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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:
Pigeoninthehouse · 01/12/2021 23:49

@clarrylove

If you don't like it, don't watch it. Plenty of people do find it funny. And it's nothing to do with mocking trans people! Men have always dressed up as women for entertainment - drag artists, pantomime. And it works the other way too - Blackadder etc. Seriously, find something else to be offended about.
I'm not particualry bothered by him being dressed as a woman, but the joke seems to be that its a man dressed as a woman, maybe that's why I find it shit.
user97533676 · 01/12/2021 23:51

@Birdsnesting

What is a 'feminine personality', *@user97533676*?
I'm not sure. Perhaps OP can answer as I'm not sure how one impersonates a female.
user97533676 · 01/12/2021 23:52

He isn't just wearing a dress and assuming a "feminine personality" he is pretending to be a woman.

And how is he doing that?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

TV
Howareyouflower · 02/12/2021 00:08

I love it!

inkworks273 · 02/12/2021 06:55

All the people who don't like mrs brown. Can I ask what you do find funny? What shows make you laugh out loud?

mandajmo · 02/12/2021 08:02

@inkworks273

All the people who don't like mrs brown. Can I ask what you do find funny? What shows make you laugh out loud?
This Country, Friday Night Dinner, Still Game, Only Fools.
SarahBellam · 02/12/2021 08:13

I’m from NI. I’d rather have my pubes plucked out by vultures in public than watch it.

Exhausteddog · 02/12/2021 08:20

All the people who don't like mrs brown. Can I ask what you do find funny? What shows make you laugh out loud?

I don't like Mrs Brown's Boys, or find it particularly funny.
I do like 8 out of 10 cats do Countdown, Friday Night Dinner, and Rob and Romesh vs. (And im quite aware those won't be to everyone's taste either!)

FrancescaContini · 02/12/2021 08:21

It’s bloody awful, can’t bear the gurning face etc. I switch over immediately if it comes on. It’s very Les Dawson 🤮

Mouseonmychair · 02/12/2021 08:36

I hardly think it is offensive although people love to play the offended/oppressed Olympics so it is hardly surprising to see these comments on here. I am not offended by anything really but that programme for me isn't very good that is all, not offensive just not funny. I do know lots of people who like it though.

mandajmo · 02/12/2021 08:46

I also love Derry GirlsGrin

user1493494961 · 02/12/2021 08:52

Have never found it funny.

flimflammingo · 02/12/2021 08:57

I've always quite liked it as it depicts a close family, and I never saw it as mocking women.
On the other hand, I don't like drag.

SusannaQueen · 02/12/2021 09:03

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.

This is pretty much how I see it too, I don't love it, and rarely watch it these days. But I'm not offended by it, I don't like drag, but don't see this as drag. Mrs Brown is very like my late gran.

I see why the pp is saying, why is it OK for a man to play a woman, but male actors who play transwomen are being slated. I think the answer is male actors should be OK to play transwomen without inciting rage from TRAs.

SD1978 · 02/12/2021 09:09

Happy to admit, I like it, I find it funny, at times some of the story lines I've found sad, and we enjoy watching it as a family.......now heading back into my crass, low intelligence corner before I accidentally dribble on the computer......

TooBigForMyBoots · 02/12/2021 09:26

I don't find it offensive and wouldn't want it off air. I just don't really like it, maybe because I had a few rows with BO'C 20 years ago.

Original poster
wavingwhilstdrowning · 02/12/2021 09:28

@SusannaQueen

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.

This is pretty much how I see it too, I don't love it, and rarely watch it these days. But I'm not offended by it, I don't like drag, but don't see this as drag. Mrs Brown is very like my late gran.

I see why the pp is saying, why is it OK for a man to play a woman, but male actors who play transwomen are being slated. I think the answer is male actors should be OK to play transwomen without inciting rage from TRAs.

Yes, on a personal level that would be my view - men can play women and trans women and women can play men and trans men. I am not trans though and am happy to accept this causes outrage for some, but so does a man dressing a woman (clearly very offensive to some women from the posts above!) So the double standard is because women's offensive/outrage doesn't matter I guess.
OP posts:
beguilingeyes · 02/12/2021 09:41

I'm still not entirely sure why blackface is an abomination and drag is celebrated.

TooBigForMyBoots · 02/12/2021 09:44

I wouldn't consider MBB drag.

Hoppinggreen · 02/12/2021 09:46

@Sittingonabench

I don’t find it particularly offensive but maybe that’s because I see the man dressed as a woman as secondary to the satire around a working class Irish family. She favours the boys, constantly on at the daughter to get a man, the daughter in law issue, the open door policy - never knowing who is in the house. Wouldn’t go out of my way to watch it but fine with it being on. My sister can’t stand it though.
So why is there a man in the main role if it’s not deeply misogynistic?
ClawedButler · 02/12/2021 09:57

So why is there a man in the main role if it’s not deeply misogynistic?

Because the booked actor didn't turn up, so Brendan took her role himself and it made people laugh so they stuck with it

Macmickmoo · 02/12/2021 09:58

@beguilingeyes

I'm still not entirely sure why blackface is an abomination and drag is celebrated.
This!
Macmickmoo · 02/12/2021 10:00

Because the booked actor didn't turn up, so Brendan took her role himself and it made people laugh so they stuck with it And people do like to laugh at a man taking the piss out of women...so that's ok then.

SusannaQueen · 02/12/2021 10:05

beguilingeyes
I'm still not entirely sure why blackface is an abomination and drag is celebrated.

Yes, this. Although I don't consider Mrs Brown to be drag.

Mouseonmychair · 02/12/2021 11:36

@beguilingeyes

I'm still not entirely sure why blackface is an abomination and drag is celebrated.
Personally I don't see a huge difference however I am not offended by or partake in either of them.