'Hey Hey', THAT incident... Options

[Cheryl L.]

I know somewhere here I posted that it was a shame that Chris's recent visit here did not coincide with this week's 'Hey Hey It's Saturday' renunion shows, but it's turned out for the best after all because he might very well have been embroiled in this, instead of Harry Connick:~

http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainmen...4701089809.html

What did other people think of all this? I watched the show last night, and as soon as I saw those guys come out on stage, I thought, 'Uh-ohhhhhhh...............'

If Chris had have been in Australia this week, it's almost a certainty he would have been on 'Hey Hey'....and probably doing a stint as a judge on Red Faces as Harry Connick was..... Methinks he had a narrow escape, lol.

[stuff & nonsense]

I know somewhere here I posted that it was a shame that Chris's recent visit here did not coincide with this week's 'Hey Hey It's Saturday' renunion shows, but it's turned out for the best after all because he might very well have been embroiled in this, instead of Harry Connick:~

http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainmen...4701089809.html

What did other people think of all this? I watched the show last night, and as soon as I saw those guys come out on stage, I thought, 'Uh-ohhhhhhh...............'

If Chris had have been in Australia this week, it's almost a certainty he would have been on 'Hey Hey'....and probably doing a stint as a judge on Red Faces as Harry Connick was..... Methinks he had a narrow escape, lol.

Didn't watch it, but did catch a glimpse of jacki macdonald and she hasn't changed ... quite sickening!

Personally I don't think they should have taken the show off. It was a harmless waste of time of a Saturday night for all us poor buggers who had nothing else to do!

But I also think it shouldn't be brought back. Times have changed and you have to be SO careful what you say these days ... it's really pathetic and ridiculous. No-one can have a laugh without thinking about the consequences.

If Harry had had the balls he should have laughed at the act, given it five and told them they weren't going anywhere in a hurry! Such a shame he had toe the line (and no I haven't watched it!) This is progress folks ... well stuff progress because life was much funnier way back before progress started

[jac]

I'll stick by whatever I previously said about Harry. Only now I think he's a bigger one.
In the last week, he's had a go at "our" Hugh (I don't like Hugh either but that's neither here nor there) and now this. Slow cd sales?
Stuff it ... the world is just 2 PC 4 me at the mo.
I won't throw out my old golly, nor will I stop doing 'jazz hands' and I'm gonna keep my Al Jolson records too.

[stuff & nonsense]

I'll stick by whatever I previously said about Harry. Only now I think he's a bigger one.
In the last week, he's had a go at "our" Hugh (I don't like Hugh either but that's neither here nor there) and now this. Slow cd sales?
Stuff it ... the world is just 2 PC 4 me at the mo.
I won't throw out my old golly, nor will I stop doing 'jazz hands' and I'm gonna keep my Al Jolson records too.

Hear, Hear! Though I don't have any Jolson records ... I remember my Granny did though. Also I was never co-ordinated enough to do the "jazz hands" or jive or anything else like that! I did collect the golliwog labels out of Robertsons jam and saved them up to get the badges ... shame I never got a full set, I could go on the Collectors!

Meh! Even Noddy and Big Ears got a makeover and Mr. Golly was removed from the scene and replaced by Mr. Sparks ... so stupid. You wouldn't be allowed to laugh at the fat owl of the remove (Billy Bunter) now because that would offend anyone heavier than skinny and would give fat kids an inferiority complex. Won't go on any more, but the strange thing is I was looking at some old Black and White Minstrel show clips a few days back, long before any of this silly nonsense began. It all started when I was trying to remember the name of a singer with a nice tenor voice. Turns out it was John Boulter and he was in the B & W minstrels for 20 years ... he's still alive and now runs a Bed & Brekky in New Zealand and sings for the locals (but not in make-up probably!!)

I must have been psychic or something ... I did say or something

I saw way too much of Harry on Hey Hey back in 1996 ... very disappointing, he's not my cuppa. When Daryl was chatting to the audience after the show he asked if anyone had any questions. So I got up and asked if I could please meet Chris Isaak and guess what? He just laughed, but I did get a chorus of sighs from all the females

[stuff & nonsense]

I'll stick by whatever I previously said about Harry. Only now I think he's a bigger one.
In the last week, he's had a go at "our" Hugh (I don't like Hugh either but that's neither here nor there) and now this. Slow cd sales?
Stuff it ... the world is just 2 PC 4 me at the mo.
I won't throw out my old golly, nor will I stop doing 'jazz hands' and I'm gonna keep my Al Jolson records too.

Forgot to mention about the Hugh incident. I fail to see why Harry had to say anything

This made me laugh. The old man went to see Slava and Leonard Grigoryan (Aussie classical guitar heroes) a couple of weeks ago. Before the show started the person doing the introduction said VERY seriously that everyone with a mobile phone should turn it off NOW. If their phone rang the guilty party would be taken out, locked in a back room and be forced to stay there until they had watched every single Andre Rieu DVD. Apparently it took a second before the audience started to laugh because most of them would have much rather been shot

Anyway, it was a great show, no-one's stupid phone rang, but there was someone with a bad cough which is never good but at a classical concert is extra irritating

Actually I'm a bit surprised that Kev hasn't yet apologised for both incidents ... maybe he has more important things to worry about??

[Cheryl L.]

Thanks for the feedback girls. I agree that we live in such an age of political correctness now it's getting ridiculous how you have to watch every, single, little thing you say or do. Imagine what it's like being a teacher I'm ALWAYS on my toes. I've been working in a grade 3/4 all week and the other day I had two kids, a boy and a girl, come up to me with a racial complaint (the girl is of some kind of Pacific Islander or maybe Malaysian heritage, and the boy is a blonde, freckled-face kid with very fair skin). Their grievance was that the older brother of the girl called the fairskinned boy 'White boy' as if it was some kind of insult. I told them to tell their regular teacher instead of coming to me (there's nothing like passing the buck when it comes to teaching ). So I'm not sure of the outcome, but it goes to show you that racism works BOTH ways. If you teach children that you can't put down anyone due to the colour of the their skin, then you have to include taunts against caucasions by other ethnic groups too. It's not always about white against black.

As for 'Hey Hey' I think it's ironic that the whole point in Daryl Sommers et. al. doing those reunion shows is to show the public that their show is still as relevant today as it was 20 years ago, but they go and revive the one sketch that isn't. There's a delicious irony in that, lol. I do hope they bring 'Hey Hey' back though because I like a bit of harmless fun on a Saturday night too. I'm just really grateful that we live in a country that can laugh at ourselves - and everything else - like no other. NOTHING is too precious or sacred to us that we can't take the mickey out of it whenever we want. If people overseas call us racists just because we're a nation of true iconoclasts, then to me that means they just don't understand our culture either and I say they can all go fug themselves.

[stuff & nonsense]

You could teach all the kids "Ebony & Ivory" Cheryl.

Noooooooo!!!! I'm kidding

Anyway, bit of nostalgia here from another country where people have been known to take the michael out of anything and everything

FYI

http://www.golliwogg.co.uk/robertsons.htm

Robertson's Jam to be axed Used to love their Bramble Seedless. Sad. I remember Hartley's too, but that wasn't as nice. More progress.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/36...-disappear.html

I've never looked at fridge magnets before!! I enjoyed Bramble Seedless before we had a fridge!! My Granny never even had electricity, so NEVER had any electrical appliances. Gas lights, stove, gas boiler to heat water for hand washing clothes. Hand mangle, flat iron heated on the open fire, toast toasted on the fire, meals cooked slowly in the oven next to the fire, eggshells dried out in the same oven, crushed with a rolling pin and fed back to the hens. Copper warming pans filled with cinders to heat the beds etc. etc. etc. They never had a phone, a car, television or radio until battery ones came out. She was a very lovely, well educated woman who managed to raise 4 clever daughters, born at home, with no "mod cons" and the girls with only 6 years separating them all stayed close their whole lives. My Granddad lived to be 90 and only spent 4 days in hospital and he said if he could have his life over, he wouldn't change a thing! That was because he had 5 women looking after him so well! I am quite sure my Granny would have changed a few things if she'd had half the chance

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ROBERTSONS-BRAMBLE...E/dp/B001QFCMOA

[c'estmoiQTpie]

I'm late to this discussion but I thought I would add my 2 cents.

I think this is just a cultural difference type thing. From what little I've read I understand that the skit was done for laughs and was not meant to have offensive racial undertones.

But.

In the US performing in blackface has such a negative connotation. It is brought up when when people want to reference hateful and offensive racial stereotypes.

I know you think Harry was overreacting but I don't see how he could have not said anything without offending many back here in the US. It might be especially offensive to him given his close relationship with the Marsalis family.

I don't want to debate whether blackface is good or bad. I'm just saying that here the public opinion (private may be another matter..) blackface=prejudice that references times and attitudes that go back to slavery.

[kazz227]

I'm late to this discussion but I thought I would add my 2 cents.

I think this is just a cultural difference type thing. From what little I've read I understand that the skit was done for laughs and was not meant to have offensive racial undertones.

But.

In the US performing in blackface has such a negative connotation. It is brought up when when people want to reference hateful and offensive racial stereotypes.

I know you think Harry was overreacting but I don't see how he could have not said anything without offending many back here in the US. It might be especially offensive to him given his close relationship with the Marsalis family.

I don't want to debate whether blackface is good or bad. I'm just saying that here the public opinion (private may be another matter..) blackface=prejudice that references times and attitudes that go back to slavery.

The show in question would never see the light of day in the USA. And the 'blackface' is an old form of entertainment. Even the US had it there.

Harry needed to relax and get over his 'jealousy' of Oz. No wonder I have never paid to see this uptight white American. Hugh Jackman had every right to comment during his performance on the mobile phone incident. Harry seems to need the limelight right now though.

Imagine what we would do to someone in the seat next to us if their mobile phone went off during a CI&S concert.

[c'estmoiQTpie]

The show in question would never see the light of day in the USA. And the 'blackface' is an old form of entertainment. Even the US had it there.

Harry needed to relax and get over his 'jealousy' of Oz. No wonder I have never paid to see this uptight white American. Hugh Jackman had every right to comment during his performance on the mobile phone incident. Harry seems to need the limelight right now though.

Imagine what we would do to someone in the seat next to us if their mobile phone went off during a CI&S concert.

Absolutely, the US had it here and it is now regarded as a symbol of prejudice and racial inequality. I just think perhaps you are not realizing how taboo blackface is here. That why (I think) Harry felt compelled to comment.

As for the show not seeing the light of day here - you never know what will pop up on youtube.

[kazz227]

Absolutely, the US had it here and it is now regarded as a symbol of prejudice and racial inequality. I just think perhaps you are not realizing how taboo blackface is here. That why (I think) Harry felt compelled to comment.

As for the show not seeing the light of day here - you never know what will pop up on youtube.

Then the US can ignore a show from here. It WAS - like the Hey, Hey Show - meant as a piece of fun. Even on YouTube, it is still a skit. Laugh at it. Or ignore it if one so chooses.
I travel to the US frequently, and from what I observe while I am there prejudice and racial inequality are alive and well. Maybe they should worry about real life prejudice at home before they worry about a TV Show here.

[Cheryl L.]

Then the US can ignore a show from here. It WAS - like the Hey, Hey Show - meant as a piece of fun. Even on YouTube, it is still a skit. Laugh at it. Or ignore it if one so chooses.
I travel to the US frequently, and from what I observe while I am there prejudice and racial inequality are alive and well. Maybe they should worry about real life prejudice at home before they worry about a TV Show here.

Exactly. Allowing the blackface thing to go ahead was a stupid thing to do in this day and age, but the colossal dummy-spit by Harry C. over it just brought even more attention to it and was the worse thing about the whole thing, IMHO. And, call me a cynic, but you have to wonder if it wasn't the age of YouTube, etc. if Harry would have even bothered. But then I think, he did have an album to promote and career back home to protect, didn't he?

[Oklahoma]

An interesting conversation. I read this online:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/10/1...html#cnnSTCText

I think any American in Australia would have been really conflicted. Harry Connick, Jr. would have been eaten alive in the U.S. had he said nothing. Instead, he's chastised for having spoken out. It was a bad situation either way. Keep in mind that he's from the American South--that really affects your perspective. I think if CI had been in the situation, he would have been really uncomfortable. It would be rude of me to speculate as to how I think he would have reacted.

I give HCJ credit for reacting honestly and then acting on his conviction. How many of us would have done so, especially in such a public way, knowing that our opinion may not represent popular opinion?

The article gives an American perspective to the whole mess.

[kazz227]

An interesting conversation. I read this online:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/10/1...html#cnnSTCText

I think any American in Australia would have been really conflicted. Harry Connick, Jr. would have been eaten alive in the U.S. had he said nothing. Instead, he's chastised for having spoken out. It was a bad situation either way. Keep in mind that he's from the American South--that really affects your perspective. I think if CI had been in the situation, he would have been really uncomfortable. It would be rude of me to speculate as to how I think he would have reacted.

I give HCJ credit for reacting honestly and then acting on his conviction. How many of us would have done so, especially in such a public way, knowing that our opinion may not represent popular opinion?

The article gives an American perspective to the whole mess.

I know many Americans, and none have expressed to me how conflicted they were or are. 'Keep in mind that he's from the American South'.....Oh, I do. Hello, the American South mistreated many African American's in the past...and still does. The North still does. The Islands still do. Maybe, HCJ can recitify this in his homeland single-handledly. We sure hope so.

A skit on TV is a skit on TV. If you had wanted to eat HCJ alive should he have 'laughed along, said you're were worth a 5, and you are going nowhere fast',...just imaginging he had taken the 'lower road' - then eat him alive. Doubt we'd 'care less' down here.

While my opinion on this topic may not represent 'popular opinion', I am happy to express myself....now and forever. I am so happy that I enjoy the same right as a 'celeb' like HCJ. Still glad I have never paid to see his show. I hope he also stays in the South where he obviously feels safe and righteous.

Oh, and I never saw the segment as a 'whole mess'. Hope my opinion helps there too.

[stuff & nonsense]

I know many Americans, and none have expressed to me how conflicted they were or are. 'Keep in mind that he's from the American South'.....Oh, I do. Hello, the American South mistreated many African American's in the past...and still does. The North still does. The Islands still do. Maybe, HCJ can recitify this in his homeland single-handledly. We sure hope so.

A skit on TV is a skit on TV. If you had wanted to eat HCJ alive should he have 'laughed along, said you're were worth a 5, and you are going nowhere fast',...just imaginging he had taken the 'lower road' - then eat him alive. Doubt we'd 'care less' down here.

While my opinion on this topic may not represent 'popular opinion', I am happy to express myself....now and forever. I am so happy that I enjoy the same right as a 'celeb' like HCJ. Still glad I have never paid to see his show. I hope he also stays in the South where he obviously feels safe and righteous.

Oh, and I never saw the segment as a 'whole mess'. Hope my opinion helps there too.

It's a pity folk don't have anything more important to make a fuss about. I've said my bit about Harry, not that he or anyone else cares. Yes the skit was probably a bad idea, given he was on the panel (lack of homework there). If it had been all Australians, or all British, it would have been laughed off as what it was ... SILLY, as are all the Red Faces segments. Hey Hey was NEVER serious, often not worth watching at all, but often very funny. And I still don't like Harry's music and I think Chris would have been quick witted enough to deal with the "act" with humour, he's had more exposure to class TV programs here Alright, it wouldn't have made it to air in the US. But then I don't laugh at a lot of US "comedy" shows and skits that are meant to be funny, just as I don't laugh at a lot of the home grown stuff either. But what a sad day if everything has to be vetted, just in case somebody somewhere might be offended

[mark t]

I haven't heard of the show before now. i can tell you that if somebody did a blackface routine around here on TV.....hoo boy, that would be in the papers for weeks. I personally, could care less what people do for humour, i'm very un-PC. But i wouldn't put down Harry Connick Jr. for voicing his disgust with it...it's not his thing, he's offended, he's entitled to make his point. Good for him, sticking with it.