@@SerendipityChild You can think about a comment, you don't have to just accept it hook line and sinker. Your response outs you as someone who wants to seem clever and thoughtful, but who doesn't actually think through their statements/ views.
@@carpediem5232 pointing out that comedy has a powerful role in shaping public consciousness by raising important topics, in an accessible fashion, for consideration = thoughtless. Okay, buddy. I'm glad you've brought my thoughtlessness to light
@Stephanie Waters Is that what you think you did? Where? You responded to a comment saying that they would like to hear from Henning a statement on Brexit with "the role of comedy is to make us think, not to tell us what to think." And no, pointing out that comedy can play a powerful role in shaping public opinion is not a sign of being particularly thoughtful either. At best, it is pretty mundane.
@carpediem5232 Yes, Carpe. A person had said they'd like a comedian to make a statement about a large shift in foreign and economic policy - namely, Brexit. I've opined that comedy's role is to raise such topics but not to tell us what to think about them. If that's not clear, let this maybe help: when comedians discuss and make light of serious events that's useful. It raises awareness of issues in an accessible way, and in a format where the jokes are understood to not actually be diminishing the import of the issues but making them palatable. When comedians make serious statements on important topics that's also useful - but as the views of minor celebrities / public figures. Not as part of the genre of comedy
I dunno, I enjoyed his turn. Don't know much about his politics, as I've been binging HIGNFY also and haven't gotten back that far yet. But I thought he was doing okay with his ribbing.
I think Ed Balls is charming, but he is not cut out for this. I saw him on Richard Osman, too, and that was not ideal. He was so great on Strictly that he was an obvious call from all the usual suspects -- panel shows, quizzes, etc. But he has done rather better at docos he has hosted, the kind where he participates.