Israel and British comedy

[Dusty Substance]

Saw a stand up about 20 years. He was talking about his flat and said "I think the previous tenant was Israeli as I keep getting letters addressed to 'The Occupier'" - a comedic earworm I've thought about every time I've seen a similarly addressed letter since.

[Memorex MP3]

I've checked up on a few British comics who are at least somewhat political and have been disappointed to see that, instead of addressing it at all, they're leaning entirely into whimsical self-promotion. Even Stewart Lee; four Guardian articles since October 7th, nothing: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/stewart-lee

Established his position fairly firmly in the Corbyn era as unwilling to go near anything genuinely contentious. Bit shocking he's still doing those guardian articles at this stage though, does anyone like them?!


Chappelle backed off after that one gig, didn't he? Knowing what he's like he probably will blow up about it at some point again though, it'd be very disappointing if he didn't tbh

[phantom_power]

I think you have to be pretty good to make mass slaughter of children and innocent civilians funny so I can see why most comedians might give it a swerve. Not to mention the onslaught of false anti-Semitism claims the would open themselves up to. I know they should be brave heroes of what is right and good but I can't really blame them for saying fuck that for a game of ludo

[dissolute ocelot]

I think you have to be pretty good to make mass slaughter of children and innocent civilians funny so I can see why most comedians might give it a swerve. Not to mention the onslaught of false anti-Semitism claims the would open themselves up to. I know they should be brave heroes of what is right and good but I can't really blame them for saying fuck that for a game of ludo

The actual situation in Palestine, all the history and tainted language and bad-faith arguments, is probably too complicated for anything other than either bigoted comedy or the worst liberal bothsidesism. Although there's still scope for attacking the hypocrisies of the media and politicians, like Boris going on the anti-semitism march given his history of funny racisms, or Sinn Fein going from complaining about the Cranberries' song Zombie being insufficiently pro-killing-children to suddenly taking a moral stance on Israel. Comedy gold there.

Stewart Lee's column meanwhile has long ago turned from a parody of terrible newspaper columnists (i.e. all of them) into just another terrible newspaper column. Still, I'm sure it keeps his children fed.

[Kankurette]

I think you have to be pretty good to make mass slaughter of children and innocent civilians funny so I can see why most comedians might give it a swerve. Not to mention the onslaught of false anti-Semitism claims the would open themselves up to. I know they should be brave heroes of what is right and good but I can't really blame them for saying fuck that for a game of ludo

Yeah, it's...pretty hard to joke about and only a Palestinian could get away with that level of black humour.

[lauraxsynthesis]

Last year I saw a fella at Andrew O'Neill's comedy club. I can't seem to find his name anywhere. He started out getting the audience to throw grapes which he caught in his mouth and he also did some Spanish guitar stuff. When he finally spoke, one of the first things he said was, "I'm Palestinian! I'm not anti-semitic."

[lauraxsynthesis]

I don't know if I can be arsed to watch the Stephen Fry Alternative Message on Channel 4 if it is just standard Zionist erasure of the Palestinians and pushing of that bollocks Baddiel thesis that we all tolerate antisemitism now.

I loved Alexei's message tonight though. Properly funny. https://x.com/skwawkbox/status/1739345241700987384?s=20

[Red82]

Fry's message as described there sounds horrendous.  I'd  probably actually rather watch the Kings Speech than that.  Although Fry is actually friends with the King so take your pick! The Conservative voice of the establishment or the Liberal one.

[Mister Six]

this week's Minnie the Minx was a decently even-handed take on the appalling situation.

Really!? Or is this cheeky Mister Six-fooling shenanigans?

[tribalfusion]

So I've seen some comedians in the US recently touching on Palestine and Israel (some but not all of Palestinian descent).

Has anyone one else in British comedy been dealing with the topic of late?

[lardboy]

Saw a stand up about 20 years. He was talking about his flat and said "I think the previous tenant was Israeli as I keep getting letters addressed to 'The Occupier'" - a comedic earworm I've thought about every time I've seen a similarly addressed letter since.

I think it was Gary Delaney.  He certainly used the joke "I used to annoy my Israeli flatmate by giving him every letter addressed to The Occupier."

Yup, opening joke of this clip:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir3fFBveG_E

[Eukrate]

Was this the guy I saw doing the warm ups at a Taskmaster recording recently?

Northern Irish/Italian?

If its who I'm thinking of then his roots might mean he's got a better insight than a lot of us.
(although he's probably disgustingly young- -didn't live through the worst of the troubles but grew up knowing many who did).

That's him. First time I've seen him mentioned on this site which is strange given how big "Have a Word" has become and his career got a big boost because of it.

He's got an excellent special up on Youtube as well.

[GoblinAhFuckScary]

remember what we do in the shadows dropping a wee little israel-palestine joke. british actors, but american writer though i think

[NoSleep]

remember what we do in the shadows dropping a wee little israel-palestine joke. british actors, but american writer though i think

New Zealand writers, I think, at least the creators are NZers (including Taika Waititi who is both Maori and Jewish). All the actors are NZers in the film (and situated in NZ) but a mix of American and British in the TV series (situated in US).

[GoblinAhFuckScary]

New Zealand writers, I think, at least the creators are NZers (including Taika Waititi who is both Maori and Jewish). All the actors are NZers in the film (and situated in NZ) but a mix of American and British in the TV series (situated in US).

i believe the writer for that episode was Shana Gohd, who appears to at least live and work in the states

[NoSleep]

I wasn't sure whether you were talking about the film or the TV series, but yeah, two of the producers wrote that one (also Max Brockman). Doesn't look like the creators of the series have much to do with it anymore (too busy making films about Hitler Youth kids whose imaginary friend is Adolf Hitler).

[PaoloTramezzani]

I wasn't sure whether you were talking about the film or the TV series, but yeah, two of the producers wrote that one (also Max Brockman). Doesn't look like the creators of the series have much to do with it anymore (too busy making films about Hitler Youth kids whose imaginary friend is Adolf Hitler).

Oh, thank you. I was putting off seeing Hunt For The Wilderpeople before but your description has piqued my interest.

[NoSleep]

Oh, thank you. I was putting off seeing Hunt For The Wilderpeople before but your description has piqued my interest.

That's Jojo Rabbit I'm referencing, which I've also not seen as yet (but has been recommended to me).

[GoblinAhFuckScary]

(too busy making films about Hitler Youth kids whose imaginary friend is Adolf Hitler).

a worthy cause

[phantom_power]

I am sure I am missing something brilliant here but the film is a lot more than that description suggests


And which is worse, Nazis or vampires?

[GoblinAhFuckScary]

I am sure I am missing something brilliant here but the film is a lot more than that description suggests


And which is worse, Nazis or vampires?

[NoSleep]

I am sure I am missing something brilliant here but the film is a lot more than that description suggests

Not the most descriptive of pitches, true. I've not seen it yet but it's on my todo list..

[Armin Meiwes]

I thought JJR was a bit shit really but Hunt for the Wilderpeople is great!

[NoSleep]

And which is worse, Nazis or vampires?

Although he did describe Hitler as a "preening little fool" and had his own ideas on who the master race were.

[lauraxsynthesis]

Edgington!! I'd forgotten him. A middling show but a great character.

[NoSleep]

It had its moments, and some British actors, so we're almost back on topic.

[Jumblegraws]

The past series of The Skewer has some pretty pointed sketches about Israel. A couple of examples (via timestamped Spotify links):
Uncle Jimbo and Israeli self-defence
Time Team exploring Al-Shifa Hospital

[Mr Banlon]

There was an episode from the original run of Spitting Image in the mid-80s with a sketch where they were talking about a country with worst human-rights abuses in the World. The insinuation was they were talking about the (then) South African apartheid government. The 'switcheroo' at the end was that they were actually talking about Israel.

[Zetetic]

I wonder if the two Johns (Bird and Fortune) ever did anything in that vein. Citing Israeli government policy straight seems like it would very much have been their wheelhouse.

[Pimhole]

And which is worse, Nazis or vampires?

(sorry, not British but I couldn't not post it)