Fawlty Towers “Don’t mention the war” removed.

[boredtotears11]

Aibu to say I think that is a ridiculous decision by the BBC.Theyve removed it from its streaming service because of its “racist slurs”. It was a classic piece of comedy. I mean if they start picking apart old classic comedy how far are they going to go. Dads Army next?

I don't understand why people are dismayed by this. There are a couple of FT episodes which contain overt racism and a few more which use Basil's prejudices (against Germans, Americans, normal people who aren't fake aristocrats...) to show what an awful prick he is.

It's the ones with the overt racism that need to be removed. I imagine the whole of Rising Damp has gone as well?

Getupagain Comedy today can’t compare. Yes a lot of us do want to watch old comedy shows, because they were actually brilliant. Cut out the racist slurs definitely but let’s not lose them. What the hell have we got now that can compare to Fools and horses, Fawlty Towers, Porridge etc.

They could just blank out the N-word, not pull the bloody episode. We are quickly sliding into a nanny state, full of censorship and people dictating what we can and can't watch. It's scary. I feel our TV history is being erased to meet the ideals of the modern generation.

Wasn't the N word edited to something else for the later VHS release? Either way I am not sure why the episode available on streaming services can't be edited.

Toddlerteaplease
Dambusters will be banned next because of the Dog. This is getting ridiculous now.

The name of the dog was removed some time ago.

There's plenty of blackface in Monty Python. Worried now.

Rather than erase all of these (on the whole) great comedy shows, shouldn't we use them to discuss how the world has changed for the better and why we don't use that language any more?

I agree. That’s how reasonable people would deal with this but racists aren’t reasonable people and wouldn’t do this and unfortunately there’s a lot of them about. I would rather see TV programs edited than give racists more ammunition.

I winder if we should get rid of Vikings and films with Romans because they harassed the folk of Britain
Sorry, I don't understand this point.

Well' Allo 'Allo pokes fun at all racial stereotypes is that going to be banned next I wonder?

Just checked and the episode is still on Netflix. Although with the way things are going I am expecting the whole series to be removed from there soon.

I wonder if that English Curriculum will change, as the N word is in To Kill a Mockingbird

In that episode, the Major uses the N word and the W word to describe England’s cricket opponents.

The whole point of the joke is that even by the standards of the 1970s, the Major is a racist dinosaur and we are laughing AT his ridiculous, outdated bigotry. Are people today really so thick that they are incapable of understanding this?

@PicsInRed Exactly, but it's a point that takes more than a second's thought to process.

I wonder if that English Curriculum will change, as the N word is in To Kill a Mockingbird

No because in this case you are academically studying a text giving context and inviting discussion. It’s a learning opportunity.

C’mon people!!! Let’s engage some common sense. Honestly I find the lack of that more worrying.

ItsgoigTibiak As I’ve said, I’ve watched them all, i thought they’d removed this one because of the anti German theme. I wasn’t aware it was the one with the racist major. Just settle for that and stop implying I was quite happy about the major bit. I wasn’t, I always detested it. If I’d known it was that one my thread would have been about deleting his vile words.

It is a shame we can't edit out the current crop of MPs/cabinet members too based on their history racist slurs.

Allo Allo doesn't poke fun at racial stereotypes, it takes the piss out of Europeans, doesn't it?

Do you think they'll now get to work on all their anti women material

Would there be much left?

As far as I know most Germans think the episode is very funny and having a go at Basil and his prejudices, not the Germans.

But I think it is more to do with the West Indian cricket team slurs - isn't it possible to edit them out, though, if they're only in one short scene? Even if it makes the episode a bit clunky it's better than removing it altogether.

I wonder if that English Curriculum will change, as the N word is in To Kill a Mockingbird
Why do you wonder that?

I’m surprised they haven’t gone after the Loretta scene from Life of Brian.
That must be triggering!

There's already a version of this episode without the racist language - I imagine they'll just put that one up instead.

@boredtotears11

Aibu to say I think that is a ridiculous decision by the BBC.Theyve removed it from its streaming service because of its “racist slurs”. It was a classic piece of comedy. I mean if they start picking apart old classic comedy how far are they going to go. Dads Army next?

How is repeated use of the N word classic comedy?

Im afraid we are heading towards a humourless stark society and history will be whitewashed.

LOL history is completely whitewashed though!
Hopefully we aren’t heading towards a humourless society.......an anti-racist one would be good though don’t you think?

Allo Allo takes the mick out of everyone, it would be a bit much to ban that.

I never watched the Royle Family because I thought it made unnecessary fun of northern working class people. Are we going to ban that too?

It's got nothing to do with the German stuff

Of course not, we’re fair game. 😂

It’s an interesting question though. I’ve seen this episode and feel that the character in question is lampooned. I don’t know whether this is the right way to challenge issues of racism, but there is an argument that if racists are depicted in this way, it makes them and their ideas less powerful.

If anyone has seen the Hitler comedy film, ‘Look who’s back’, the makers were very keen to depict the character as a bit of an idiot.