended to play Mrs Brown himself, but the actress they booked for the first radio transmission didn't turn up, so he stepped in and got such a good response he carried on doing it.

If you only watch a few minutes ir the trailer you won't get it at all as a lot of the humour is based on familiarity with the characters.

I know a lot of people will not like it but surely there is room for all kinds of comedy, we don't have to all like the same things.

Agree with you also. You’ve explained her very well. I often end up feeling heartwarmed by her.

I absolutely hate drag. I don’t consider MBB as drag. I actually forget it’s a man playing a woman.

I am a bit amazed it’s clicked (it obviously has, it’s always on) so somebody out there loves it! It also reminds me not of my own family (from Dublin) but lots of bits of friends’ families. It’s very very Dublin.

whichiswitch · 01/12/2021 22:12

@Livpool

My PIL love it - I think it is dire. My MIL is from Northern Ireland though
I'm from northern ireland and don't like it. Like anywhere else and about anything there is diversity of opinion in Northern Ireland.
Nomoreusernames1244 · 01/12/2021 22:15

This is different. I agree. But how is it offensive for a man to play a trans woman but not a woman. I genuinely don't see why one is ok and the other is not

This. If Russell T Davies insists only gay and trans people should play gay and trans characters, why is it different when it comes to women playing female characters?

Why my mind would go to the trans thing is the whole narrative that a man behaving like a woman must have a female brain. So despite the biology, the actor is behaving like a female. So why aren’t they trans?

The trans lobby has historically transed many figures, because they were one sex dressed and behaving as another. Many women, who presumably dressed as men as they weren’t allowed to become surgeons or whatever, have been deemed “trans”.

So why is this not the same? It’s a man presenting as a woman.

BashfulClam · 01/12/2021 22:20

I saw people online saying it was hilarious. I bc watched it, thought I must have watched the wrong thing. It’s just not funny at all.

inkworks273 · 01/12/2021 22:35

I haven't watched it in ages but I found it very funny when I watched it years ago. My nana who was in her 80s loved it. Not sure if this makes a difference but I'm Scottish. Maybe the humour translates better?

Macmickmoo · 01/12/2021 22:41

Drag is offensive and MBB is offensive…time the woman hating shit stopped being seen as entertaining.

Lucinda7 · 01/12/2021 22:47

I'm 68 and am not sensitive about ageism. I actually recently bought two warm cardigans. They looked like the sort Mrs Brown would wear! I really dislike anti trans nastiness and never read any posts about that.

carlyswirly · 01/12/2021 23:00

Dp and I loathe it. I was then astonished to find out that the pils like it so much they went to see it being filmed.

And my friend said her very elderly and straight laced gran absolutely loves it.

I feel there's possibly a generational divide here. If memory serves, I've also heard that it's unexpectedly popular with some people on the autistic spectrum.

AdobeWanKenobi · 01/12/2021 23:15

I've noticed over the years a correlation between people who watch MBB and people I cannot fucking stand.

MiniatureHotdog · 01/12/2021 23:22

It's womanface. Totally unfunny and offensive.

NeedsCharging · 01/12/2021 23:25

It's not for me so I don't watch it.
Many people like it so they do watch it.
I wont get my knickers In a twist over something I can choose not to participate in.

Why bring transwomen in to this?
Brendan O'Carrol is a man not a transwoman.
Are you saying transwomen are men OP?

OooPourUsACupLove · 01/12/2021 23:27

I'm quite fond of it, despite it being way outside my normal taste. I'm not sure why - I think it's just that it gently mocks everyone. I wouldn't switch over to watch it but I'd probably not switch it off if it came on while I was ironing.

Which is how come I happened to watch it the time Mrs Brown had Caitlyn Jenner on as a guest...

And I have to admit, after watching it I thought more of both of them after than I had before.

NovemberNovemberDarkNights · 01/12/2021 23:30

@crowsfeet57

Personally I love it. It depicts an elderly woman with very fixed views and she can come across as intolerant when first confronted with issues, but then she changes her mind when she sees it in the context of her own family. She also challenges the priest on occasion about rigid thinking in the catholic church for example about gay marriage. Whilst she does favour her boys and argues with her daughter she always comes through for her in the end.

The humour is vulgar but traditionally much humour is. Brendan O Carroll never intended to play Mrs Brown himself, but the actress they booked for the first radio transmission didn't turn up, so he stepped in and got such a good response he carried on doing it.

If you only watch a few minutes ir the trailer you won't get it at all as a lot of the humour is based on familiarity with the characters.

I know a lot of people will not like it but surely there is room for all kinds of comedy, we don't have to all like the same things.

@crowsfeet57. Well said!!

It is funny if you stop twisting yourselves into pretzels making it about trans women or thinking it's mocking women.

JohnStonesMissus · 01/12/2021 23:33

It's shite, utter shite...

Flaxmeadow · 01/12/2021 23:36

I've never liked drag but it isn't so much that. Its just so mind numbingly unfunny. It reminds of that bloody awful Bread sitcom thing in the 1980s.

I went to stay with some rellies for new years eve once. Ex mining village in the north of England. Middle of nowhere. Walked into the working mens club, all dressed up, big place, about 9pm and on every huge screen was this Mrs Brown abomination, booming out at full volume and people just sat there like they were sat at home with a pint. They even moaned when you walked past the screens to go to the bar. Sat down for about 2 bloody hours watching the rubbish totally mystified

Rest of the night was great though, in spite of the drag acts 'turns', but didn't get the glued to the screen for hours Mrs Brown thing at all

mandajmo · 01/12/2021 23:38

It's utter shite

Mantlemoose · 01/12/2021 23:42

Where the heck does trans come in to it. It's meant to be a stereotypical irish matriarch who just happens to be portrayed by a bloke. Honestly why does everything have to end up so serious. Like it watch it, don't like it don't watch it.

Starcup · 01/12/2021 23:44

I’ve never watched it but I’ve seen clippets of it in the past. My old auntie used to enjoy it though I couldn’t understand why. I don’t find it remotely funny or entertaining.

Equally though, nor am I offended by it. A man dressed up as a woman swearing is irrelevant to me. Just seems pointless tv and I’m more bemused by the fact so many people must like it for it to be airred.

Flaxmeadow · 01/12/2021 23:44

It's utter shite

With chuffing bells on

Starcup · 01/12/2021 23:45

@Mantlemoose

Where the heck does trans come in to it. It's meant to be a stereotypical irish matriarch who just happens to be portrayed by a bloke. Honestly why does everything have to end up so serious. Like it watch it, don't like it don't watch it.
Exactly. If everything should be gender neutral etc then why should it be a woman that plays a woman? Why can’t a man be cast as a woman?
FrancescaContini · 01/12/2021 23:45

Can’t bear it and switch over immediately.

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