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Comic Paul Merton has recently been touring China, making a light hearted documentary that is currently being aired on Channel Five in the UK. If the few clips we have seen are anything to go by, then this follows the best tradition of whimsical British travelogues such as Louis Theroux's Wild Weekend.
Highlights include a visit to Mr Woo who makes amazing robots out of rubbish, much to the frustration of his long suffering wife. There is also a meal at a restaurant serving donkey's penises and a trip to an expensive poodle parlour specialising in multi-coloured mohicans.
British humour likes to poke fun at other people's expense and Merton is no stranger to snidey comedy himself. He was a long term co-host on the satirical news panel show, "Have I Got News For You?" Paul Merton in China seems to be a different animal entirely. His dry commentary may tease the locals, but there is a warmth and enthusiasm that makes the show something we are dying to see.
You can watch clips of Paul Merton in China on YouTube or the show's mini website.
Crossposted on Catshanghai.
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Brilliant. The robot guy is amazing. Some museum needs to do an exhibit, and give the guy some cash. I want a robot rickshaw!
British humour does not poke fun at other people's expense AT ALL.
British humour is dry and sarcastic and sardonic but does not rely on the 'send up' of other people -- Brits always laugh at themselves first. We may love a good roast of the French and Germans but that is not the same thing.
This programme is OK entertainment but does just say "hey look at these weird people - all Chinese people do weird things!", and for that reason it's pretty annoying and incorrect.
Mind you maybe they are all freaks
www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,,2088589,00.html
Pure genius!
This is a really great show, I'm looking forward to the next episode on Monday...
Paul found Beijing to be a little sterile, but I hope and expect his opinion of China to improve when he travels to Xi'an and Shanghai =).
@Trev,
British humour is often appealing, because it targets different groups or attitudes within our own society. I never said otherwise and it's welcome that the likes of Jim Davidson and Bernard Manning have become an anachronism. Cruel humour works best when it is anarchic like Monty Python, shocking as in Derek and Clive or when the targets deserve to be mocked like in the early days of Spitting Image.
Anyway, Paul Merton used to have lots of fun with Ian Hislop and Angus Deayton on Have I Got News For You? wittily making public figures, the other guests, each other and themselves look as foolish as possible. That's the job of satire.Paul Merton in China is much more positive. It shows him looking genuinely enchanted by the strange things he sees on his travels. Who wouldn't be impressed by Mr Woo's robots?
I'm not sure why people are using past-tense on Merton and HIGNFY, he's very much still on it!
Sorry Craig and Paul. It's been at least three years since I last saw HIGNFY, which is the reason I have been referring to it in the past tense.
If he found beijing a little sterile, he's not going to have much joy in shanghai. like chalk and cheese in terms of character. what's the bet he heads over to that "little England" housing project in the vicinity?
Interesting story about the robot dude. Merton doesn't seem to be being a dick in these travels, seems to be generally showing an interest, if an often puzzled one. Better than the usual stereotyping, anyhow.
i want one of those robots for my grandson any idear of cost and go about buying one
The latest edition (guilin, guangzhou) was really good imo.
He talked honestly about what he didn't like, as well as what he did. That's very rare (the former) in a TV prog - usually they are too scared too offend anyone.
He said he was pssed off with the spitting and staring - and they had a bit about how these Chinese women joined this running club (with a lot of idiotic expats) and all the Chinese runners were female - i.e. they joined the group to find a white man/wallet.
Hairymary - next week is sh and he IS going to thames town, hehe. I have a feeling that he will find sh dull but with loads of tall buildings.