to be a bit in love with David Mitchell

[Bigmouthstrikesagain]

he is funny and a bit frumpy and grumpy but there may be a beast of a man in there waiting to be released from under the sensible jumper and chinos.

No. I suggested that they appear on panel shows to make money. Not to endorse the views of other people on panel shows who they may or may not know are appearing alongside them on the night. Well Jimmy Carr appears on BBC and C4 so therefore everybody should boycott every programme on both channels seeing as thought they wittingly broadcast racist/disablist/homophobic comments.

I am not endorsing it or defending it. It is a massive problem. But it's endemic and misdirecting your ire at a single person is making no difference whatsoever. Your dislike of DM was apparent before this issue was brought into it. You think he is a wet, leftie, no-mark hack iirc. That's fine. You don't have to like him.

I didn't misunderstand your question. Jimmy Carr is racist. I still like DM. I answered your question.

smallwhitecat - it's the producers who book the acts, not the other comedians. Who may well not know else is appearing - these things are subject to change.

FWIW I saw Jimmy Carr at a works awards do - hated him. Managed to be racist, sexist and prejudiced against disabled people. I walked out.

I've met mr Mitchell for work. He was a total professional and frankly absolutely brilliant. Clearly a genius and funny and gracious with it. I was completely taken with him despite appearances. I was so struck, Im embarrassed to say I actually asked for his autograph much to the hideous shame of my colleagues. V gauche apparently...

Oh I'm not at all honeymoo. I'm merely pleased for you.

I had no idea I would be opening such a can of worms when I started this (I thought) relatively inocuos thread - 'tis the curse wonder of AIBU of course.

I do still like DM despite swc demonisation by association and I still hate Jimmy Carr and Frankie Boyle - SWC do you also condemn Stephen Fry as I saw him laughing at one of Jimmy Carr's 'jokes' on QI the other day and Jo Brand was sitting next to him without any apparent illwill??

If we are really going to tackle a society wide prejudice and use of hideous schoolyard taunts for 'entertainment' imo it is not going to be by tackling one comedian at a time, it is about education and more opportunities for disabled performers/ actors/ comedians etc. etc. We are not there yet.

So smallwhitecat, seeing as the producers and bigwigs at most major radio and television channels book Jimmy Carr et al, I need to hold anybody else who has ever associated with aforementioned channels in contempt? Have I got it right? Can you find me a single comedian/broadcaster that hasn't associated with any of the major channels. Who am I allowed to like without condemning them by association? Because I'm running out of people I'm allowed to watch/read about.

You see, I've just been searching for something on youtube showing Frankie Boyle and stumbled across Adam Hills, the disabled comedian on the same panel as Frankie Boyle laughing at his jokes. I'm really bloody confused. Shall I write to Adam Hills and put him right? Tell him I no longer like him or any of his contemporaries because he appeared on a panel show with Frankie Boyle. I caught him laughing too. Bastard.

smallwhitecat, nobody but nobody is condoning disablist behaviour (you're conveniantly ignoring the fact that Carr and Boyle are both racist and homophobic so your argument about it only being okay because it's disablist just doesn't stand up to scrutiny). But the problem is endemic. I do not have to dislike 90% of the media because they have breathed the same air as Carr and Boyle or people who have hired them. It's fruitless.

Educating people and tackling the problem at its source is what we should be doing. Your hatred and condescension only add to the sheer weight of negativity that people are trying to combat.

And appearing on a panel show is not promoting, allowing or condoning disablist/racist/homophobic remarks. They're turning up to work and doing a job. Some of them are promoting their own povs. Some of them are picking apart and criticising the views you despise but in a comedic way. I think they're actually working hard to battle the views you're talking about. Russell Howard for example, a MTW stalwart, his comedy is often based on a dislike of racism/homophobia/disablist nonsense. He provides a brilliant counterpoint to the nasty views of Carr et al. And I will not despise him for it.

smallwhitecat, if you'd like to debate this then I will but I'll come back later when the personal attacks have ceased. You have patronised me, questioned my integrity and accused me of feigning dislike for people who behave atrociously.

Tim Minchin is beautiful....

Tim Minchin is stunning isn't he? Brilliant too.

But he was on 8 Out Of 10 Cats the other night. Jimmy Carr presents 8 Out Of 10 Cats. Therefore he should be avoided at all costs.

I'm off to see Matilda The Musical in January. Tim Minchin wrote the music.

I am very jealous...

All you freaky David Mitchell lovers should vote for him to be weird crush 2010

Thanks, TheFoosa. I went to vote for DM and then spotted Alexander Armstrong on the list. Actually depressingly there are quite a few men on that list which I've had small crushes on. Surely they shouldn't all be "weird crushes"? Or do I need to worry about my taste in men?

I would definately class David Mitchell as a weird crush

You're not still all banging on about David Mitchell are you? It's been days. You see, if you had just chosen Brad Pitt the whole discussion would have been over and done with in 5 minutes.

TheFoosa, thanks for the Weird Crush list. Is it me, though, or are some of them not weird AT ALL? (Michael Cera = cute cute cute. Benedict C = hubba hubba and ring-a-ding-ding. Matt Smith = not for me, but totally appreciate the appeal).

Maybe it is me.

Sorry to go off topic. Back on David M, I think he'd be a bit boring, and weird about some aspects of tidiness, hygiene and food.