Here we go again, is there no end to what people are going to go out of their way to be offended about? I wonder if TVNZ would have pulled a show over the mocking of an English name or maybe a Spanish or Italian one?
I went to school with a guy whose surname was Cox. There was no end to the penis jokes and last time I saw him a few months ago he commented that it still happened all the time. People think they’re so funny and don’t realize that they’re repeating something he’s been hearing daily since he was a kid. It wears a bit thin after a while but you can’t change the world so he smiles and moves on.
Another mate had the surname Cumming and if he heard “are you coming Cumming” and many other variations just one more time, I’m sure he was ready to top himself. He never did and like Cox, he smiles and still just gets on with it.
I’m sure both Cox and Cumming would have little interest in any TV show that went on about Cox and Cumming. You can’t spend your life being offended, however, and I accept that Tangata Whenua may have their own cultural view of their world and if we’re to live together in harmony, there needs to be some give and take on both sides. But it does become tedious after a while because the whining becomes a never-ending constant. Ironically, most of the whining doesn’t come from Tangata Whenua, most of whom have a really good sense of humour and are very comfortable having a laugh at their own expense, taking and giving and living life to the full. Usually, it’s some do-gooding halfwit of pakeha descent who takes offence on their behalf and makes a big song and dance about it.
The Stuff headline read
“TVNZ show pulled after Maori MP complains twice over name mocking”
“TVNZ has taken down an episode of comedy show Have You Been Paying Attention? after Maori MP Harete Hipango twice criticised the mocking of her surname.”
Personally, I have little interest in these talentless drudges masquerading as comedy shows so I never watch them but Stuff very kindly provided a clip of the offending piece so I was able to watch and be appropriately and fully offended by it.
In this particular show, alleged comedienne Urzila Carlson was asked if Hipango was the last name of a National MP or if it referred to a dairy and gluten-free yoghurt. Wow – that is just such a funny question, guaranteed to stimulate the intellect and deliver a whole range of side-splitting options (in my case high-level eye-rolling).
Evidently Ms Hipango posted on social media about it and Stuff was quick to capitalise on the instant “breaking news” and make a MSM story out of it.`
“Hipango initially said after the show’s broadcast “Last night I opportunistically turned to TV2- prime time viewing to catch this moment – Hipango – is it the MP or yoghurt?“…It really sounds ‘up itself’ so I’m gonna say….”
“My 3. adult children who carry my whanau name Hipango have paid attention and like their mother are not amused at the poor taste humour of a Sth AfricaNZ kiwi so-called ‘comedienne’ bastardising our family/whanau name on national television in order to generate a few half-hearted laughs. “As a state-owned entity that should be guided by Treaty principles, TVNZ needs to reevaluate its approach Te Ao Maori, and its understanding of how an insult to one’s name is, by extension, an insult to one’s whakapapa. “This kind of sophomoric humour is a tone deaf reflection of how M?ori culture and values have been consistently overlooked, particularly during this crisis time. “What’s in a name? Whakapapa. Perhaps they need to ask themselves whether they “have been paying attention”.
I join Ms Hipango and her 3 adult children in not being amused. I don’t share the cultural thing with them but I understand it. I’m not sure whether the Treaty warrants being raised or the fact that it’s a state owned enterprise. I don’t think Whakapapa or culture is particularly relevant either.
For me, the unfunniness of the programme is bordering on criminal.
Comedy is supposed to be funny. If you’re going to make fun of something, someone, a name, a country, a race – if it’s funny (as opposed to offensive) it might be ok. Even funny and offensive can go together within reason. Unfunny doesn’t cut it in comedy. Unfunny and coarse or offensive doesn’t cut it either.
As comedy goes, these programmes are often unfunny, boorish and a blight on our culture and we could do without them. They add nothing to our values or our lives. TVNZ would be doing all of us a big favour not to bother with such bottom of the barrel scrapings.
We don’t need to look too far back to recall how irreverent and funny Billy T James was. Sadly, when Billy T James died and far too young, it seems he took the best of New Zealand comedy with him.
The ongoing abominations that have been labelled “comedy” by our TV channels are sad, foul mouthed apologies for the genre as are the perpetrators who pose as comedians. To be fair, the same can be said of much international alleged comedy that is quite simply not funny so it’s not unique to New Zealand.
It would probably be fair to say I am not amused. On that point I am totally in agreement with Ms Hipango.
