BBC's Top Gear, time to pull in or drive on - Page 15

**pharoahegypt** · March 26th, 2015, 01:09 PM

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Don't forget the "cheese eating surrender monkeys" in regard to the French.....lol.

**beutelwolf** · March 26th, 2015, 10:35 PM

Well, JC was treading a fine line on Top Gear, saying offensive things that were sometimes just true (or dangerously close to it), but banished by the PC brigade; in the last few years he was often overstepping that line, revealing himself increasingly as a self-centered bigotted dickhead. Top Gear's development mirrored that, in particular in their foreign outings. As long as the show was merely reckless about offending people that was fine, but they were actively trying to be offensive in order to be funny - a bit like a comedian putting swearwords into his act, because they always get a cheap laugh.

Less Jim Davidson though than some kind of variant of John McCririck.

So JC has become a bit of a caricature of his own former self.

...and as far as the cheese-eating surrender monkeys go, that was a tired insult, referring back to WW2 (if not to the Napoleonic wars, considering the implied Hartlepool reference). Isn't there a more topical angle to poke fun at your closest neighbour?

**pharoahegypt** · March 26th, 2015, 11:35 PM

As I understand, from an ex g/f who was from Hartlepool; the story of the monkey they hung as a spy during WWII was centred as much in folklore as with any real proven truth.... But she herself used to refer to her own home town folks as 'Monkey Hangers'.

Clarkson was stuck in the past, as everyone here seems to agree, and he just couldn't change his ways... Again like Jim Davidson and the late Bernard Manning.

While the PC brigade rule we all have to watch our p's and q's here and there, and while there is no harm in a little banter between friends or in the right way, Clarkson was guilty of doing it for no reason other that to try to be scoring points off of 'johnny foreigner' while passing it off as just his humour.

One final thought coming out of today's various comments.... Both May & Hammond seem to be quite unhappy in making their own future plans more clear, almost as if their waiting to speak to Clarkson (and his new bosses) in relation to another show? Would legal issues regarding the BBC owning the rights to TG prevent such a mass transfer? Or would a similar motoring show by any name other than TG be outside of their legal control..?

**beutelwolf** · March 27th, 2015, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pharoahegypt

As I understand, from an ex g/f who was from Hartlepool; the story of the monkey they hung as a spy during WWII was centred as much in folklore as with any real proven truth.... But she herself used to refer to her own home town folks as 'Monkey Hangers'.

Not WWII at all, this is much older.

**pharoahegypt** · March 27th, 2015, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beutelwolf

Not WWII at all, this is much older.

Well; she was a bit dim...!! lol. Not surprising she got her facts wrong on this, Bw.

(i wasn't with her for her brains, she had 'other' more interesting assets)

**haroldeye** · March 27th, 2015, 02:51 PM

Pharo - She must have been the only person from 'pool not to call herself a monkeyhanger. They are proud of it. One of the rugby clubs has a hanging monkey as a tie and the football teams mascot is a monkey called 'Angus.

The good Mrs Haroldeye is a monkeyhanger and proud of it.

**Mal Hombre** · March 27th, 2015, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haroldeye

Pharo - She must have been the only person from 'pool not to call herself a monkeyhanger. They are proud of it. One of the rugby clubs has a hanging monkey as a tie and the football teams mascot is a monkey called 'Angus.

The good Mrs Haroldeye is a monkeyhanger and proud of it.

So is the equally good Mrs Hombre,Small World...

**Oswald** · March 27th, 2015, 05:11 PM

Apparently Clarkson, May and Wilman (the producer) have been spotted attending "secret" meetings in London. May did suggest to reporters that he might give up TV presenting altogether and find another career as a teacher.

'Top Gear' will continue, albeit with different presenters, a different producer, and a different format. How good or bad will the new(er) version will be only time will judge.

**Sir Honkers** · March 27th, 2015, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pharoahegypt

While the PC brigade rule we all have to watch our p's and q's here and there, and while there is no harm in a little banter between friends or in the right way,

I don't think PC or a little banter is the issue. The issue is Clarkson lost the plot and physically assaulted someone. He should face criminal charges and I hope Tymon brings a civil suite against him.

**Mal Hombre** · March 27th, 2015, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loosegoose

I don't think PC or a little banter is the issue. The issue is Clarkson lost the plot and physically assaulted someone. He should face criminal charges and I hope Tymon brings a civil suite against him.

According to the news,Tymon has ruled out bringing any charges against Clarkson.

March 26th, 2015, 01:09 PM	#141
pharoahegypt Vintage Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Middle England Posts: 4,492 Thanks: 10,176 Thanked 43,624 Times in 4,155 Posts	^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Don't forget the "cheese eating surrender monkeys" in regard to the French.....lol. __________________ Arguing with a intelligent person is hard; but arguing with a stupid person is impossible!

March 26th, 2015, 10:35 PM	#142
beutelwolf paludicolous paravant Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Perfidious Albion Posts: 26,741 Thanks: 75,691 Thanked 745,813 Times in 26,861 Posts	Well, JC was treading a fine line on Top Gear, saying offensive things that were sometimes just true (or dangerously close to it), but banished by the PC brigade; in the last few years he was often overstepping that line, revealing himself increasingly as a self-centered bigotted dickhead. Top Gear's development mirrored that, in particular in their foreign outings. As long as the show was merely reckless about offending people that was fine, but they were actively trying to be offensive in order to be funny - a bit like a comedian putting swearwords into his act, because they always get a cheap laugh. Less Jim Davidson though than some kind of variant of John McCririck. So JC has become a bit of a caricature of his own former self. ...and as far as the cheese-eating surrender monkeys go, that was a tired insult, referring back to WW2 (if not to the Napoleonic wars, considering the implied Hartlepool reference). Isn't there a more topical angle to poke fun at your closest neighbour? Last edited by beutelwolf; March 27th, 2015 at 12:28 AM.. Reason: typo

March 26th, 2015, 11:35 PM	#143
pharoahegypt Vintage Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Middle England Posts: 4,492 Thanks: 10,176 Thanked 43,624 Times in 4,155 Posts	As I understand, from an ex g/f who was from Hartlepool; the story of the monkey they hung as a spy during WWII was centred as much in folklore as with any real proven truth.... But she herself used to refer to her own home town folks as 'Monkey Hangers'. Clarkson was stuck in the past, as everyone here seems to agree, and he just couldn't change his ways... Again like Jim Davidson and the late Bernard Manning. While the PC brigade rule we all have to watch our p's and q's here and there, and while there is no harm in a little banter between friends or in the right way, Clarkson was guilty of doing it for no reason other that to try to be scoring points off of 'johnny foreigner' while passing it off as just his humour. One final thought coming out of today's various comments.... Both May & Hammond seem to be quite unhappy in making their own future plans more clear, almost as if their waiting to speak to Clarkson (and his new bosses) in relation to another show? Would legal issues regarding the BBC owning the rights to TG prevent such a mass transfer? Or would a similar motoring show by any name other than TG be outside of their legal control..? __________________ Arguing with a intelligent person is hard; but arguing with a stupid person is impossible!

March 27th, 2015, 02:51 PM	#146
haroldeye Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Halfwitistan Posts: 5,716 Thanks: 113,591 Thanked 59,980 Times in 5,708 Posts	Pharo - She must have been the only person from 'pool not to call herself a monkeyhanger. They are proud of it. One of the rugby clubs has a hanging monkey as a tie and the football teams mascot is a monkey called 'Angus. The good Mrs Haroldeye is a monkeyhanger and proud of it.

March 27th, 2015, 05:11 PM	#148
Oswald Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 13,115 Thanks: 51,076 Thanked 282,662 Times in 13,805 Posts	Apparently Clarkson, May and Wilman (the producer) have been spotted attending "secret" meetings in London. May did suggest to reporters that he might give up TV presenting altogether and find another career as a teacher. 'Top Gear' will continue, albeit with different presenters, a different producer, and a different format. How good or bad will the new(er) version will be only time will judge.