Paxman’s claims (I got there, although you’ll have to get through a few of these first- this bracket is continuing a joke I deleted earlier and is now pointless) handled an issue which you would usually associate with something your half-drunk uncle would say at an uncomfortable family get-together. Paxman reportedly said (I say reportedly because I have not seen the interview, I have only read excerpts written by professional journalists, which means I’m just taking bits from actual writers and making it more irreverent)

“The worst thing you can be in this industry is a middle-class white male”.

Which I strongly disagree with, the worst thing you can be in the media industry is Rupert Murdock. The only venomous snake with plans of world domination. I also believe that his statement is inaccurate and immature (but he isn’t helping his own by stating the white middle-class males as things, there not objects). Although I don’t have much first hand experience, knowledge or statistics to defend my rejection of Jeremy Paxman’s comments, analysing attitudes in general, I stand by my view that it is,

“those from working-class backgrounds and people from ethnic minorities”,

to quote Krishnan Guru-Murthy, that will find/have found it difficult in the media industry. If not in the media industry itself, then at least in the procedure to get to it. Personally I would say that someone from a low-income, working class family will have more doubts and less security when considering training for a media based profession, then someone from a middle class background.

The point that frightened me the most was that Paxman listed female television executives. By the way I wasn’t frightened that there were female television executives (no women scare me, as I don’t think they exist, their just a scam by the government, and if they do exist, how come I never see them?), just by the fact that Jeremy Paxman felt it important to mention them. It slightly feels as if he’s annoyed that there’s any at all. There is probably more then five but I would bet that there is still a greater or equal amount of white men middle-class men (if I am wrong sue me, here is a link to my solicitor, here)

Part of me feels that if it seems like it is harder for white middle class men to get into the media industry maybe it’s because it has become fairer. Change will always bring paranoia, it’s just a shame that this paranoia has been expressed by someone as talented and intelligent as Jeremy Paxman.

According to reports (that makes me seem important as if I have all these people informing me around the world, when we really I just read other people’s articles) Paxman was responding to a question about whether television is a “man’s world”. I am hoping his answers came from an urge to generate debate and form a balanced argument. I will now sign off, as it’s gone five in the morning and I need my beauty sleep (trust me, if you have seen me you’d agree…I hope I haven’t broken anyone’s fantasies, or created any), though I fear that once I wake up I’ll read that some right-wing nut-job using Paxman’s words as an excuse to go on about their horrifying opinions. I also fear that this post and indeed all my post won’t be read anyway, as people only read the posts of women and foreigners, who are stopping people like me from being heard/read/seen*.

*In case it’s misunderstood that was meant with a mixture of irony and sarcasm. I’m not prejudice, just a very naughty boy.

P.S if there are any major grammar or spelling mistakes it is because I was half asleep, don’t bully me.

Having said that (well actually having written that but I heard that’s what journalists say in real life) part of me believes that the film industry, and culture in general, needs someone like Stone. Someone willing to create debate over the truth behind a person or event (even if it’s not his attention), providing a voice for outsider (yeah im not sure if thats true either) views. On the other hand theres a side of me that thinks Oliver Stone feeds to the often unhealthy diet of conspiracy theorists. So much so that major 9/11 conspiracy theorists (am I right in thinking that’s a harsh term…confused) were annoyed that Stones “World Trade Centre” didn’t give them a voice. At least that’s what I heard, mate, no what i mean (cockney get-out clause if it turns out to be untrue, maybe Stone should use that line in his films, I certainly believe his films need more cockneys, as all Hollywood films do).

Enough that down to the supposed topic. For those of you interested ( or those of you who haven’t seen it already because I took so long to right this…bitter) here’s a link to the W trailer, actually here it is.

Personally I’m intrigued (although I’m still unsure), especially seeing Thandie Newton as a freakishly accurate yet more attractive Condoleeza Rice (sorry Condoleeza your not my type) and Ioan Gruffudd as an odd, possibly blonde, Tony Blair. It may or may not be accurate, but seeing as it’s about a man I have no sympathy for (understatement) I wouldn’t care, he deserves any humiliation he gets (may be a band wagon but a fair and well made one). Although Oliver Stone says it will be a “fair” depiction (add cockney get-out clause, I also apologise to all cockneys as it is an inaccurate depiction of cockneys), although i think a fair depiction will show his failings (as a politician and a human being) enough without any “Stoneism’s” (made up ism). Now having contradicted myself and wondering whether my criticisms are fair I’ll leave you with a link to a similar article (sort of) written by someone who can write, here

Anyhoo I have always found something special in the works of Stewart Lee. His material like most great art holds a specific signature that you could only imagine from his lips.  Not even Joe Pasquelle could perform them (if you dont understand watch “90′s Comedian”, you’ll get no explanation from me). Unlike the words of Jim Davison which could easily be associated with any other bigoted comic/ignorant fool, or one of your every day racists (or societies mold-that’s mold not mould- as I like to call them). You may be wandering why I mention Jim “Satan’s stool sample” Davidson and that he’s just an echo of comedy’s pre-p.c past (more on that later). However I am still haunted by the fact that in my town of Southampton jim, jethro and chubby brown seem to perform twice a year, in the largest theatres.

As each word that Stewart Lee expertly times is spawned from every experience that has marked and inspired him (or not, to be honest everything i am writing is probably irrelevant and been written before by someone who doesn’t have annoyingly long “random” brackets). Showing Comedy as the art form it is. However Stewart Lee would probably like me to say that there are plenty of other comedians that show the art of comedy (although having not met him or know him in anyway, he might not, I don’t know…leave me alone).

On another point (or a very similar one), not only is Stewart Lee hilarious, there’s usually a meaning behind his humour.  Which often leaves you in a thoughtful yet joyous mood. After realising the upcoming release of his latest DVD I went through a searching frenzy on youtube and found all sorts of clips. One of my favourite being from David Badiel’s radio programme “Heresey”, in which Stewart lee responds to the opinion that “political correctness has gone mad”. Which I believe anyone who holds the opinion should watch (it’s an audio clip but it’s in a video format…bullies). To be honest the only reason I started this post is to spread the clip, which having been around you probably know about it anyway, which not only shows yet again the irrelevance of this post (and most likely any others) but draws it to a close. For now anyway, until I return to edit spelling misttakkes.