...that just says it all...

Carlos R · #1 30.11.2011, 22:22

	Quote:	Clarkson
	Clarkson was asked what he would do with strikers, he replied: "I would have them all shot". He continued: "I would take them outside and execute them in front of their families. "I mean how dare they go on strike when they have these gilt-edged pensions that are going to be guaranteed, while the rest of us have to work for a living." While some members of the audience laughed, the presenters, Matt Baker and Alex Jones, were clearly left stunned and embarassed by his comments as they shifted uncomfortably in their seats

I'm not that fussed about JC's comments, but the fact that the hosts were "clearly left stunned and embarassed...as they shifted uncomfortably in their seats" just shows what an insipid bunch of nitwits are allowed to host such programmes. That they couldn't challenge him and only react like rabbits caught in headlights just shows shouldn't be hosting a "chat show" (

) on TV.

Assassin · #2 30.11.2011, 22:24

One man's humor, another man's cringe.

I could care less what "celebrities" say for gags, it's more about they actually do in the real world that matters.

lost_inbroad · #3 30.11.2011, 22:37

	Quote:	Carlos R
	I'm not that fussed about JC's comments, but the fact that the hosts were "clearly left stunned and embarassed...as they shifted uncomfortably in their seats" just shows what an insipid bunch of nitwits are allowed to host such programmes. That they couldn't challenge him and only react like rabbits caught in headlights just shows shouldn't be hosting a "chat show" () on TV.

...British humor, what can I say.

Odile · #4 30.11.2011, 22:48

Considering he is paid 1 million by the BBC every year + around 800.000 spin offs from the programme .. and of course a columnist for the wonderful Sun. Obviously much more useful and worthy than the nurses, teachers, ambulance crews - etc he proposes to shoot

I know so many love live, but he so gives me the woolies.

Carlos R · #5 30.11.2011, 22:56

Aye. But my gripe is more with the spineless eejits who didn't know how to react. I can just see them "OMG what did he say... out of comfort zone... twitch... twitch... doesn't compute... what do I say?"

PS: thanks vwild1 for fixing the quotes

jako · #6 30.11.2011, 23:32

	Quote:	Odile
	Considering he is paid 1 million by the BBC every year + around 800.000 spin offs from the programme .. and of course a columnist for the wonderful Sun. Obviously much more useful and worthy than the nurses, teachers, ambulance crews - etc he proposes to shoot I know so many love live, but he so gives me the woolies.

True. But i guess "his" programme makes more profit for the beeb than pretty much any other programme!

cran · #7 30.11.2011, 23:40

	Quote:
	That they couldn't challenge him and only react like rabbits caught in headlights just shows shouldn't be hosting a "chat show" () on TV.

So what should be the reply to his assertion that they already have a better pension than most people?

Carlos R · #8 30.11.2011, 23:54

	Quote:	cran
	So what should be the reply to his assertion that they already have a better pension than most people?

"Too bloody right"

HTH

Sandgrounder · #9 01.12.2011, 08:55

Whichever way you chop it, it was a cheap shot. I am a fan (normally) of JC's humour and I love Top Gear but that was just an ill thought out comment (set of comments?) and was pretty offensive.

Agreed about the One Show presenters - they were totally caught off guard a few weeks ago painfully interviewing Jeremy Paxman which was cringeworthy TV at its best...

They would be best to keep the guest list to soap stars, ageing and slightly drug-addled music-biz people and features on badgers.

Carlos R · #10 01.12.2011, 09:45

	Quote:	Sandgrounder
	Whichever way you chop it, it was a cheap shot. I am a fan (normally) of JC's humour and I love Top Gear but that was just an ill thought out comment (set of comments?) and was pretty offensive.

JC and an ill thought-out comment. Who'da thunk it...

PaddyG · #11 01.12.2011, 09:47

	Quote:	Carlos R
	JC and an ill thought-out comment. Who'da thunk it...

Exactly what were they expecting?

I think JC is excellent viewing. He's a buffoon, but he never fails to disappoint (or upset

).

hannah'sauntie · #12 01.12.2011, 09:52

The BBC has apologised for Jeremy Clarkson's comment..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15977813

I worked for the public sector (NHS) for twenty seven years and understand completely how the striking workers feel. All the talk of 'gold plated pensions' does not apply to the majority of public sector workers. I'll be lucky if I can survive off what I eventually get. If I was starting all over again now, I would work in private practice.

I think Mr Clarkson should apologise personally for what he said.

Carlos R · #13 01.12.2011, 10:00

But why should he apologise? Why should the BBC apologise?

He's not representing them. He's representing himself and his own views. If you don't like them turn off the TV and if the BBC doesn't like them, they should either not invite him (I mean c'mon the guy's got form on this) or should have a 10-sec broadcast delay button.

...or, the hosts should be armed with some facts to put him down.

Personally, I think the BBC should be apologising about the hosts who in turn should be apologising for being spineless - whether they agree with him or not... either way saying nothing was not the correct response.

Village Idiot · #14 01.12.2011, 10:15

http://www.libdemvoice.org/in-defence-of-jeremy-clarkson-yes-really-
26055.html

	Quote:
	"I guess that we all accept he wasn’t being literal, that even Jeremy-bloody-Clarkson doesn’t actually believe every single one of the hundreds of thousands who yesterday exercised their democratic right of collective action should be massacred. "In other words, this was typical Clarkson: the only thing he was shooting off was his mouth. "Yet people were outraged. OUTRAGED, I tell you. How do I know? Because they took to Twitter to voice their OUTRAGE. With ‘Jeremy Clarkson’ trending worldwide on Twitter, they sought redress with the hashtag #sackclarkson. How the attention-seeking controversialist must have hated being the focus of their OUTRAGE. "I have just one question for those who leap upon the OUTRAGE bandwagon: could you be any more Daily Mail? Because that’s all this slacktivist agitprop is: a synthetic, lazy, über-hyped way of whipping-up fervour about stuff that should just wash off us."

He knew exactly what he was doing.

He got the laugh he wanted from those who get him.

He got the outrage from those who were determined to be outraged.

And now he's got the publicity just as his Christmas book and DVD reach the shelves.

Bravo JC!

mirfield · #15 01.12.2011, 10:16

People do realise that he was speaking metaphorically and wasn't actually condoning mass murder, right?

cyrus · #16 01.12.2011, 10:16

What a twat, how much of a gold plated pension does that overpaid w***er get from the BBC for acting like a schoolboy 8 shows a year?

PaddyG · #17 01.12.2011, 10:20

I'm just curious as to how many people saw this and complained, and how many only read about it, and then complained

.

I'm sure many people go their whole day trying to find something to be indignant/outraged about.

Carlos R · #18 01.12.2011, 10:21

	Quote:	cyrus
	What a twat, how much of a gold plated pension does that overpaid w*er get from the BBC for acting like a schoolboy 8 shows a year?

Don't blame market forces for his success.

As VI says, there's no such thing as bad publicity and all the indignation that this creates just feeds the machine.

pat · #19 01.12.2011, 10:29

	Quote:	Carlos R
	Personally, I think the BBC should be apologising about the hosts who in turn should be apologising for being spineless - whether they agree with him or not... either way saying nothing was not the correct response.

One of the presenters involved I see is Matt Baker. Why is a children's TV presenter presenting a "topical news" magazine programme? Have the BBC run out of other presenters?

As VI points out all Clackson has done is provide even more publicity for this years DVD "topgear-like" motorshow out of a "news" item about striking public servants. You cannot buy that type of publicity, and as much as I dislike him, he should be applauded for his marketing prowess.

Madness

Edit, but getting madder and a shocking state of UK news agenda, when it is even questioned to the UK prime minister

	Quote:
	Earlier the Prime Minister David Cameron, asked about Mr Clarkson's comments said it was "a silly thing to say... I'm sure he didn't mean it".

Is there really nothing else happening in the world? a dog chasing deer perhaps?

cyrus · #20 01.12.2011, 10:31

	Quote:	Carlos R
	Don't blame market forces for his success.

Hopefully market forces will realise he's an embarrassment and fire his idiot ass.