Too much government-bashing on R4 Comedy?

[Chil1234]

I know governments are there to be bashed by comedians and that few comedians are what you'd call 'establishment friendly' but R4's News Quiz seems to be entirely populated by uber-left-leaning types these days. Mark Steel and Jeremy Hardy etc. are very funny but with no right-leaning equivalents to water down the mix, it can get a bit one-sided. The Now Show seems to do a better job.

Yes, I'd like a lot more right wing stuff about nig nogs and silly ladies and chavs, please.

Nah, they bashed Labour when they were in power - its what satirists do, whatever their own political persuasion.

I thought Sandi was a Libdem, I suspect they may be baiting her a bit.

No, they bashed Labour. I think the current government deserve it more than the last

I have thought the News Quiz is bashing the lib dems a bit, yes.

Everyone is bashing the libdems - did you hear the Dave/Nick correspondence on ISIHAC
last week, for example?

I don't think 'right-wing comedian' necessarily means being a racist, misogynistic, snob Hullygully. You're confusing 'funny' with 'Jim Davidson' I fear :) The Have I Got News For You team seems to be OK with fielding anti-everything posh lad Hislop and the occasional right-wing politician/journo. And at least the laughs are regular. The News Quiz is very bitter by comparison.

Jeremy Hardy was really getting to me, but at least this week he laughed at himself, calling himself (paraphrased) very left wing, therefore paranoid.

they laugh at the tory party for being right wing

they laugh at the labour party for not being left wing enough

I was reading Private Eye the other day and it did just seem one long sneer from those who never have to make any kind of difficult decision on behalf of anyone else to those who do. Although I am glad there are people around to criticise those in power as this is clearly necessary so I don't really know where I am going with this.

Alan Coren used to be the sole right wing voice of R4 comedy.

fgs right wing does not mean homophobic or racist. That is just sloppy and ignorant thinking.

They do satirical humour about the government and the opposition regardless of the political hue.

I know what you're saying, I think - it does get a little tedious with everybody bashing the government week after week. I mean, there's a limit to how long you can laugh at what is eseentially the same joke, repeated.

I wondered whether that's what the German chap's supposed to be for? I don't think he's enormously funny, but at least he laughs at things other than the government.

But the Dave / Nick correspondence on ISIHAC made me laugh out loud, so there.

But isn't that the job of satire? To poke fun at the powerful and the pompous? Whomever is in government at the time is therefore the prime target for satirical humour.

Any government is obviously the prime target for satire but, as GrendelsMum says, it's getting particularly repetitive, and therefore not very funny, on the News Quiz. (Yes, and what is that German bloke supposed to be?) Other R4 and BBC topical comedy shows seem to manage it so much better and the only reason I can think of is the choice of panel. More journos needed, perhaps, and fewer comics?

But there are plenty of other things in life to be satirical about beside the government. The discussion about quiet coaches on trains on the News Quiz made me LOL at the time I heard it, and then made me giggle hysterically the next time I got in a quiet coach on the train.

Young Man! Young Man! This is the QUIET coach, you know.

Satire as a literary tradition has always aimed to make people think about their own behaviour, and to consider their own follies, so I think that just attacking the government is not only a little dull, but also taking the easy option. It lets down a long and historic tradition of moral philosophy, for the sake of a few cheap jokes.

I miss Alan Coren...

There was a complaint on Feedback about a year ago, and the producer made limp promises to mix the panel better, but it's still incredibly one-sided. Occasionally they put Hugo Rifkind on to try and balance it but he's just not funny.
I'm not too bothered if I miss it now .