Stewart Lee (again) takes on the Wokefinder General

[SerendipityJane]

since SL was slated here recently, here's an excuse to have another go

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/03/we-must-honour-those-brave-souls-working-with-ricky-gervais

Every Tuesday at 8.45pm, I stand in the silent lane alone and bang my Le Creusets in support of a group of brave people who must never be forgotten; unsung martyrs who, through no fault of their own, have found themselves working at the very heart of a terrible unfolding disaster of an unprecedented scale – the cast of the second series of Ricky Gervais’s After Life (Netflix).

Denied proper support or protection, in the form of three-dimensional characters or plausible dialogue, these simple actors, almost two of them from an ethnic minority, are forced instead to mouth lines apparently designed merely to cement public perceptions of their author’s own genius, like old beggars under sacks. And yet they solider on, the real heroes of our times, discharging their duties with professionalism and dignity, lions led by a dong. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we shall remember them.

I’m joking of course! But should anything be off-limits for humour, especially during the horror of The Corona Virus (Wuhan Bat and Pangolin Snack ™ ® Co Ltd)? It’s a question answered by Ricky Gervais himself in a syndicated Press Association interview provided free to the Aberdeen Evening Express, and newspapers nationwide, in March. The “Wokefinder General” (Sarah Vine, Daily Mail) concluded: “There is no better tool to get you through bad things… than with a sense of humour.” I am sure this was a sentiment shared privately by his cast every day during the filming of After Life (Netflix).

(contd)

Even if you didn't like After Life, there just isn't anything like it to compare it to. You can't say 'it doesn't stand up against X' because no one has dared tackle the subject of grief and anger in such an raw, unsanitised way.

Its more acceptable to make edgy jokes about cancer or child abuse than show a man cry with grief.

@Saucery

Its more acceptable to make edgy jokes about cancer or child abuse than show a man cry with grief.

In that sense Gervais is a lot braver than any of those attacking him, which is likely not unconnected to his willingness to take on the trans topic.

Who is this cunt?

I’m amused by the people saying “he’s better live” - as if those of us who find him a bit are going to fork out £60 to see him in person.

I said the following on the last SL thread... He did a similar routine about Only Fools and Horses years ago, which was equally tortuous. The funniest thing was at the end when he actually showed the clip of Del Boy falling through the bar. It was the only LOL moment.

Who is this cunt?

Stewart Lee resides at the apex of all that is patience testing wank ....

If Frankie actually thought TWAW he would be a lot less considerate towards them.

God, yes.

...have never given women's issues a thought in their lives- I think it's such an interesting weakness in otherwise intelligent (presumably) creative left wing men

Can someone please name some prominent left wing men that have genuinely championed women's issues because I'm struggling

Even better championed issues impacting ordinary working class women, because I'm struggling to come up with any names. Other than a vague memory that Ed Milliband was inoffensive to women.

I'm a socialist feminist at heart but by now have an instructive mistrust of left wing men

I'm glad it wasn't me who had little to no idea what Lee is on about.

paul embury! (and hes hot 😀. but a brexiter!)

I’m amused by the people saying “he’s better live” - as if those of us who find him a bit hmm are going to fork out £60 to see him in person.grin

Ha, last time I watched one of his stand up specials about half the show was him setting up that his jokes weren't going to be funny, and if a friend had brought you along, you weren't going to get it.

I like Lee but hate that he spends so much time and energy shitting on other comedians. I mean, yes people like Michael McIntyre are unfunny, but it makes him look so so bitter.

embery

i like the bitter persona- it makes me laugh and feel good about myself

I can remember when Stewart Lee had a TV show and Ricky Gervais didn't. He and his sidekick liked to pick on Rod Hull, with a running gag about, "Is there going to be another series of Emu's Pink Windmill Show," at which cue "Rod Hull" mutters bitterly, No.

Has Stew been reading a lot of David Foster Wallace recently? All the "(Reckitt Benckiser Group plc)" which isn't, to my mind, typical Stew patter.
I kind of like it when he's like a dog with a bone about someone he doesn't like, cf Paul Nuttall.

Has Stew been reading a lot of David Foster Wallace recently? All the "(Reckitt Benckiser Group plc)" which isn't, to my mind, typical Stew patter.

His trademark is tiresome repetition, which he will quite often point out (with tiresome repetition ...)

I’m amused by the people saying “he’s better live” - as if those of us who find him a bit hmm are going to fork out £60 to see him in person.

When I've been to see Stewart Lee, the tickets were only £25, which is to his credit. He really isn't in it for the money.

If you'd asked me a couple of years ago who was more likely to stand up for women's rights, Stewart Lee or Ricky Gervais, I'd have said Stewart Lee like a shot, which is what makes it all the more disappointing.

I'd have said Stewart Lee like a shot, which is what makes it all the more disappointing.

This is it - 10 years ago, I'd have said that I didn't like Gervais humour, that Lee was more my cup of tea. Yet here I am, bad taste in my mouth watching Lee because it does seem so bitter, despite the thought that's gone into the words coming out his mouth, but Gervais seems more thoughtful despite the seemingly awful things he says.

And I quite liked afterlife. I thought it was gentle and thoughtful and nice. Like The Detectorists.

I said the following on the last SL thread... He did a similar routine about Only Fools and Horses years ago, which was equally tortuous

I wonder when that was? He used that routine the only time I saw him.

Stewart Lee is bloody tedious these days, but I also thought After Life was a bit shit.

So.

Bloody loved The Detectorists.

I’m finding the 2nd series of After Life a bit hard tbh. Maybe the times we’re in, maybe that repulsive therapist character, who knows, but I have to be in the mood for it. I thought RG had disappeared up his own backside since Extras, but that changed my mind.
Detectorists I could just watch on a beautiful, calming loop over and over.

The first series of After Life changed my mind, I mean.

God what wanker.

I love RG.

God SL is a prick.

The scene in Episode 6 of Afterlife S2 where the burly plumber in a dress and pigtails is having a midlife crisis shows that RG completely understands the absurdities and privilege of men claiming to be women.

Whereas SL just reinforces the sexism and misogyny. He's just narked because RG gets it.

SL's not a genius and no, the jokes aren't too nuanced/subversive/surreal for plebs like me to understand.

As per the linked thread, his shows were full of middle aged white men laughing at rape.
And no, it was not ironic or understated, or a clever reverse parody exposing the real bigots.

It was bearded men dressing up rape as entertainment.