Is Sir Michael Parkinson within his rights?

[flaviaritt]

Says men are funnier than women. He says, ‘It's a very contentious statement, but they're much better'.

My view is that, by the age of 85, if you think men are funnier than women, it’s just your opinion based on your experience and nobody should be getting riled up about it.

Reasonable?

I’ve probably met more funny women, too. But the people I find the funniest do tend to be men.

Michael: Most men I know are the opposite, they’re very sensitive and also very funny. That’s the thing I like most about men. It’s a very contentious statement, but they’re much better than women in their sense of humour. There you are, that will get me – if I were on [any social media channels], I would be in trouble right now.

Ah well that’s fair enough, I think the same but in reverse!

His opinion. Shared by sexist men everywhere

This....

I think he's a blokes' bloke. He likes cricket and having a drink and he used to lap up guests like Richard Burton who were proper raconteurs. It's his opinion and he should be free to express it.

But the people I find the funniest do tend to be men.

Comedian wise I agree but it’s not how it plays over with the average Joe/Jane, weird 🤷🏻‍♀️

Comedian wise I agree but it’s not how it plays over with the average Joe/Jane, weird 🤷🏻‍♀️

It is, a bit.

[quote Thedogscollar]@Sparklesocks
My thoughts exactly re OP being MP.
Humour and who is most humorous is very subjective. I have and do work with some hilariously funny women.
Tbh I don't really care what MP thinks.[/quote]
2020 has been such an odd year that I’m not sure I’d even bat an eye if MP was hiding on mumsnet.

Well he’s obviously “within his rights” to think it or say it, but I’m within my rights to roll my eyes and assume he’s irrelevant.

I’m not sure I’d even bat an eye if MP was hiding on mumsnet.

His daughter in law is Fiona Allen - comedy actress - Smack the Pony etc so rather an indelicate comment on the family front too.

Yeah, but he raved over Billy Connolly who wasn’t very funny either. It’s his opinion, definitely not mine, though.

He can think as he likes and say whatever he wants. His opinion is just that - it's not relevant to anyone really apart from those actively looking for someone to rail against.

He'll be dead soon enough. Imagine having a life as full of privilege, opportunity and fame as his and it only amount to a handful of derogatory opinions that can barely stretch to a column inch? - what a waste.

What about the likes of Victoria Wood ? I can't imagine a funnier person male or female. Surely his opinion is just that! His opinion .
Doesn't make it a true fact .

He'll be dead soon enough.

Bloody hell.

I thought Billy Connolly was hilarious, but I have never sat down and totted up the amount of men v the amount of women I find funny. Both on the tv and in RL and find my score.

What about the likes of Victoria Wood ? I can't imagine a funnier person male or female.

Maybe SMP doesn’t find her funny?

Makes you wish Emu hadn't contained his attack to his shoe.

@MaxNormal

I thought he'd died? No wonder he needs to try and stay relevant then.

Why are so many of you taking a pop at him because of his age?

I like a lot of stand up. Female stand up’s have improved greatly over the last 20 years ago. Back in the 90’s you’d get one female in the line up and all she did was I’m too far and period jokes I.e jokes about being female. That doesn’t seem to be the case anymore, female comics seem freer to do jokes in any subject now , you still get a lot of jokes about say motherhood but male comics seem to embrace fatherhood jokes now so that seems to be more equal. I love say Kerry godliman (so?) for example and she does appeal to a mixed sex crowd imo

Maybe his sense of humour aligns more with his male friends so that's why he thinks that. I know lots of people find talking about farting funny but I don't. My son, however, would think them hilarious. It's all subjective and he can say what he likes.

@Sparklingbrook
No, I was surprised he's still with us. And alert enough to give an opinion. Goodness.

Michael Parkinson is a sexist bellend. Always has been.

Can you compare though? Could someone say Victoria Wood is funnier than say Michael McIntyre?

Isn't it just who you would laugh the most at whilst watching? Also even the 'funniest ' people (male or female) do stuff that just isn't funny.

@flapjackfairy

What about the likes of Victoria Wood ? I can't imagine a funnier person male or female. Surely his opinion is just that! His opinion . Doesn't make it a true fact .

Yes love Victoria Wood, also Pam Ayres. Much funnier than many male comics.

Don't know about playing the 'sex-card' but i find it funny when some people say something like this. "Men are funnier than women" seems as childish as saying "boys are better than girls"...and vice versa. Leave such opinions to kids in Yr 1 or something.

Humour is subjective so it must be his experience and he's making blanket statements like most people do. Also based on what he actually said, "...but they’re much better than women in their sense of humour", I read it as he thinks they're more up for a laugh/can take a joke, etc. It's his opinion. Who cares?