TYT and the Brand/Paxman interview

[oldironside]

Some of you may be aware of the TYT report on Paxman's interview of Russell Brand a couple of weeks ago. They got an overwhelmingly negative response (mostly from UK vewiers) and then posted what I thought was going to be an apology for their ignorance of who Paxo actually is, and their condecendingly Dick van Dyke-esque parody of his accent.

Well, in fact they just doubled down and expanded further on their unlimited worshipping of Brand as the fount of all human knowledge. Cringingly awful.

A few points I'd like to make:
1. You may not like Paxman, but he's still a fine, aggressive interviewer in the mould of Robin Day or Brian Walden. He certainly doesn't deserve to have the piss taken in that fashion.
2. What is it about Russell Brand? All I can see is a lightweight media whore. I find the idea that this nobody has anything profound to say quite risible.
3. TYT should be totally ashamed of commenting on the politics of a country where they don't even know which parties make up the government and who Nick Clegg is.

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Well, it's just 'TYT'

As far as I can tell, they're not broadcast any more, just on YouTube, and I don't know how much of a following they have (they don't seem to get referenced as much as they used to on DU).

Surprising the guy doesn't know what a 'nib' is - he doesn't look so young as to never have seen a fountain/cartridge pen. But they really ought to have googled Nick Clegg before talking about him, even if they've never followed British politics. I guess they have to rush to produce enough material for the show - one reason to not take their points too seriously.

He's also stuck overwhelmingly in US politics, with his emphasis on funding. It plays a part in British politics, but it's not the main reason for the status quo tending to remain - I'd say media coverage is more involved. But I don't think he's even taken in much of what Brand said; it seems more of an occasion for him to repeat something he often says.

Meh.

[oldironside]

2. You're right, of course.

I still found the whole segment the equivalent of someone dragging their nails down a backboard.