John Cleese, news commentator

[Bob Jersey]

The 80-something comedy legend joins rightie-leaning GB News, even though he described himself (to BBC Radio 4's "Today") as an "old-fashioned liberal" and argued that “GB [is] a free speech channel.”

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/john-cleese-gb-news-woke-1235236675/ (link)

B

[Adam Bowie]

Cleese has sadly become something a caricature of his former self, so this doesn't surprise me especially. And I'm sure the money is useful too...

That said, GB News is almost certainly still hemorrhaging cash, a bit like their rival TalkTV (home of Piers Morgan in the UK). UK broadcasting rules mean they can't just set-up shop as a UK version of Fox News or similar. They do tread a fine line though.

Adam

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TVorNotTV" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tvornottv+...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tvornottv/b67bdde5-1a9f-463c-8700-4d86d92ab0f1n%40googlegroups.com.

[Steve Timko]

I follow Cleese on Twitter and he is highly critical of the established newspapers, especially over their lack of coverage of snooping into privacy of celebrities. That must be a factor in this.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tvornottv/CAD_sJGDZ5shoA%2Br6%2B%3DRJA44Bu%2BCOw3oAUQvEQTC1pxfVMk5BCw%40mail.gmail.com.

[PGage]

He is also still periodically funny, but the cranky old man ratio is way up…

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tvornottv/CAH5J8yw31m%3DhkgQBYgrbDFj5wV3asrmosJxxvJGYcc4GTcOmMA%40mail.gmail.com.

--

Sent from Gmail Mobile

[Adam Bowie]

Marina Hyde at The Guardian says it all much better than I could:  https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/oct/11/john-cleese-broadcast-cancelled-bbc

It begins:

"How very interesting to hear John Cleese explain how he’d be immediately cancelled or censored on the BBC, in comments made freely and at considerable length yesterday in the marquee 8.10am interview slot on the BBC’s flagship Radio 4 news programme."

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tvornottv/CAKGtkY%2B5kNoQXPWkBBP1k2wUBBmyXpGJysH8zsL4OhwdLvsNkg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Kevin M.]

I feel the same way when the right wing takes to Twitter to say they are being censored when they have in some cases millions of followers. What people want goes beyond the freedom to speak; they are demanding that the rest of us validate their speech. 

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tvornottv/CAD_sJGCtE9VFGtwApfEsCVKa-yquo_rx7p%3DBgog2cfwrP1a0yA%40mail.gmail.com.

--

Kevin M. (RPCV)