It is a lie! Why?

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

Stephen Fry's little laugh at the end of this morning's section of his chat and choice with Mr Cowan gave the lie to the fiction [i presume that is understood by all to be such] that these chats are held over the course of a week .... clearly not the case and impossible logistically one would think eh ...


so why pretend? what is the point? a coy little lark? not really in that the little deception exhibits a character which has sought to recast playlist as personality programming and aims for presentational impact not substantive import .... this insulting little fiction [even to see through it but go along with the joke 'all insiders now eh' is insulting] is a perfect little hologram of the greater betrayal of public service arts broadcasting inflicted upon us by Mr RW and the Suits@Aunt who have presumably been on his back these last five years to redesign the cola bottle ....

no ta

[Pabmusic]

There is an echo here of an old literary device I referred to recently in another post. Take for instance the opening of the Coen brothers' wonderful Fargo: "This is a true story".

That is the point - it's not a true story at all. Joel Coen admitted openly that it was a literary device - and there are many other examples (Arthur Conan Doyle was responsible for many) - but there were nonetheless tourists from (e,g. famously) Japan who travelled to Minnesota to hunt for the suitcase of money.

When does a deliberate lie become a 'literary device'?

[Blotto]

I've heard that when Jack Dee opens "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" saying, for instance, "This week, we're in Bolton", that they were in Bolton that week not in Bolton this week because the programme was recorded weeks and weeks before this week, it was.

It's a fraud and completely ruins the whole show (which I hate and is horrible anyway). :p

[DracoM]

Committing oneself to listening to but a very few minutes of Stephen Fry would generate exactly that kind of scream from me.

[Blotto]

I've a strong feeling it may become my default response to more or less everything online.

I've used it twice this morning, already.

[french frank]

I've heard that when Jack Dee opens "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" saying, for instance, "This week, we're in Bolton", that they were in Bolton that week not in Bolton this week because the programme was recorded weeks and weeks before this week, it was.

It's a fraud and completely ruins the whole show (which I hate and is horrible anyway). :p

(Don't think I could stand the scream).

I remember that on ISIHAC - how the audience used to roar with laughter when they were introduced as if the recording was just starting, when in fact they had just finished an earlier one. I remember when Listeners' Choice started on Radio 3 - it was live every week; then I think it went to one live recording with the following week recorded straight afterwards. Then it was recording six weeks' links one after the other and the music was edited in. Then it was dropped.

(I hated ISIHAC too - can't understand its devoted fandom. Sorry, not funny).

I have a feeling the whole week's CotW is recorded in one go, but as it's not live anyway I suppose it doesn't matter.

Why is Stephen Fry such a BBC favourite?

[Stanfordian]

(Don't think I could stand the scream).

I remember that on ISIHAC - how the audience used to roar with laughter when they were introduced as if the recording was just starting, when in fact they had just finished an earlier one. I remember when Listeners' Choice started on Radio 3 - it was live every week; then I think it went to one live recording with the following week recorded straight afterwards. Then it was recording six weeks' links one after the other and the music was edited in. Then it was dropped.

(I hated ISIHAC too - can't understand its devoted fandom. Sorry, not funny).

I have a feeling the whole week's CotW is recorded in one go, but as it's not live anyway I suppose it doesn't matter.

Why is Stephen Fry such a BBC favourite?

Hiya french frank, It's the BBC obsession with celebrity culture.

[Sir Velo]

I have a feeling the whole week's CotW is recorded in one go, but as it's not live anyway I suppose it doesn't matter.

Almost certainly. The COTW podcasts are a shambles too; frequently referring to works one will hear "tomorrow" (sic) or "later in the week" (sic) () or to pieces of music we never get to hear on the podcast.

Why is Stephen Fry such a BBC favourite?

Brings in the punters?

[Nick Armstrong]

Stephen Fry's little laugh at the end of this morning's section of his chat and choice with Mr Cowan gave the lie to the fiction

Oh Armando Ianucci did it even more pointedly last week - when RC said the thing about our 'next chat tomorrow', AI gave a crafty laugh and said in a very ironic tone something like 'o yes I can't wait'... If a big knowing wink could be audible on radio, that was it!

He also poked fun at the ratings / 'accessible music' obsession - having chosen a modern piece, I think Agon, he said "have we lost them Rob? are they still with us? are we on our own here?" plainly referring to the desired 'Essential Classics' audience... Not sure whether RC 'got it' (I think he thought AI was referring to the music, and said 'No they've gone now').

Anyway I do recommend the Ianucci interviews (the four that are left) which I found more congenial than the burbling stream-of-consciousness of SF this morning (although there are ... quite interesting nuggets in the flow of words)

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

the burbling stream-of-consciousness of SF this morning

inaudible mutterings

thanks for reminding me of Ianucci that must be where the bile first stirred

[vinteuil]

... I suppose I shd doff the titfer in respect to those of you who are still strong enuff to wade thro' Mr Cowan's oleaginous burblings and those of his sleb guests. But I ca'n't, really.

I mean - how can you endure it??

[Nick Armstrong]

More burbling!!!

Depends on the guest. It's the sledgehammer pre-preparation of RC's questions that churns my stomach, more than his oleaginousness... oleaginosity... ahem...

[vinteuil]

his oleaginousness... oleaginosity... ahem...

... oléaginosité? oléaginitude?? oléaginositude???

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

much as i concur with sentiments expressed about Mr C's style and manner, it is his choice .... the lie is not! ... that is down to the Suits@Aunt who must think we are idiots and suckers ..... and this little ploy betrays the vacuity of their approach to R3

[Bryn]

A deceit, or perhaps conceit, rather than a lie, surely?