We are not amused: Australian comedians banned from satirizing royal wedding
The palace and the BBC have spoken: Ban this crass Aussie humor, or the national carrier won't get access to the wedding footage
Banned, censored, gagged: 'The Chaser' will not be poking fun at the wedding, as the royals prefer 'light-hearted humor.'Respectful and light-hearted is the royal dictum to anyone covering the royal wedding.
The Windsors have banned "The Chaser" from spoofing the big gig. The award-winning comedy troupe had been planning an episode for three months -- but it has been canned.
The orders came from Clarence House -- the official residence of Prince Charles -- who got the BBC to act on its behalf.
The threat was made plain and simple to the ABC from the BBC -- ban "The Chaser," or you’ll get no access to wedding coverage.
ABC director Kim Dalton told Smh.com.au, “We’re surprised and disappointed at this very late stage to be informed that any satirical or comedic treatment of the marriage of Australia’s future head of state has been banned.”
He said it was “interesting” that the BBC was acting on the royals’ behalf and that, “At the ABC that would be in complete contradiction of our editorial policies.”
Even Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd weighed into the debate, telling Channel 7's Sunrise: “I really think the BBC needs to lighten up and just get a bit of a sense of humor.”
It seems "The Chaser" has been unfairly singled out, as Barry Humphries’ cross-dressing alter-ego, Dame Edna Everage, will cover the wedding on Channel 9.
The move has surprised many, as the king-in-waiting greatly admires many British comedians, including Rowan Atkinson and John Cleese.
But the Australian brand of humor is just a little too crass for royal tastes.
After all, this is the bunch of comedians who dressed up as Osama Bin Laden and calmly walked into Sydney's APEC Conference.
Maybe their stunt double would beat Kate to the altar and say "No." (Could you think of many ladies who want "The Chaser" at their wedding?)
But banning comedy sets a dangerous tone.
Three Burmese comedians, the Moustache Brothers, spent many years in hard labor after telling political jokes outside Aung Saan Suu Kyi’s house. Some believe the British royals have left themselves open to this comparison to a military junta.
One of The Chasers, Julian Morrow, light-heartedly disagrees. He said, “I was absolutely appalled by the prospect of us covering the royal wedding.”
“I thought it was extremely inappropriate and I was glad the palace stepped in to stop this outrage.”
He said they were appealing to the monarchy for a stay of execution, but weren’t expecting clemency.
Let’s leave the last word to him. He said on the ABC (uncensored by the BBC): “It seems a bit crazy for the royal family to be trying to dictate the way they get represented in the media.”
“It seems a bit out of step with a modern democracy, but I suppose royalty is out of step with modern democracy."
