Should I Be Worried?

[the_great_she_elephant]

I am a bit concerned about Mr. Elephant - he watches 'Housos' and thinks it's funny.

I am more concerned about my SIL - she watches it and thinks it's a documentary.

[izabsmiling]

I wouldn't be worried TGSE.Just as I am not worried that I read about the show and saw it as neither funny,a doco or anything I'd like to watch...I in fact thought it sounded like painful to watch absolute garbage.

What I find funny is the idea that because someone see's something as funny we all should laugh.Any good comedian would know and respect their audiences and  try their best to cater to them collectively ...though appreciating that each person is not the same as the next.In saying that, I have seen a comedian on tv who attacked his audience for not finding his 'jokes' funny .lol

[*elizabeths-mum*]

I think half an hour of it might be a bit much. 

[the_great_she_elephant]

I think what I was trying to say is that simply regurgitating what some people say and do in real life does not necessarily make for good television. A procession of events does not a story make, and shouting loudly and swearing a lot is not social commentary, nor, of itself, funny.  Billy Connolly swears a lot, and is very funny, but we don't laugh at him simply because he uses 'those' words. We laugh because he holds a mirror up to the absurdities of human nature.

Oops, sorry, now I sound as if I'm preaching

[*elizabeths-mum*]

Some of us who have said we find it funny find it so for exactly that reason - it "holds up a mirror to the absurdities of human nature" which in the case of the people being mirrored includes swearing at that level. It would lose something if the characters spoke clear english with a private school accent. If you have been lucky enough not to be exposed to people like these I can appreciate you wouldn't find any humour in it but because not everyone enjoys it doesn't necessarily make it bad television either.

All this and I had never heard of the show 24 hours ago and havent seen a full episode yet! It has restored my perspective when in situations where I am copping a mouthful anyway. 

[izabsmiling]

EM: It would lose something if the characters spoke clear english with a private school accent. 

If that were the case and people who had had the advantage of a private school education and still communicated in such ways ...I would actually find that funnier 

[*elizabeths-mum*]

What makes you think they dont?

However as far as humour goes, I still like the exaggerations and like the Housos being exaggerated versions of their culture, I find amusement at the other end watching 'snobs' trying to outsnob - think Hyacinth Bucket. 

edit: or Penelope Keith in The Good Life and To the Manor Born. I just love her.

[izabsmiling]

What makes you think they dont?

I don't think that ?

I know that they do...even with that advantage some actally seem to chose to communicate like that. 

Got to go.. someone is pulling my leg