It was originally my intention to just write a positively glowing review of what has been one of the highlights of this year’s tv viewing, but, alas, once again Chris Morris’ Brasseye is on the receiving end of a moral backlash, and the matter clearly needed to be looked at in further detail.
It should hardly be a surprise, as any programme that challenges or provokes the viewer is always criticised. And as the basis of the Brasseye special was to attack the media’s glamorisation of disturbing crimes simply to improve sales or viewing figures, it was never going to be greeted with open arms. But whilst it may be covering uncomfortable territory, the level of criticism it has received beggars belief.
The Daily Mail led the hysteria, as per usual, by claiming Brasseye was ‘The Sickest Tv Show Ever’ on the front page of Saturday’s edition, and devoted a further two pages inside to attacking Morris, though, as unsurprisingly for the Mail, it was riddled with factual inaccuracies. The article was packed with quotes from various outraged charities and societies, before they commented themselves that ‘We would humbly suggest that anyone who thinks paedophilia a fit subject for humour or finds such a deeply malevolent programme amusing needs psychiatric help’. The other tabloids were quick to join in, with The Sun claiming in their usual patronising style "To most Britons the defence of our children's innocence is paramount. Their safety is sacrosanct," before demanding that the programme-makers be sacked and Channel 4 have its broadcast licence revoked. Intelligent, thoughtful commentary as usual then.
Unfortunately this then led to MP’s and various other celebrities becoming involved, despite often not having actually seen the programme. The worst of these was Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, who has called for tighter controls on broadcasters and a review of the powers of the Independent Television Commission. The story is still being reported in the papers today (01/08/01), and will no doubt rumble on for a while yet.
Obviously paedophilia is a taboo subject, and one whose victims deserve respect and sympathy, but as co-writer David Quantick explained, “It wasn’t a show mocking the victims of paedophilia. It was a show about media attitudes to paedophilia and the way that the media apparently exploits paedohilia.”
Morris has spent the last six or so years disturbing the establishment, and never without criticism, but surely by now intelligent critics should realise that his work is never churned out simply for shock value. In a rare interview last year given to promote Jam, Morris claimed that he wasn’t interested in being a shock satirist ‘Down that route lies Tariq Ali, and the most lame-arsed, unamusing botched attempts at satire” before going on to explain why he chooses such taboo subjects “If you make a joke in an area which is for some reason normally random out of bounds, then you might find something out, you might put your finger on something… But it's a matter of finding yourself in that area rather than setting out to look for trouble."
So to the programme itself. Well, if/when you realise what Morris is attempting, it’s hilarious, yet thought provoking, television. Like of all of the episodes that precede it, it was a mixture of Newsnight / crimewatch tv journalism, and like last year’s Jam, vividly original and visually devastating at times. The sketches were all masterfully played out, from reports of children having breast transplants to the Just Kidding bus tours run by a reformed paedophile, and there just wasn’t a single bad moment. Once again there was exquisite use of graphics and visual effects which only add to this surreal take on the media.
The music parodies were perfect as well, with a timely attack on Eminem in the form of JLB-8, a Nu Ass rapper who’s lyrics captured Eminem’s humour perfectly, despite being ridiculously offensive. Whilst the end song ‘One Day’ caught the sickly sweet way too many painful issues are covered, and the Daft Punk-esque‘Keep Away From The Guy With The Funny Eye’ once again proved how vapid, or if we’re to be kind, gullible, politicians can be. Adverts came under attack too, with ‘The Pedo-Files’ trailer ably demonstrating how glibbly serious topics are tackily advertised, whilst the reference to Pedo-Island is the best (and shortest) satirical commentary on the Big Brother phenomenon yet.
The celebrities involved, including Sebastian Coe, Richard Blackwood, Phil Collins, and Dr Fox, have once again trotted out the usual statements about being weary about signing up for charity events in the future, but that was after all the point. How many times does a c-list celeb endorse a product/issue they know nothing about? All it highlights is how desperate these people are for good PR and/or how out of touch with reality they clearly are. When Doctor Fox claimed “There’s no real evidence for it, but it is scientific fact” this hack laughed in disbelief for all too long, and Phil Collins talking about ways to detect paedophiles: “if someone shows you a model of your home town and all the houses look life penises,” has to be a contender for the comedy moment of this/any year.
In terms of British comedy, it’s one of the finest satires seen in years, and I can only but hope that five years down the line it is considered, like the original series, an example of classic British humour.
At least not all of the press reaction has been bad. An article in The Telegraph entitled ‘Trial by television’ sums up how ridiculous the situation has become: “Amid all the attacks on Brass Eye, Channel 4's spoof documentary on paedophiles, no one has managed to identify exactly what was wrong with the programme…..The implication was that Brass Eye had somehow affected the safety of our children. Well, how exactly? Chris Morris, the programme's guiding mind and presenter, was not suggesting that paedophilia is a good thing or a
Also, the excellent Cook’d and Bomb’d website (at: www.cookdandbombd.co.uk/) has been following the news coverage in minute detail, and after they posted the Channel Four ‘s number (which is 020 7306 8333 by the by) recommending fans ring to praise the programme, yesterday (30/07/01) C4 received more positive calls than negative. It’s a small difference, but an important one. They’ve also pointed out the media’s hypocrisy in great detail – the best example being a report complaining about the Brassye special next to a hug picture of Charlotte Church’s new look in The Star (see the picture above) which makes several references to how ‘She's a big girl now’ and ‘She looks chest swell’ despite the glaring fact that she is only fifteen. Unsurprisingly The Sun’s been just as bad, drooling over pictures of Fergies daughters, 11 and 13, in revealing bikini’s and making the usual Un-PC comments. Its beyond ridicule. Indeed, its something I find more offensive than anything in the Brasseye episode itself.
What will happen now? Well, Tessa Jowell’s call for tighter controls on broadcasters and a review of the powers of the Independent Television Commission may lead to a new television watchdog being set up, similar to the BBFC, and certain television programmes could become censored or simply banned outright. Simply because a small minority couldn’t cope with intelligent satire. If anything, we need more of Morris right now than ever.
And if you feel the same as us, why not give Channel Four a call (that number again: 020 7306 8333) and register your support. Unless you don't want to watch thought provoking television any more, of course.
Alex Finch.
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