Page 7 | Mrs Browns Boys - how is it ok?

wavingwhilstdrowning · 2021-12-01T09:20:03+00:00

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? [[https://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.

foxgoosefinch · 02/12/2021 20:24

I'm not massively keen on Humphries generally, don't find him funny. Not sure how Edna is excessively glamorous though - she's meant to be dressed in a deliberately outmoded style that went out with the 50s/60s! Glasses, hair, drawn-on "beauty spot/wart", bad lipstick and all...!

CommonRoom · 02/12/2021 20:35

So many people on this thread are asking 'but who on earth watches this?' This is such a good illustration of what a bubble MN is. Do you really think the BBC has made a slip up for years and years? Obviously it IS very popular otherwise it wouldn't have been on so long.

I don't like MBB at all and I don't like drag either but I find it weird that people are incredulous that other people like something different to what everyone likes in their own, small social circle. This is how BREXIT, Trump and happened. Try paying attention to what most people actually do like. It will tell you a lot about the world you live in.

Macmickmoo · 02/12/2021 20:38

@CommonRoom

So many people on this thread are asking 'but who on earth watches this?' This is such a good illustration of what a bubble MN is. Do you really think the BBC has made a slip up for years and years? Obviously it IS very popular otherwise it wouldn't have been on so long.

I don't like MBB at all and I don't like drag either but I find it weird that people are incredulous that other people like something different to what everyone likes in their own, small social circle. This is how BREXIT, Trump and happened. Try paying attention to what most people actually do like. It will tell you a lot about the world you live in.

I agree - but that doesn’t make it right!

FallonCarringtonWannabe · 02/12/2021 20:41

My 92 yr old irish nan loves mbb. Ive never understood why people find it funny.

foxgoosefinch · 02/12/2021 20:42

CommonRoom I don’t think anyone’s surprised…the British public have always loved a bit of anti-Irish anti-women anti-working class caricature!!

DesdemonaDryEyes · 02/12/2021 21:03

Oh dear lord. I voted Brexit but loathe MBB.

Rizzoli123 · 02/12/2021 21:11

I don't like it if it's on I will play on my phone. I have watched a few of the interviews with people I like Sue Perkins, Rob Rinder are a few

Rizzoli123 · 02/12/2021 21:12

@foxgoosefinch

I'm not massively keen on Humphries generally, don't find him funny. Not sure how Edna is excessively glamorous though - she's meant to be dressed in a deliberately outmoded style that went out with the 50s/60s! Glasses, hair, drawn-on "beauty spot/wart", bad lipstick and all...!

I agree I can't stand the man. I always turn over when either of the persona are on. I do like lily savage though

CommonRoom · 02/12/2021 21:59

@DesdemonaDryEyes

I didn't mean to imply any connection between voting BREXIT and liking MBB. It's just an example of people living in a bubble. Just because you and your friends don't like MBB it does not mean that it's not very popular.

Hoppinggreen · 03/12/2021 09:41

@CommonRoom

So many people on this thread are asking 'but who on earth watches this?' This is such a good illustration of what a bubble MN is. Do you really think the BBC has made a slip up for years and years? Obviously it IS very popular otherwise it wouldn't have been on so long.

I don't like MBB at all and I don't like drag either but I find it weird that people are incredulous that other people like something different to what everyone likes in their own, small social circle. This is how BREXIT, Trump and happened. Try paying attention to what most people actually do like. It will tell you a lot about the world you live in.

It’s fine to like different things, I would never judge anyone for watching and enjoying a show I didn’t like. Unless it was Racist, Homophobic or Sexist - then I would seriously judge them

ancientgran · 03/12/2021 10:06

@SSOYS

I’m happy to agree to disagree- to me Dame Edna was excessively glamorous, super-sharp and always had the upper hand over her guests- she was funny but not laughable (to me) in the way you describe. I actually find the Les Patterson character makes me feel more uncomfortable.

Oh yes, I'm not a Humphries fan, not my sort of humour, but I have watched as DH likes him. Dame Edna could be very cutting and did tend to have the upper hand but Sir Les Patterson was just revolting.

Skysblue · 03/12/2021 10:21

It is offensive. It is the same as blackface. But it only upsets middle aged women, and no one in the media cares about middle aged women at all 😕

I hate all drag because it promotes sexist stereotypes, mocks women, and is equally as offensive as blackface, but women are expected to just put up with being parodied and mocked.

In fifty years people will look back and be shocked that drag was socially acceptable.

Macmickmoo · 03/12/2021 11:35

This!

Macmickmoo · 03/12/2021 11:35

@Skysblue

It is offensive. It is the same as blackface. But it only upsets middle aged women, and no one in the media cares about middle aged women at all 😕

I hate all drag because it promotes sexist stereotypes, mocks women, and is equally as offensive as blackface, but women are expected to just put up with being parodied and mocked.

In fifty years people will look back and be shocked that drag was socially acceptable.

This I meant!

Brainwave89 · 03/12/2021 12:16

I have found it funny in parts. It plays to my working class background I suppose. Not to fussed that the lead character is played by a man TBH. Did not worry me when Perry was played by a woman (played by the outstanding Kathy Burke). Does not bother me that in the UK we have pantomine Dames (men dressed up as women), or principle boys (women dressed up as men). These types of tradition go back centuries. If done well, pantomine dames can be very funny.

OhWhyNot · 03/12/2021 13:29

I don’t see it the same as blackface

Blackface is nearly always mocking in tone and acting the clown/stupid/non intelligent/less human

Mrs Brown is mocking of a stereotype the stereotype isn’t all negative we do not view her as being stupid or less of a human being

Mrs Browns Boys - how is it ok?

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