I like Jim, I always have. It's a generational thing - no pun intended.
He has moved on, we all have.
Things were different in the 70's.
He looked good, smart and sober! He was reasonably eloquent too. Paxo certainly didn't get the better of him. It was not a Michael Howard or Ben Swain (in joke) moment.
"I don't do Chalky now as my black friends don't have West Indian accents" he joked. Made me laugh.
Heard him yesterday on Radio 5. Thought he was alright. I didn't agree with everything. In fact I probably disagreed with more than I agreed with, but he didn't come across as the monster that some have painted him.
He was on Radio 5 live on Tuesday being interviewed by Richard Bacon (that beacon of morality) who pushed him on the chalky jokes his reply was "look, it was a different era, a different perception, and I was told to do them by TV producers", he said he doesnt do them anymore, and has not done for years, and he cant keep saying sorry.
Totally agree, he should not be held responsible for the perceptions and acceptibility of society in the 70's, I mean for christ sake, they commissioned Love Thy Neighbour & Mind Your Language, those programmes today would have the Guardinistas' screaming from the roofs.
Always liked him, he's a product of his time (and thats not his fault), drank with him at Watford a few years ago and a top bloke he was all afternoon.
Sat next to him and Virgo at a Charlton Golf Day at The London Club. He played the first 9 in his dinner suit from the night before. Have never laughed so much in my life. Virgo invited me to go to Old Trafford and watch United in his box. He gave me his mobile number. I got pissed and lost it, never went. Probably didn't miss much.
Studied Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad at uni. The overwhelming consensus in academical critical theory is that you cannot condemn Conrad as a racist or ignorant as perceptions and attitudes were so entirely different at the time, and the novel is still regarded on its literary merits. Not sure to what extent you could apply that to Jim Davidson but I suppose it's worth thinking about.
[cite]Posted By: Chunes[/cite]Studied Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad at uni. The overwhelming consensus in academical critical theory is that you cannot condemn Conrad as a racist or ignorant as perceptions and attitudes were so entirely different at the time, and the novel is still regarded on its literary merits. Not sure to what extent you could apply that to Jim Davidson but I suppose it's worth thinking about.
Does anyone know what we're meant to be thinking about ?
[cite]Posted By: Chunes[/cite]Studied Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad at uni. The overwhelming consensus in academical critical theory is that you cannot condemn Conrad as a racist or ignorant as perceptions and attitudes were so entirely different at the time, and the novel is still regarded on its literary merits. Not sure to what extent you could apply that to Jim Davidson but I suppose it's worth thinking about.
Does anyone know what we're meant to be thinking about ?
[cite]Posted By: Chunes[/cite]Studied Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad at uni. The overwhelming consensus in academical critical theory is that you cannot condemn Conrad as a racist or ignorant as perceptions and attitudes were so entirely different at the time, and the novel is still regarded on its literary merits. Not sure to what extent you could apply that to Jim Davidson but I suppose it's worth thinking about.
Does anyone know what we're meant to be thinking about ?
Of course he is of his time and whilst I don't and have never really found him particularly funny, I respect his professionalism. He did an excellent job hosting game shows and comes across as likeable enough. BTW - I think they should show love thy neighbour again- it would be historically more educational than any documentary for younger people who don't understand what attitudes were like at the time.
I find some of little britains humour far more offensive ,because his a chubby gay man he seems able to come up with some of the most disgusting filthy smut possible,shame because some of its quite good.
It is an inetersting point - If Jim Davidson (heaven forbid) played Dafydd in his own version of a Little Britain sketch it would offend far more - it isn't offensive when Matt Lucas does it because you know he doesn't mean any offence. So it isn't the material but who delivers it and what we perceive their motivation is which affects how we recieve it. Jim Davidson would say he isn't a racist and in all honesty - I don't believe he is- I believe he might have been but don't think he is now, but other comedians can tackle subjects that are out of bounds for him because we perceive him to be.
Davidson gets slaughtered by the left because he publically supported the Conservative Party at the time of Margaret Thatcher and also prominently supported the Falklands campaign by visiting the troops.
Gay is good and trendy and not to be criticised hence why Matt Lucas gets away with blacking up and pretending to be a black woman with a West Indian accent whereas Jim Davidson, who never blacked up to my knowledge, is slaughtered for pretending to be a black man with a West Indian accent.
His standup material or Audience-with.. from the mid-90's at the time when he was doing the Generation Game etc I think is pretty funny but his recent stuff is bleeding awful, it's just endless cringeworthy smut.
I think he has to place himself where he has an audience - probably the only place for him to go now that the mainstream has pretty much rejected him. Not for me- but harmless and he has to make a living.
Saw him in his recent play - which I thought was excellent; funny and thought provoking at times. He played a bigoted comedian but made himself out to be a loser in the end
[cite]Posted By: MuttleyCAFC[/cite]I think he has to place himself where he has an audience - probably the only place for him to go now that the mainstream has pretty much rejected him. Not for me- but harmless and he has to make a living.
Which is what he said last night. People might think looking back (or even if you were there) that it was wrong, but again as he said last night, it made him very rich as people kept coming. people have stopped going so he has adapted his act.
As one of the people on here who is proud to be a Leftie and so not normally a fan of Jim (just saying it before someone else does) I thought he spoke a lot of sense last night.
[cite]Posted By: Henry Irving[/cite]At the time I thought his jokes were more cringe worthy that out right racist. Not very funny either.
As people of said it was of its time and there was a lot, lot more offensive stuff than his doing the rounds and some of it on TV.
However wife-beating was wrong in the 70s and it was wrong when he was doing it do his wife. For that alone he has zero respect from me.
He was bang on coke and booze at the time although I must say this should never be an excuse to beat up anyone but it certainly wouldn't have helped his marriage. To be in such a mess at a young age when he was at the height of his fame tells you that he has demons. He's obviously now matured and has said he regrets this part of his life. Let's not forget the amount of charity work he does which I suppose has kind of made up for those sins.
If you ask me, being a comedian must be the hardest job out there. If you are a very funny person it comes naturally I suppose.
Wadda you do....I always thought Davidson a nasty piece of work. Wife beater, self pitying prat & piss artist who was just very bitter.
Met him in real life and found him to be a top bloke. He also did a spot at Richard Rufus's testimonial dinner which was excellent too. So wadda you do.
Probably the only modern celebrity who publicly supported the troops before Help for Heroes came along too.
Wadda you do?
I still think he is very self pitying and is one of those blokes who just can't help himself.
However, I cannot abide some of the holier than thou stuff posted above.
Crikey, I wish I was as perfect as some you like to portray yourselves!
Comments
I like Jim, I always have. It's a generational thing - no pun intended.
He has moved on, we all have.
Things were different in the 70's.
He looked good, smart and sober! He was reasonably eloquent too. Paxo certainly didn't get the better of him. It was not a Michael Howard or Ben Swain (in joke) moment.
"I don't do Chalky now as my black friends don't have West Indian accents" he joked. Made me laugh.
Oh yeah. I liked his little dig at the little britain blokes.
Totally agree, he should not be held responsible for the perceptions and acceptibility of society in the 70's, I mean for christ sake, they commissioned Love Thy Neighbour & Mind Your Language, those programmes today would have the Guardinistas' screaming from the roofs.
Always liked him, he's a product of his time (and thats not his fault), drank with him at Watford a few years ago and a top bloke he was all afternoon.
About the recent Middle East problems. JD lives in Dubai and gave a good insight to the whole situation out there.....
Does anyone know what we're meant to be thinking about ?
This.
Nick Nick.
I'm gonna pull your line soon Chirps !
As people of said it was of its time and there was a lot, lot more offensive stuff than his doing the rounds and some of it on TV.
However wife-beating was wrong in the 70s and it was wrong when he was doing it do his wife. For that alone he has zero respect from me.
I think Little Britain is very funny btw.
Gay is good and trendy and not to be criticised hence why Matt Lucas gets away with blacking up and pretending to be a black woman with a West Indian accent whereas Jim Davidson, who never blacked up to my knowledge, is slaughtered for pretending to be a black man with a West Indian accent.
Which is what he said last night. People might think looking back (or even if you were there) that it was wrong, but again as he said last night, it made him very rich as people kept coming. people have stopped going so he has adapted his act.
As one of the people on here who is proud to be a Leftie and so not normally a fan of Jim (just saying it before someone else does) I thought he spoke a lot of sense last night.
He was bang on coke and booze at the time although I must say this should never be an excuse to beat up anyone but it certainly wouldn't have helped his marriage. To be in such a mess at a young age when he was at the height of his fame tells you that he has demons. He's obviously now matured and has said he regrets this part of his life. Let's not forget the amount of charity work he does which I suppose has kind of made up for those sins.
If you ask me, being a comedian must be the hardest job out there. If you are a very funny person it comes naturally I suppose.
Except when it is aimed at them
Well you need to live a little longer and get out more.
Interesting stuff. A quick question - do we like Tony Hancock? A drunken wife beater and one of the funniest men around.
I think you have to seperate the art from the artist.
Met him in real life and found him to be a top bloke. He also did a spot at Richard Rufus's testimonial dinner which was excellent too. So wadda you do.
Probably the only modern celebrity who publicly supported the troops before Help for Heroes came along too.
Wadda you do?
I still think he is very self pitying and is one of those blokes who just can't help himself.
However, I cannot abide some of the holier than thou stuff posted above.
Crikey, I wish I was as perfect as some you like to portray yourselves!