One woman on all BBC comedy panel shows - I'm not sure what I think

[breatheslowly]

Apparently all BBC comedy panel shows will have a woman on them reported here.

I really don't know whether this is a step in the right direction. It seems at the moment that when shows have a woman on the panel, they only ever have one. I think that this policy might improve things (by having at least one). But I think it might entrench the tokenism of having only one woman on each show, in a "we've booked our woman, who else are we going to have on" way.

I also sometimes wonder whether there is an element of racial tokenism in comedy panel shows, where you tend not to get more than one comedian from an ethnic minority.

Stupid. How would anyone feel knowing that they got anything because they filled someones quota? Talk about self esteem issues!

better it doesn't seem to upset heterosexual white men that they get all the jobs despite not always having the best credentials [shrugs]

I heard the News Quiz on Friday, there were two women and two men panellists, and Sandi Toksvig hosting - it was absolutely brilliant!
There was a part when the women segued off into something and Phill Jupitus shouted something like "What random path have you gone down now?" They talked in a way women often talk, and he felt able to tell them off for it as though they shouldn't do it. Made me think about different styles of talking and how the male patterns are very entrenched in these shows.
Iplayer link here

I used to watch all the standup shows and gave up because the misogyny left a really bad taste, particularly Mock the Weak (Stewart Lee joke!). If they can change them round so that I can actually watch them again I'll be very happy. I like the series average idea - I wouldn't watch a show I think of as misogynistic just because it had a single woman on.

I'm not talking about the audiences Vivien who are usually open-minded people IMO. But I've heard comedy promoters come out with sexist rubbish unfortunately.

Ah ok, got you. I have seen threads elsewhere about there being no funny women comics (general agreement) and I think that's because promoters / producers don't book the good up and coming women but stick with the regulars. I listen to a lot of radio so hear the funny women who don't make it onto telly. Sue Perkins is okay but her exposure is way in excess of her talent, but she's on the list, the female equiavlent of Marcus bloody Brigstock.

Blokes seem to make it through a lot easier, whether brilliant (Rhod Gilbert) or bland (John Bishop) the TV doors are open.

I've mentioned her before but the funniest episode of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue I have heard was entirely dominated by Denise Coffey, it was hilarious but I don't think she's been on since and this was about 15 years ago!

That's interesting what you say Sticky - I like the idea women do have their own genre of comedy that people aren't really tuned into at the moment - probably due to the fact that women aren't 'supposed' to be funny. It could be the next big thing - a bit like satire in the 1990's which revolutionised comedy.

I also think men are very hostile to women that challenge them in any way - and many wouldn't want to share the spotlight with a funny woman as it undermines them. In fact, I am quite alarmed by how men will only let women get so far in anything be it a debate, their career or comedy - before they start to get twitchy. In my experience it's quite clear their egos feel easily under threat.

It could be the next big thing - a bit like satire in the 1990's which revolutionised comedy.

I was just thinking about the fact that 'alternative comedy' in the 1980s was partly political but mainly not explicitly sexist, but maybe the sexism just became less blatant.

I think some men do the 'stream of consciousness, no obvious punchline' humour as well, but maybe it needs more space than a panel show gives for that kind of humour. I listened to the NewsQuiz (love that show) and they were talking about airing cupboards at the time weren't they? I liked the loom in the study bit as well. I always thought 'Green Wing' had some lovely female humour in it and the format of that show made it possible. There was an emotional connection with the characters as well as the sketch show elements that really worked.

I like aisling bea who has popped up on a few shows - she has made some of the overused male comedians look utterly ridiculous. I've seen Victoria coren do this a few times as well. It's a breath of fresh air.

Linda Smith

Ken Livingstone was crap as a host of HIGNFY. They should immediately stop booking white middle aged politicians. Oh, wait...

I'm in two minds about positive discrimination anyway, but this idea seems like the worst of both worlds - either leave it and let whoever's in charge of picking panels get on with it without making them stick to arbitrary rules, or give a proper proportion to women - as people were saying above, something like 30%, or 50% across a series, would be much more effective than this patronising token woman shite. I totally agree with whoever said above that this is basically just a way for the BBC execs to try and keep the 'little women' happy, and this idea actually makes me more angry than the lack of representation in general/

Linda Smith

I was thinking exactly the same, she was wonderful.