Comments on: Ben Elton apologises after GNW ‘rant’

By: Neon Kitten

Neon Kitten — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:48:39 +0000

Re Ten stealing (yes, stealing) David’s article unattributed for their own site: where I come from, that’s called plagiarism. It’s actually illegal.

Shameful, Ten. Print journalists have lost their jobs for far less than that.

By: john

john — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:39:40 +0000

He was funnier than mikey robins

By: David Knox

David Knox — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:43:08 +0000

I see TEN is now taking content from TV Tonight... attribution would have been nice guys!

By: Si Williams

Si Williams — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:27:24 +0000

Besides, he has got a book to sell

Any publicity is good publicity.

By: Si Williams

Si Williams — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:19:32 +0000

Ben Elton has often made such comments about the Royals when he’s wearing his
comedy hat, yet speaks quite warmly of them when interviewed as a person.
It’s him playing his traditional role as the angry socialist when on stage.
The British tabloids probably tried an anti-Ben beat up, mixing it with
it’s Aussie setting to exploit the old charicature of Oz as a rude, disrespectful
hotbed of Republicanism.
It’s just everyone playing at stereotypes… that’s all. No biggie…

By: Shane

Shane — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:39:57 +0000

I wonder how many people here rushing to defend Elton for what he said (and, for the record, he spoke true on it all) cried for Harry Connick’s head on a pike?

By: MJBegg

MJBegg — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:05:24 +0000

I didn’t see the programme in question, but from what the quotations give, the comments did seem a tad disrespectful and inappropriate.

As far as having jokes about politics, Her Majesty is above politics, and we’d hope above poor taste as reported here. This is the Queen of Australia we’re talking about, not a politician or business leader.

By: Mac

Mac — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:53:58 +0000

It was hilarious. One is amused.

By: Someone BBBA

Someone BBBA — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:42:36 +0000

The UK tabloids are renowned for being the trashiest, most low-brow media in the world, so this doesn’t surprise me. Most of the UK population probably couldn’t care less. Something like 70 – 80 percent of them support the monarchy, but so many of them only do so because they want to preserve the history etc. Only old farts would be upset by jokes about the Queen.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:56:02 +0000

Wow. Don’t the British press have better things to do than watch Australian TV shows on the internet?

By: Kay

Kay — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:35:27 +0000

Oh Good grief, hes a comedian. Of course hes going to say things like this. BTW does the truth hurt?

By: KFed

KFed — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:49:03 +0000

Ben has become a tired, boring hack. Even when paying out the royals – which is a cheap and easy gag for a Brit to an Aussie audience – he does ancient material. Did he say a single thing you haven’t heard said before?
How about his woeful “satire” on Idol? Or the We Will Rock You musical, which seemed to have been written by a 10-year-old?
Please retire quietly.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:40:06 +0000

So it appears Australia isn’t the only country that needs to harden the fudge up.

By: newtaste

newtaste — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:31:20 +0000

Seems his bad back has headed south and turned into being a pain in the a**e.

By: zac

zac — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:43:50 +0000

Watching it was hilarious but It’s funny how mean spirited it sounds written in the article. A typical UK tabloid beat up! Ben really has nothing to apologise for.

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:23:30 +0000

Remember in the late 80′s when Ben Elton led the push to have the likes of Benny Hill off UK television because of his material — could the karma bus be turning full circle, courtesy of the tabloids, and coming back to take out another Ben?