Jeremy Clarkson Fired

[MartyG]

Adrienne Barbeau probably not going to cut it given she's drawing her pension now.

->Open Spoiler<-

Can't get that img spoiler to work right

[Asura]

Seems a bit weird the BBC backtracking and saying they won't pick a female presenter "just for the sake of it".

Half of the planet is female. Are they literally unable to find ONE that can present Top Gear?

[chipsgravy]

Seems a bit weird the BBC backtracking and saying they won't pick a female presenter "just for the sake of it".

Half of the planet is female. Are they literally unable to find ONE that can present Top Gear?

I too find this very odd considering the BBC's recentish policy regarding comedy panel shows and that each show MUST contain a female panellist. Or maybe it's due to the backlash this received that they backtracked hastily.

[Neon Ignition]

Probably had all their preferred options turn it down so need to back peddle. They do themselves no favours at all by giving the impression they're just trying to tick a box. Same with the comedy panel route, over simplified solution to the issue that does no favours.

[eastyy]

Yeah should just give the best person the job regardless being male or female.

I find with mock the week for example i have to say i really cannot believe they are the best of the female talent out there

[Asura]

Yeah should just give the best person the job regardless being male or female.

In a perfect world, that'd be true - and that should be how it is.

However, when you see all those panel-shows often with all-male casts, you realise that they must have a male-centric viewpoint - the old-guard opinion that "women aren't funny" and all that trash. Otherwise that would've never come about. They stick to what they know, which in this case are blokes who do stand-up, instead of getting out and looking for new talent, much of which would probably be female these days (certainly more than in the 80s). Sometimes you need to place arbitrary rules in order to get people to at least try to change.

[Dogg Thang]

^Yep. When certain areas skew overwhelmingly one way, sometimes you have to actively push a change. A generation later, you likely won't have to.

[Colin]

Not really wanting to add fuel to that fire, but I've never seen a single great female stand up, though I've seen more than my fair share of awful ones.

[Dogg Thang]

There is a Chelsea Peretti set on netflix that is about one of the funniest comedy sets I have seen in years.

[Colin]

I've watched that, really like her in Brooklyn nine nine. The stand up was ok for me, not great.

[Dogg Thang]

Horses for courses. If that is indeed a real expression... it cracked me up.

[Colin]

Comedy is subjective DT, just like everything else on here.

[The Moleman]

Jo Brand on QI is hilarious, pick her!

[VR46]

No, no, no. Not Jo Brand. Really hope they go for a car person rather than a comedian.

Back to the other male, I quite like Guy Martin, but think he's in a bit of trouble at the moment for admitting doing 150mph or something on a public road.

[Pikate]

As a woman I'll pipe up in defence of my gender and say Caitlin Moran is very funny, Shappi Khorsandi seems really sharp and quick witted too from what I've seen of her on chat shows. It's harder for women to be funny, if a woman said the things people like David Mitchell said it'd just be perceived as bitchy/catty and when you think about it how many stand-ups on TV didn't breakthrough from Live at the Apollo or a BBC panel show? Not many and that just seems to be a huge boys club.

I also think the "women aren't funny" thing is very prevalent in society. For example if a guy bombs on a comedy show it's because he sucks, if a woman bombs it's because women aren't funny. Anyone who doubts the ability of women to be funny should google Dorothy Parker quotes.