Hey Hey it's saturday

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by gtxb67

i wonder why they put that skit on when harry was a guest. sometimes a bit of thought can go a long way. we all know how americans feel towards black people, so why subject him to it. even if harry did not find it offensive, he had to act offended. alot, if not most of his fan base are americans - he cannot afford to offend them by laughing at the skit
besides, the show is meant to be funny, that act was not even remotely funny or entertaining, so why even bother with it

Most Australians (and obviously the ones that approved the act getting on the show) arent aware if the stigma that surrounds the 'black faced entertainer'

As the Jackson Jive were an Australian (amateur) act on an Australian show, its fair enough that only Australian sensibilties were taken into account. Being one of, if not the most laid back country on Earth meant an act like that was a safe bet (a 10 news poll found 89% of voters werent offended)

Yes it was a crap act, but worth having on if only for the nostalgia trip. The groups original appearance in the 80s found its way onto countless Hey Hey gag reels over the last 20 years.

The international controversy this has whipped up is the real joke.

[uranium_death]

I think it's become a real circus. I've seen 'comedians' of many different races take the mickey out of white people...and frankly, it doesn't bother me.
The door has to swing both ways. If that is not allowed, then lock it!

Regardless of this media circus where even the ninny chooks of 'The View' had to put their worthless 2c in (don't they know we don't have 2c coins anymore?) bout how we mistreat Aborigines (Umm...hello...America?), I just want to say that I really enjoyed the two Hey Hey It's Saturday shows, but I do not want to see it come back every week because like The Footy Show, it will lose its appeal over time.

Like the EF XR Wagons, people only want it back because it is no longer around. If it did come back, people would not honour their word in watching it (or buying in the case of an XR Wagon).

I support reunions perhaps once or twice a year though.

[Nikked]

The solution here is to not screen any comedy of any shape at all in case it offends someone.

[FGII-XR6]

harry has issued a statement about his reaction that may clarify things a bit

http://www.connick.com/home

Statement of Harry Connick Jr. Re Hey Hey Blackface Skit From Harry Connick, Jr. - Official Statement - 10/8/2009
Hi Everyone:

I am in Australia now promoting my new CD and I never imagined this trip would have so much controversy. I've visited Australia now for over twenty years. I love the Australian people. I particularly admire the Australians' love of life and their ability to laugh at themselves. Those of you who have seen my shows or seen me in several comedic skits on TV, know that I have absolutely no problem with comedic sendups or making fun of myself or others.

I have watched the media storm that has erupted over my reaction to the Hey Hey blackface skit. Where I come from, blackface is a very specific and very derogatory thing. Perhaps this is different in other parts of the world, but in the American culture, the blackface image is steeped in a negative history and considered offensive. I urge everyone in the media to take a look at the history of blackface to fully understand why it is considered offensive. I also urge you to review the Hey Hey tape and you will see that I did not ascribe any motives to anyone, nor did I call anyone a racist. The blackface skit was a surprise to me and I was simply shocked to see this on TV. I do not believe that the performers intended any harm.

I appreciate the folks who have written in support but please know that I allow everyone their own opinions and can only speak for myself.

-- Harry Connick Jr.

[J.C.]

Originally Posted by au3xr6

harry has issued a statement about his reaction that may clarify things a bit

http://www.connick.com/home

Statement of Harry Connick Jr. Re Hey Hey Blackface Skit From Harry Connick, Jr. - Official Statement - 10/8/2009
Hi Everyone:

I am in Australia now promoting my new CD and I never imagined this trip would have so much controversy. I've visited Australia now for over twenty years. I love the Australian people. I particularly admire the Australians' love of life and their ability to laugh at themselves. Those of you who have seen my shows or seen me in several comedic skits on TV, know that I have absolutely no problem with comedic sendups or making fun of myself or others.

I have watched the media storm that has erupted over my reaction to the Hey Hey blackface skit. Where I come from, blackface is a very specific and very derogatory thing. Perhaps this is different in other parts of the world, but in the American culture, the blackface image is steeped in a negative history and considered offensive. I urge everyone in the media to take a look at the history of blackface to fully understand why it is considered offensive. I also urge you to review the Hey Hey tape and you will see that I did not ascribe any motives to anyone, nor did I call anyone a racist. The blackface skit was a surprise to me and I was simply shocked to see this on TV. I do not believe that the performers intended any harm.

I appreciate the folks who have written in support but please know that I allow everyone their own opinions and can only speak for myself.

-- Harry Connick Jr.

I respect that HCJ is a talented man. However in this case he could be the one standing red faced. Ever seen the movie "Tropic Thunder"?

In that movie it cast Robert Downey Jr playing an Australian actor playing and African American ........ he was painted up ...... but I guess that's OK cause it's Hollywood. Right?

[castellan]

We hear in aus have to remember that the yank treated their african slaves very badly.
I seen on TV, Hermann goring at the Nuremberg trial. shot down the yanks and the poms for there history of treating people like s--t. Hitler was just following in there foot steps.
The yanks try to go on about our abo's treatment, but we did not make them work. but just disregarded them mainly.
And nothing has really changed. just a lot of spin and smoke and mirrors.

[Bundy]

Ha.. Can anyone say BACKFLIP ??

Don't need any negative publicity when there's cd sales dollars on the same page eh..

money talks Harry walks

[belvo]

the thing is australia is such a non racist country that when we see people in black paint we dont find that offencive we think they were just paying homage to the jackson 5.

and on that part on the view how they went on about how australians no what black faces mean i had never heard about black faces in my whole life.

so i think americas the racist country for seeing harmless skits as being racist they did basicly invent racism i think they just try and forget that

[uranium_death]

Originally Posted by Nikked

The solution here is to not screen any comedy of any shape at all in case it offends someone.

We should all just do nothing in case we offend somebody.
We need a limbo would where nothing happens, nothing is said...

But you may offend a chatterbox or people who want noise...

FACT: You cannot please everybody in the world.

[uranium_death]

Originally Posted by belvo

the thing is australia is such a non racist country that when we see people in black paint we dont find that offencive we think they were just paying homage to the jackson 5.

and on that part on the view how they went on about how australians no what black faces mean i had never heard about black faces in my whole life.

so i think americas the racist country for seeing harmless skits as being racist they did basicly invent racism i think they just try and forget that

I reckon Australia is a very racist country. It is just that we are tactful.

I bag certain cultures for their pathetic driving skills, but I don't yell it in their face.
I discussed the Aborigines last week with friends I picked up from the airport last weekend (they had been to Alice Springs and surrounding areas for two weeks). In public, I don't yell it out.

I think every nation has people who are racist.

Some nations are overtly against everybody else, while some are just careful with how they expres themselves.

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by belvo

the thing is australia is such a non racist country that when we see people in black paint we dont find that offencive we think they were just paying homage to the jackson 5.

You must live in a different Australia than I do. I haven't seen the skit yet but racism is rife in Australia.

[DJR-351]

First i would like to say Racisim has been around as long as the human race, every nation has it but the problem is admiting it, until then it will always be a problem....

As far as HHIS goes their was no malice intended, so as far as i am concerned does not constitute Racisim....

I am a Pom from birth, and if i had taken offence to every jibe poked at me in fun, i dare say i would be doing a long stretch in the big house....i think our skin is a bit thicker than the yanks....

[1970galaxie]

The whole point is that the Red Faces skit was not an attempt at racism. It was a Red Faces act! And we all know that they are either serious sometimes, or supposed to make us laugh.
Connick needs to get that chip off his shoulder, and not worry about what we do in our country.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by 1970galaxie

The whole point is that the Red Faces skit was not an attempt at racism. It was a Red Faces act! And we all know that they are either serious sometimes, or supposed to make us laugh.
Connick needs to get that chip off his shoulder, and not worry about what we do in our country.

More like "Black Faces"!

/end lame humor

I suppose this is why the USA took such an offense to it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackface

I thought many more people here would know about it though, my parents didn't have a clue what "blackface" was.

[belvo]

yer fair enough but we see racisim differnt to other countries we think of racism as puting down races but in america symbols are racist whilst in australia no one thought black faces was racist.
just think if harry cronic fr wasent there would all this fuss be made if you watched street talk this year there were so many time were sam was just as racist to black people he called serrena williams a monkey and sain he souldent see a black person in a hoody

[Dazza XLT]

They replayed both reunion shows last night on GO.
The Jackson Jive act was no-where to be seen!

[boss-290]

Originally Posted by Dazza XL

They replayed both reunion shows last night on GO.
The Jackson 5 Red Faces act was no-where to be seen!

Yeah I noticed that.

[Burnout]

Ho - Hum.........Hey, Hey it's so yesterday.............

[XR6-VCT-2000]

Originally Posted by DJR-351

First i would like to say Racisim has been around as long as the human race, every nation has it but the problem is admiting it, until then it will always be a problem....

As far as HHIS goes their was no malice intended, so as far as i am concerned does not constitute Racisim....

I am a Pom from birth, and if i had taken offence to every jibe poked at me in fun, i dare say i would be doing a long stretch in the big house....i think our skin is a bit thicker than the yanks....

You and me mate !, and I agree with you totaly ;), Born a pom and copped every joke under the sun but I laugh at them too ( as they are jokes ! ). I didn't find the HHIS red faces act offensive or racist at all, as it was a comedy act !. cheers.

[JClarke]

Originally Posted by Dazza XL

They replayed both reunion shows last night on GO.
The Jackson Jive act was no-where to be seen!

It was edited and that part of the clip was removed from public view.

[Syndrome]

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment...-1227150431719

[Franco Cozzo]

Is that a wig?

[gossy]

No maaaan, that was the groovy do we wore in the 70's.

That's his real hair.

[superyob]

I don't remember Ozzy wearing a wig...

[MDS69]

Originally Posted by JClarke

Plucka Duck is one funny character, I am looking forward to see this duck back in action! :P

How out of control was Plucka. Hilarious.

[JG33RD]

Bring it baaaaaaaak!

[chevypower]

Can't wait! I miss John Blackman's random voiceovers and Andrew Fyfe's cartoons.

[sbutler]

Harry wrecked any chance of hey hey coming back. They did the reunion show to see how well it would be received, if it was a winner they would have brought it back possibly monthly. But all Harry wanted was to cause a stir for his CD sales, thats exactly what happened, & they shelved the idea forever.. Sad really. The best couple of hours on tv for a long time..

[Bearman]

Harry who? About the only thing I remember about that was how incredibly HOT Jo Beth Taylor still was, watching her climb up onto a stool in that tiny skirt I nearly passed out.

It was her and 2 others in some segment on a judging panel.....I think...... Sod it. Can't remember!!

[DJR MAN]

Harry Connick Jr was a guest judge on red faces and chose to be offended by an act that was a send up of the Jackson 5, white men in black make up.