banned episode?

[slats7]

To the best of my knowledge, I had never seen this before in the States. Conversely, every other Xmas-themed show has been aired. Please don't tell me it's because Grainger is seen in "blackface" at the very end of the episode. That would be unbelieveably petty, as no malice was implied by the AYBS gang.



Edited by Tiddles to reflect this warning: http://www.minki.net/aybsforum/viewtopic.php?t=679

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

You may very well be right. I know "Roots?" was shown here in PA for the longest time and then suddenly, it disappeared from the line up. That also has "Black Face" in it. Pety ? Yes I beleive it is. I got sick of all this PC crap so I bought the DVD Box Sets. Haven't turned PBS one since. No one is going to tell me what I can or can't watch. Fascist !!!!

[Lucas The Tucas]

TV Networks do what they can to offend people, {in all ways}. Then they won't show things because they might be racist.

ALL OF THIS AFTER THEY DO THEIR BEST TO PUSH YOUR BUTTONS.

Lucas

[missmacinthorpe]

I recently downloaded Father Christmas Affair off the Net. To the best of my knowledge, I had never seen this before in the States. Conversely, every other Xmas-themed show has been aired. Please don't tell me it's because Grainger is seen in "blackface" at the very end of the episode. That would be unbelieveably petty, as no malice was implied by the AYBS gang.

They've shown FCA one time here in Alabama. They have never shown "Roots?" :shrug:

[Tiddles]

This subject pops up from time to time, and in answer to the OP's lament, FCA and Roots are two eps that often get the chop on public TV stations that carry AYBS? When I lived in Boston, I do not remember seeing either of these eps. There are "blackface" scenes in both these eps, but there are far more non-PC type eps of AYBS? that are still shown. We've discussed this before, but practically every ethnicity gets razzed at one time or another on AYBS?

Japanese
Arabs
Jews
The Scots
Fat people
Little People
Lower Class
Upper Class
Irish
Gays

So yes, it sure seems petty they don't show FCA for the blackface reason....but to me, this episode smacks slightly of unseemly relationships between adult males and male children. The whole "Ho Ho Ho Little Boy.....have I got a surprise for YOU!" complete with the opening of the coat is downright creepy to me. I believe this scene could disturb some viewers much more than blackface makeup. It could be for this reason alone that FCA is not shown.

[slats7]

Judging from the replies, my worst suspicions have been confirmed. What a shame.

http://www.123imagehost.com/uploads/235-73-th-Are_You_Being_Served_-_SP02_-_The_Father_Christmas_Affair.jpg

[missmacinthorpe]

I recently downloaded Father Christmas Affair off the Net. To the best of my knowledge, I had never seen this before in the States. Conversely, every other Xmas-themed show has been aired. Please don't tell me it's because Grainger is seen in "blackface" at the very end of the episode. That would be unbelieveably petty, as no malice was implied by the AYBS gang.

They've shown FCA one time here in Alabama. They have never shown "Roots?" :shrug:

Since APT nearly got its FCC license pulled in the '70s for failure to show programs about African-Americans, I guess they're erring on the side of caution. :o

[LovelyMissShirleyBrahms]

I've always wanted to see the episode of "Roots". I'm disappointed that they never shown it. :(

[dazzlestar14]

If you can obtain the box sets, then you will be able to see Roots? :D

[mamabear197]

deleted!

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

So yes, it sure seems petty they don't show FCA for the blackface reason....but to me, this episode smacks slightly of unseemly relationships between adult males and male children. The whole "Ho Ho Ho Little Boy.....have I got a surprise for YOU!" complete with the opening of the coat is downright creepy to me. I believe this scene could disturb some viewers much more than blackface makeup. It could be for this reason alone that FCA is not shown.

Hell, they smeared the whole Michael Jackson bit all over the TV. Funny how when stuff is called "NEWS" they can get away with murder.....

[Lucas The Tucas]

Dear Mr.,Miss, or Mrs. Slats7

As you can see WE {The other members of this board have a great passion for all the AYBS? shows. And other shows as well.} even if we like them alot or not and how they are are shown on regular tv.

We believe that there are alot of stupid rules and regulations twisted around to fit someone needs without looking at the whole picture.

So I will say welcome to the ZOO____Errrrr____Board or Forum...

And keep-up the good posts.

Lucas The Tucas :D

[missmacinthorpe]

What a shame! I have only seen this episode once, and would love to see it again. I to am trying to get it downloaded. I am still crossing my fingers for the dvd box set for christmas so I don't have to keep trying to get the one's I am missing. Lately they have taken the enjoyment out of programs that we found so enjoyable a few years back. It was just funny. Plain and simple. mamabear197

Before the DVDs came along, I had to get "Roots?" via a tape-trading newsgroup (it was a tape of a tape of a tape, etc.--the video quality wasn't very good). Then I got a better copy from the webmaster of the Grace Brothers Multimedia Department site (it was a wonderful site--too bad it has vanished). So, before the DVDs, I had never even seen a first-generation broadcast of "Roots?" I think the blackface bit is tacky myself, but that shouldn't keep it off US television almost 100% (they've shown 50-year-old racist cartoons, for instance, with the understanding of the history involved). I've had a plea for APT to televise "Roots?" on my AYBS? site ever since the VVV opened in 1998, for all the good it's done. :shrug:

[Tiddles]

Somewhat OT: I've said this before but there is a "blackface" episode of "All In The Family" that is shown in syndication all the time. He's performing in a minstral show with his Kings of Queens Lodgemates the night Gloria has her baby. No one seems bothered by that one. :shrug:

[minki]

They've shown FCA one time here in Alabama. They have never shown "Roots?" :shrug:

They used to show Roots all the time in North Carolina and Virginia O_o The Father Christmas one, however, they never aired as often.

[LovelyMissShirleyBrahms]

In Wendy's book she said the episode "Roots" will likely never be repeated on TV since all the cast but Shirley were blacked up for the finale, which wouldn't go down too well these days!

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

In Wendy's book she said the episode "Roots" will likely never be repeated on TV since all the cast but Shirley were blacked up for the finale, which wouldn't go down too well these days!

Did she ever say why she didn't do the blackface ?? That one always interested me.

[LovelyMissShirleyBrahms]

No. I didn't get it to tell you the truth.

[Tiddles]

Did she ever say why she didn't do the blackface ?? That one always interested me.

She said basically what was mentioned in the post above. Everyone but Shirley was in blackface. She doesn't say anything about her own personal objections to it. So I gather it just wasn't written in that she needed to be in blackface. Maybe the writers thought she'd be prettier without it as "Miss Brahms" and had her in the mix to add some contrast? Who knows.... :shrug:

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

Did she ever say why she didn't do the blackface ?? That one always interested me.

She said basically what was mentioned in the post above. Everyone but Shirley was in blackface. She doesn't say anything about her own personal objections to it. So I gather it just wasn't written in that she needed to be in blackface. Maybe the writers thought she'd be prettier without it as "Miss Brahms" and had her in the mix to add some contrast? Who knows.... :shrug:

That is one thing that puzzled me since I've started to watch the show.

[dazzlestar14]

I always found that case interesting too. But if you take notice, the lift girls weren't wearing Blackface either, so maybe the females were supposed to stay white. However, then the question of why Mrs.Slocombe was blackface would come up. So it's a very confusing argument. I think in the end, Wendy probably felt that it was an inappropriate scene to do, and decided to not wear the makeup. The other thing to consider, is maybe she was allergic to the makeup. So many possibilities.

[mamabear197]

Over the holidays they showed Father Christmas Affair on PBS with Mr Grainger in black face and the young boy picking him as Father Christmas. Then YTV showed Roots at 2.05 a.m with all in the black faces except Miss Brahms. It was wonderful to be able to see these again. I had only ever seen them once. MB

[dazzlestar14]

MB, I saw those on YTV too! It was kind of late, but I can be a night owl sometimes. :o

[sonosun]

Sorry Dazzlestar you only get to have one account on this board.You'll have to save NightOwl7 for another place.:hat:

[dazzlestar14]

I haven't a clue to what you are talking about. I meant I stay up really late sometimes. :wink:

[Mr. Harmon]

That's odd, here in Arkansas (in the Bible Belt no less) they've run every episode at least once.

For many years our PBS station contracted for all 13 seasons and as soon as it would end they would re-start. They never eliminated any of the episodes until they quit running it altogether. :shrug:

[missmacinthorpe]

That's odd, here in Arkansas (in the Bible Belt no less) they've run every episode at least once.

For many years our PBS station contracted for all 13 seasons and as soon as it would end they would re-start. They never eliminated any of the episodes until they quit running it altogether. :shrug:

Well, it's more to do with (perceived) racism than religion. Maybe when APT dared to show FCA they got complaints; I don't know. They could show "Roots" at midnight with a disclaimer or something. Maybe the financial institution (VP Funds, whoever that is) that underwrites the Saturday night Britcom line-up has a hand in it (fear of offending potential customers). Maybe I'm attributing more intelligence and cunning to APT than they deserve. :lol:

MM

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

That's odd, here in Arkansas (in the Bible Belt no less) they've run every episode at least once.

For many years our PBS station contracted for all 13 seasons and as soon as it would end they would re-start. They never eliminated any of the episodes until they quit running it altogether. :shrug:

You mean 10 Seasons..... :wink:

[dazzlestar14]

I recall there being a mention of another ending to Roots? where the staff perform the Somerset musical in placement of the Black Minstrel Show. Nobody I know has seen this before, so I doubt it is true. I believe it was from the Are You Being Served? Forever site.

[Tiddles]

I believe it was from the Are You Being Served? Forever site.


Which would be this one.

[dazzlestar14]

I knew I would find the exact location, it is: http://www.minki.net/aybs/aybsfaq.html#faq11

However, it has no mention of the Somerset scene specifically, I may have heard that from another person. It just mentions that the blackface scene was edited out.

[LovelyMissShirleyBrahms]

Wendy admitted it in her book about the blackface. When I saw the episode "Roots?" everyone was blackfaced except Miss. Brahms. I wonder why?

[Dean]

It would be interesting to know of the reason the show doesn't appear in syndication was because of content or because it was a one-off Christmas special. I can think of several other British shows where Christmas specials don't run in syndication and I rather think that may be more of the reason here than censorship as such.

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

It would be interesting to know of the reason the show doesn't appear in syndication was because of content or because it was a one-off Christmas special. I can think of several other British shows where Christmas specials don't run in syndication and I rather think that may be more of the reason here than censorship as such.

With our country (USA) being so anal retentitive about being PC and appeasing everyone, I would venture to say that censorship plays a part. It's going to get to the point that you will be staring at a blank screen because someone decided that everything offends everyone.....

[Ronald]

In Holland all episodes where showed as they where in England, so with a black-faced Mr. Grainger in The Father Christmas Affair and also a black person in Roots?

But in Holland we al love the episode 'German Week', because when there are German's insulted everybody laughs.

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

In Holland all episodes where showed as they where in England, so with a black-faced Mr. Grainger in The Father Christmas Affair and also a black person in Roots?

But in Holland we al love the episode 'German Week', because when there are German's insulted everybody laughs.

I guess a while back that the German's weren't so popular huh ??

[Ronald]

There's a Soccer World Cup in Germany coming up, Greg, and in Holland where allready hoping at a final between Holland and Germany, to ban out he 1974 disaster.

In Germany, the episode German Week was never broadcasted.

(In fact: The whole series of Dad's Army where not showed in Germany, because Capt. Mainwaring insulted the German in every episode several times. In Holland we love this shows. I bit childish i think, but with no harm at all)

[Mrs Featherstone]

In the UK "The Father Christmas Affair" was missed out on the last rerun on BBC national television, but shown on Satellite and Cable on UK Gold.

We get constant reruns of series 1-5 of It Ain't Half Hot Mum on Cable and Satellite with Michael Bates blacked up as his character Ranji Ram, which some people find offensive. I am not personally offended as the show was written in a different era, and I think an allowance should be made for this when watching the shows 30 years later.

[Ronald]

Michael Bates, a very good actor. Unfortunatly he died during the shows, after that Aint It Half Hot Mum was never as good as it was before.

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

There's a Soccer World Cup in Germany coming up, Greg, and in Holland where allready hoping at a final between Holland and Germany, to ban out he 1974 disaster.

In Germany, the episode German Week was never broadcasted.

(In fact: The whole series of Dad's Army where not showed in Germany, because Capt. Mainwaring insulted the German in every episode several times. In Holland we love this shows. I bit childish i think, but with no harm at all)

This is something I guess I'll never get. In the eppy "German Week", yes I know the staff makes cracks about the Germans but to look at it only in that light is taking out of it the wrong message. I think it was also poking fun at the staff themselves (being British) for having such a narrow minded view towards the Germans. Heaping the past to the present day and not letting things go. So in essence, the staff were making just as much fun of themselves as they were the Germans.
Like with "All In The Family". A lot of the racial slurs that Archie was spouting out made him look like a jerk. That's what we loved about Archie Bunker. He thought he was right all the time but we knew better.

[Ronald]

Ah, Archie Bunker, a great actor in All in the Family. And his wife singing... Brrr... just as Madame Edith from Allo Allo.

In Holland we've had the show 'In Voor en Tegenspoed' about 8 years ago. In this show the very good actor Rijk de Gooyer played the role of Fred Schuyt, wo was a sort of Archie Bunker, but even crueler in his lines. Of course it was more dan 20 years later...

Of course the English made fun out of themselves in German Week, but they've also maded some jokes about the English.

In fact in Dad's Army there was an episode where a German parachuter was dangling from the Town Hall. In that show all the privates, Corpl. Jones and Captain Mainwaring made some remarks about Germans, but the local older man Mr. Bluett (played by.... Harold Bennett) stood op for them and said that The Germans made all sorts of good products:

Some lines:

Mr. Hoges: 'Captain Mainwairing has no respect from my helmed'
Mr. Bluett: 'Germans make very good helmeds too'
Mr. Hodges (shouting above to Captain Mainwaring and his man who are hidden up at the Town Hall): 'I've never enjoyed this war more since I've made chief warden. But you've ruined everything, anytime. I hope you will be stucked there forever.'
Mr. Bluett: 'He never hears you from here. You need a megaphone. (waits) Germans makes very goods megaphones too...'

[AlexDS69]

I only recall seeing the "Roots?" episode once. That, and "Monkey Business" remain the only episodes of AYBS that I don't remember much of through repeated viewings. It was probably a tacky episode to begin with, since it came at the time of Alex Haley's "Roots" being a worldwide smash.