Dumbing down.../Olivia Colman Proms Presentation spoof.

[french frank]

Truth cuts both ways , the remarks about throwing out people who clap in inappropriate places
and turning a 'private, elitist festival into a roaring commercial success'
are as damning as the pillorying of the presenter.

I agree with half of that. But a large number of the Proms concerts were sold out, if that's what was meant: I wouldn't have used the phrase 'roaring commercial success' - and the idea that that is the ultimate justification for everything seems questionable.

[One might also say that the Proms are about the last music festival to be called 'private' or 'elitist', but in any case having young Doctor Who fans flooding in to see Doctor Who wouldn't change that - until such time as these concerts finally take over ...]

I did think it was interesting about how humour is received, though: how many of those listening laughed at the conductor rather than the presenter: both were clearly over the top caricatures.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I've only just caught up with this.

Brilliant.

[Suffolkcoastal]

Can they do one of Breakfast now and then one of intune?

Perhaps a sitcom based on the current R3 too?

[Serial_Apologist]

Can they do one of Breakfast now and then one of intune?

Perhaps a sitcom based on the current R3 too?

Good to see you haven't been washed away, SC!

[amateur51]

Good to see you haven't been washed away, SC!

Hear hear!!

[Suffolkcoastal]

Thanks guys, I'm living in Norwich atm, and close to the castle so out of harms way. My family is still in Lowestoft, but my parents' (where I was living) is at one of the town's highest points, though the flooding got close to the house of one of my brothers. Looking at the pictures of the flood and visiting yesterday, I've seen worse in 2007 and in the 1980's and 90's, so in the end Lowestoft got off lightly I think.

[Serial_Apologist]

My family is still in Lowestoft, but my parents' (where I was living) is at one of the town's highest points

Like Quill's Folly in "Balham, Gateway to the South", then, which "stands nearly six feet above sea level".

[amateur51]

Like Quill's Folly in "Balham, Gateway to the South", then, which "stands nearly six feet above sea level".

Sheer genius, recorded in 1958

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RTWk9QIKS0

[ardcarp]

Dumbing down....

https://m.soundcloud.com/steve-hall-1/mitchell-webb-proms-sketch

[Flay]

Good to hear that excellent sketch again. We discussed in last year.

The comedy cuts both ways though.

[verismissimo]

Not waving, but drowning.

[ardcarp]

Oops

[french frank]

What would be fun (? oh well, I think so ) would be to make a close critical analysis of the points that were being lampooned (yes, both sides) and restate them in a more objective way. I.e. not just to laugh but to demonstrate what really is wrong.

[Suffolkcoastal]

This has all reminded me about a version of the 'Lords Prayer' which I imagined devotees of the recently departed Leader of R3 would say daily, which I scribbled down early last year.

Our Controller, who art in Cloud Cuckoo Land
Dear Leader be thy name
Thy dumbing down shall be done on Radio 3
as it is on Classic FM
Give us our daily Slavonic or Hungarian Dance
Forgive our forays into unusual repertoire
as we forgive those who seek to broaden their musical knowledge
lead us away from any temptation to hear dissonance
and deliver us from scary modern music
for by copying Classic FM
you have achieved your fame and glory
and ended Radio 3 for ever and ever
Amen.

With the most humble apologies to our Lord Jesus Christ, I wonder what he thinks of it all?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]