Jeremy Clarkson suspended

Brendan Bendar · 16-03-2015 05:38PM

SeanW wrote: »

Fast cars, fast car racing, irreverent humour. And plenty of comedy in challenges. And caravan demolition.

Fun for men basically.

Thats what I loved when I was 11 or 12, I've moved on.

lee_baby_simms · 16-03-2015 05:40PM

jimgoose wrote: »

"Coming up in this episode: Tommy Saxondale gets his eyesight improved by a prostitute, almost befriends a celebrity, kneecaps an annoying hippie, and test-drives a 1989 Bedford Rascal!" :pac:

http://pics.imcdb.org/0is71/saxonmach1jj5.5214.jpg

iDave · 16-03-2015 05:44PM

I can only hold out for so long on Dave repeats. BBC sort this out and get Clarkson back on our screens.

lee_baby_simms · 16-03-2015 05:44PM

jimgoose wrote: »

"Coming up in this episode: Tommy Saxondale gets his eyesight improved by a prostitute, almost befriends a celebrity, kneecaps an annoying hippie, and test-drives a 1989 Bedford Rascal!" :pac:

They could have a race to Dundee driving barefoot while being forced to eat copious amounts of Toblerone.

jimgoose · 16-03-2015 05:46PM

lee_baby_simms wrote: »

They could have a race to Dundee driving barefoot while being forced to eat copious amounts of Toblerone.

Star in a car: Loadsamoney, in his Turbo Nutter Bawr-stawrd!! :pac:

jmayo · 16-03-2015 05:52PM

Conall Cernach wrote: »

He should do it but only if he can present it as his three characters Alan Partridge, Tommy Saxondale and Paul Calf.

Ehh you forgot Francie "Touchy" Fehily.

then clarkson fans could have a moan about an Irish guy.

Harry Palmr · 16-03-2015 06:01PM

1.3 million watched the programme that replaced TG last night. I presume Dave saw its ratings leap!

SeanW · 16-03-2015 06:04PM

MagicIRL wrote: »

I don't think the 'other' versions of Top Gear are as popular as the UK one (Top Gear USA, Aus etc) and I think that's simply because the UK Top Gear has Clarkson, May and Hammond.

I'd be game to try watching a Top Gear that had Hammond and May and another unapologetic petrolhead instead of Clarkson. Just so long as there are no changes in direction.

Conall Cernach · 16-03-2015 07:05PM

jmayo wrote: »

Ehh you forgot Francie "Touchy" Fehily.

then clarkson fans could have a moan about an Irish guy.

He could be the producer that turns up to give them their challenges. Tony Ferrino could be the "star in the reasonably priced car."

I should be selling this to the BBC.

ScumLord · 16-03-2015 07:06PM

anncoates wrote: »

So far, that's racist comments and alleged assault of subordinates that must be considered as collateral damage order to protect ratings.

I don't think the supposed racist comments count, one was brought up decades after the fact where he almost said something racist in a blooper reel. The other was a maybe. So that just leaves the assult.

So for example, if you read that the director of a large corporation or bank here made racist comments or punched a cleaner, then that's OK as he's probably responsible for more financial turnover than Top Gear right?

It's not really an apt example though. the customer doesn't give a flying fig about who the director of a company is. If they heard a director assaulted a member of staff the company could throw the general public off the scent by "firing" them and taking them on as a consultant until the media storm blows over. But over all what a company director does goes completely unnoticed by the general public. We've also seen that the general public is fine with the companies they buy off having terrible safety records and next to slave labour. I wouldn't be too worried about the morals of the general public.

Tarzana2 wrote: »

So let them think of something else. Top Gear is easy ratings even though the quality is no longer there. Maybe time to innovate.

there are plenty of alternatives. But the fact fith gear isn't a global competitor to Top Gear shows that the alternative doesn't attract too many viewers.

People tune in to see Clarkson, Hammond and May talk about cars. It's not a car show, it's a show about those three men. firing Clarkson kills the show.

jmayo wrote: »

Ehh some of us that are lambasting calrkson, and even more so his supporters for their infantile outlook on this incident, actually aren't enemies of Top Gear or as you and others might try and potray us as lefty liberal vegans.
Some supporters of clarkson are actually making light of the fact he did verbally and maybe physically abuse one of the guys on the show.
They claim anyone that makes any bones about it are lily livered and in the pocket of PC and HR.
Check some of the posts here and elsewhere.

I haven't said any of these things, this is just more of you ignoring the counter argument and supplementing your own fantasy argument instead. It's impossible to have a rational discussion with people that have no interest in anything that takes place outside of their own imagination.

What Clarkson did is wrong, but he is a huge part of Top Gear and firing him may well be the end of that show. You can say that it might be just as popular with someone else, you might be right. But don't start making up a mindless argument and attributing it to me.

Mal-Adjusted · 16-03-2015 07:12PM

The show is so scripted the three lads might as well be actors anyway. besides, there's one obvious place to go to get a replacement.

All silliness aside, as much as i like the show, if he did assault a producer, then he pretty much has to go, let the other two lads do what they want, even if it means ending TG.

tigger123 · 16-03-2015 07:16PM

ScumLord wrote: »

I don't think the supposed racist comments count, one was brought up decades after the fact where he almost said something racist in a blooper reel. The other was a maybe. So that just leaves the assult.

...

And what about the comments about Mexicans?

tigger123 · 16-03-2015 07:22PM

Mal-Adjusted wrote: »

The show is so scripted the three lads might as well be actors anyway. besides, there's one obvious place to go to get a replacement.

All silliness aside, as much as i like the show, if he did assault a producer, then he pretty much has to go, let the other two lads do what they want, even if it means ending TG.

I've no idea how BBC could stand over keeping him.

ScumLord · 16-03-2015 07:23PM

tigger123 wrote: »

And what about the comments about Mexicans?

A quick google search shows that Clarkson didn't as such say anything about the Mexicans, he made a comment about the Mexican prime minister and it was actually Hammond and May that made most of the comments about the Mexicans being lazy.

The Mexicans aren't a race either. Has it got to the stage where you just can't make jokes about any country anymore? Should we stop making fun of the Americans for being fat? Because, you know. They're not all actually fat.

Anyone else making these jokes would get ignored. It seems Top Gear presenters and especially Clarkson can't make a joke without the world over analysing it and trying to decide is it a joke or is he actually a racist.

lee_baby_simms · 16-03-2015 07:30PM

ScumLord wrote: »

I don't think the supposed racist comments count, one was brought up decades after the fact where he almost said something racist in a blooper reel. The other was a maybe. So that just leaves the assult.

A maybe? You don't get to decide on behalf of Asians whether the term slope is offensive or for Mexicans whether being stereotyped as feckless and lazy is offensive either.

Unfortunately it is offensive so let's not strike that from the record.

The loyalty around here towards such a nasty and mean spirited bigot like Clarkson is nauseating.

tigger123 · 16-03-2015 07:32PM

ScumLord wrote: »

A quick google search shows that Clarkson didn't as such say anything about the Mexicans, he made a comment about the Mexican prime minister and it was actually Hammond and May that made most of the comments about the Mexicans being lazy.

The Mexicans aren't a race either. Has it got to the stage where you just can't make jokes about any country anymore? Should we stop making fun of the Americans for being fat? Because, you know. They're not all actually fat.

Anyone else making these jokes would get ignored. It seems Top Gear presenters and especially Clarkson can't make a joke without the world over analysing it and trying to decide is it a joke or is he actually a racist.

Nope.

Mexico insults (February 2011)

The BBC was forced to apologise to the Mexican ambassador over remarks by Hammond, May and Clarkson on Top Gear but also defended the show's presenters, saying national stereotyping was part of British humour. In the episode, Hammond joked that Mexican cars reflected national characteristics, saying they were "just going to be lazy, feckless, flatulent, overweight, leaning against a fence asleep looking at a cactus with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as a coat". May described Mexican food as "like sick with cheese on it" and Clarkson predicted they would not get any complaints because "at the Mexican embassy, the ambassador is going to be sitting there with a remote control like this[ snores]. They won't complain, it's fine."

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/may/01/top-gear-jeremy-clarkson-top-10-controversial-moments-bbc

C.K Dexter Haven · 16-03-2015 07:33PM

Bring back Quentin Wilson- he'd blow Jeremy out of the water and would bring a fresh dynamic to Top Gear- I always loved his 2nd hand car slot- there's a few years millage in that alone

Karl Stein · 16-03-2015 07:36PM

ScumLord wrote: »

If people don't like Clarkson or Top Gear that's fine, but labeling everyone that like's top gear as stupid is the problem.

I very much enjoy Top Gear. I don't like Clarkson though. In fact I find the painful panto they pass off as comedy cringe-worthy. The cars, locations, challenges and amazing production more than make up for TG's weak points.

C.K Dexter Haven · 16-03-2015 07:38PM

Karl Stein wrote: »

I very much enjoy Top Gear. I don't like Clarkson though.

Oh yes you do!

Karl Stein · 16-03-2015 07:42PM

C.K Dexter Haven wrote: »

Oh yes you do!

Oh no he doesn't!

C.K Dexter Haven · 16-03-2015 07:45PM

Karl Stein wrote: »

Oh no he doesn't!

what do we do now?:p

lee_baby_simms · 16-03-2015 07:57PM

ScumLord wrote: »

The Mexicans aren't a race either. Has it got to the stage where you just can't make jokes about any country anymore?

Well thats xenophobia and Clarkson ticks that box too.

The reason why people don't like the Mexican comments for example is the implied superiority. A sort of hangover of British imperialism. Because the Mexicans the top gear lads portray are poor and have dark skin they're not as important or sophisticated as us brits. "Ugh their food looks like sick."

Now if you like that kind of humour then fine, pay money and go see it live or on dvd or whatever. Its not illegal.

But when a public service like the BBC broadcast it then its a different kettle of fish. It's tacit condonation by the BBC, it goes toward normalising discrimination and that makes a lot of people uncomfortable. Perhaps people who have had to deal with abuse because of their skin colour, accent whatever.

Karl Stein · 16-03-2015 08:00PM

C.K Dexter Haven wrote: »

what do we do now?:p

Batter each other Punch and Judy style, for the kids like.

cdeb · 16-03-2015 08:00PM

Xenophobia - fear of foreigners or foreign things.

Don't think calling Mexicans lazy is xenophobic.

lee_baby_simms · 16-03-2015 08:02PM

cdeb wrote: »

Xenophobia - fear of foreigners or foreign things.

Don't think calling Mexicans lazy is xenophobic.

haha if you want to get that literal...

Bigoted then?

Xenophobia is generally understood to cover prejudice towards someone because of their nationality. But lets not split hairs.

Coup detat · 16-03-2015 08:05PM

lee_baby_simms wrote: »

haha if you want to get that literal...

Bigoted then?

Xenophobia is generally understood to cover prejudice towards someone because of their nationality. But lets not split hairs.

Is it bigoted of the statement is true?

lee_baby_simms · 16-03-2015 08:12PM

cdeb wrote: »

But Clarkson just makes jokes based on stereotypes. And stereotypes can be true a lot of the time (almost by definition).

Again...its not for you to decide whether its 'just a bit of fun'. You're not the butt of the joke.

I don't expect YOU to be offended when he slags off Mexicans or calls an asian man a slope.

cdeb · 16-03-2015 08:16PM

lee_baby_simms wrote: »

Again...its not for you to decide whether its 'just a bit of fun'. You're not the butt of the joke.

I don't expect YOU to be offended when he slags off Mexicans or calls an asian man a slope.

But when Clarkson slags the Irish and Irish stereotypes, I see it's a joke.

And so when he slags other countries in the exact same way, it's clearly also a joke.

So yes, by using a bit of cop on, I actually can tell when something's harmless fun and when something's genuinely nasty.

Wompa1 · 16-03-2015 08:17PM

ScumLord wrote: »

A quick google search shows that Clarkson didn't as such say anything about the Mexicans, he made a comment about the Mexican prime minister and it was actually Hammond and May that made most of the comments about the Mexicans being lazy.

The Mexicans aren't a race either. Has it got to the stage where you just can't make jokes about any country anymore? Should we stop making fun of the Americans for being fat? Because, you know. They're not all actually fat.

Anyone else making these jokes would get ignored. It seems Top Gear presenters and especially Clarkson can't make a joke without the world over analysing it and trying to decide is it a joke or is he actually a racist.

Yip, it was Hammond but of course, it was scripted...so it's more of an issue for the production of the show more than anything.

And yeah, probably should stop making fun of Americans for being fat...it's dumb. Also, the biggest obesity rate is actually in *drum roll* MEXICO!

Clarkson can't make a joke about race or nationality because his hate rag of a newspaper column over the years has provided context to his 'jokes', which leans them more into the racist side than innocent joke side. He's a bigoted a-hole that believes the British Empire was the greatest gift to befall man and that the British people should be proud of the fact a small Island nation murdered those with inferior weaponary and in some cases, very brutally and drove others into slavery for their own prosperity. The guy is a tool.

monkeysnapper · 16-03-2015 08:20PM

What about replacing JC with ben Collins

Or a guest presenter every week ??

Jeremy Clarkson suspended

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