I WANT to give a big shout out this week to the Scottish comedian Frankie Boyle.
The dude makes me laugh joyous, hearty gut chuckles with tears streaming down my cheeks, which few stand-ups these days can do.
I was truly vexed when I read an article about his exit from the BBC show Mock The Week, which, if it was on and I was near a TV, I tuned into, solely to catch a bit of the Boyle’s banter.
He was recently criticised for remarks he had made about some female athlete, the specifics of which didn’t interest me in the slightest, for no doubt mountains were erected where molehills once comfortably lived.
What did interest me was the fact that the BBC producers apparently requested specific jokes be made about this woman, rather than give the panel the freedom to discuss what they liked.
It’s outrageous that this directive was issued and makes me wonder the extent to which the regulars on Mock The Week and Have I Got News For You are gagged and how heavily vetted the news they choose to cover is.
This behaviour is another clear warning of the degree to which information is filtered and dumbed down for mass broadcast. It’s the hypocrisy of our so-called free speech society.
Ever since I was introduced to the genius of the late, great Bill Hicks, I’ve sat patiently waiting for someone to take up his mantle and tackle head-on the serious issues of the day with guts, gusto and comedic flare.
But my wait has been fruitless.
Stand-up comedy is a stepping stone for most these days, as is the music business.
What was once a musical escape from reality, as led by The Beatles, Dylan, Hendrix and Morrison, has become a fast track to the Hollywood Hills and lucrative endorsements.
I used to enjoy Diet Coke before Duffy cycled by with a sore throat full of helium – someone throw her a Strepsil please or pass me a Pepsi!
I can’t believe the likes of Ice Cube and Ice T are Hollywood regulars and even Snoop Dogg sold out with his own reality TV show.
I mean what’s next – Dr Dre and Eminem scoring a movie about McDonalds?
Chris Rock tackles issues central to the black community but never goes too far – he’s got way too much to lose these days.
And as for the rest of them, well they’re just hoping for a wacky neighbour sitcom or a guest spot on Never Mind The Buzzcocks.
That’s what was so pure and selfless about Bill Hicks’ comedy.
He didn’t care who he annoyed; he didn’t care if he spoke out against the US, its people and its culture.
He wasn’t after a ticket to a film career, he saw it as his duty to educate the ill-informed.
In my opinion, no one since Bill (he died of cancer in 1994) has had the guts to challenge “the man”.
If you want the truth, use and protect the internet, people. It’s the fortuitously placed branch in your own personal quicksand.
The truth IS out there.