Dorking, indeed.

I think the BBC should consult with Ms. Taylor Grey Meyer as to what kind of offer they might extend to Julian Shersby as a consolation for his inconvenience.

OTOH, Auntie Beeb didn't edit Eric Idle's "sh!t" from his song in the Closing Ceremony.

OTOH, Auntie Beeb didn't edit Eric Idle's "sh!t" from his song in the Closing Ceremony.

I didn't watch the NBC version, but I was wondering if they would. Maybe they edited out the whole performance. From reviews, it sounds like they cut out a lot.

They should have been spared watching the Cubs.

They should have their Teletubbies taken away from them.

I didn't watch the NBC version, but I was wondering if they would. Maybe they edited out the whole performance. From reviews, it sounds like they cut out a lot

And yet Jessie J. desecrating the legacy of Freddie Mercury somehow made it to air.

NBC bleeped out the \"####\" from Idle's performance but aired it in its entirety (I think).

And yet Jessie J. desecrating the legacy of Freddie Mercury somehow made it to air.

Yeah, but it was worth it to hear Brian may do the solo from "Brighton Rock", unless they cut that.

And I read they cut Muse.

And yet Jessie J. desecrating the legacy of Freddie Mercury somehow made it to air.

No kidding. I thought Freddie on the video screen was incredibly cool, though.

And yet Jessie J. desecrating the legacy of Freddie Mercury somehow made it to air.

At any rate, she's better than Paul Rodgers.

At any rate, she's better than Paul Rodgers.

Certainly no worse. I know May and Taylor like making music and they've earned the right to do whatever they want without idiots like me criticizing them, but it's just plain wrong for them to call themselves Queen.

I stayed awake long enough to watch the Who Are They? but not the Who.

No kidding. I thought Freddie on the video screen was incredibly cool, though.

I liked it, but I was disappointed because I was expecting a Tupac-style hologram.

Certainly no worse. I know May and Taylor like making music and they've earned the right to do whatever they want without idiots like me criticizing them, but it's just plain wrong for them to call themselves Queen.

I know he's long retired and living comfortably off the royalties from "Another One Bites the Dust", but it would have been cool to see John Deacon make one last public appearance.

Google's Freddy Mercury birthday tribute remains among the coolest I've seen.

OTOH, Auntie Beeb didn't edit Eric Idle's "sh!t" from his song in the Closing Ceremony.

They allow swearing on TV in Britain.

OTOH, Auntie Beeb didn't edit Eric Idle's "sh!t" from his song in the Closing Ceremony.

They allow swearing on TV in Britain.

They allow \"####\" in America too after a certain time (10 pm?). But I guess not NBC.

The BBC televises Formula One auto racing, and those cars are moving billboards.

I stayed awake long enough to watch the Who Are They? but not the Who.

I've been going with "The Two."

During a break in play just before 9.30pm UK time, one of the commentators told BBC listeners in Britain: “This game is brought to you by Budweiser...”

I thought they said it was an ad for beer?

I'm surprised anyone complained about having a beer ad on BBC. You're telling me that don't like a nice frosty one?

I'm surprised anyone complained about having a beer ad on BBC. You're telling me that don't like a nice frosty one?

Considering they pay upwards of $200/year per tv to not have ads on the Beeb, it's a legitimate beef.

Considering they pay upwards of $200/year per tv to not have ads on the Beeb, it's a legitimate beef.

So you're saying they should have been advertising for Beefeater Gin?

What do they do during the commercial breaks? Test patterns? Shadow puppets?

Do they incorporate bathroom breaks in their longer programs?

The BBC is why the Kinks changed a reference to Coca-Cola in "Lola" ("where you drink champagne and it tastes just like...") to "cherry cola."

The BBC is why the Kinks changed a reference to Coca-Cola in "Lola" ("where you drink champagne and it tastes just like...") to "cherry cola."

Luckily Savage Garden refused to bend to the "man".

What do they do during the commercial breaks? Test patterns? Shadow puppets?

During the Superbowl they cut to two English guys and Tiki Barber in a studio. In the pre-game show the British guys told Tiki they'd just be chatting every commercial break as the BBC didn't have them. He looked at them like someone had just shat in his mouth.

The English hatred of advertising is ubiquitous.

The BBC is why the Kinks changed a reference to Coca-Cola in "Lola" ("where you drink champagne and it tastes just like...") to "cherry cola."

It's also why Paul Simon's "Kodachrome" wasn't released as a single in Britain.

What does the BBC do when they show football (soccer) highlights? Every team's uniform (as far as I can tell) is an ad for one or more products, and there is multiple advertising signage along the sides of the stadia. Do they blur out all of these ads, or not?

Luckily Savage Garden refused to bend to the "man".

Savage Garden story: A friend's friend was getting married. He and his fiance were deciding on a "first dance song" or whatever it's called. They settled on Savage Garden's "Truly Madly Deeply." Upon finding out that member(s) of Savage Garden is(are) gay, he demanded that they change the song.

I didn't go to the wedding so I don't know what second choice song they went with.

What does the BBC do when they show football (soccer) highlights? Every team's uniform (as far as I can tell) is an ad for one or more products, and there is multiple advertising signage along the sides of the stadia. Do they blur out all of these ads, or not?

I can't speak for the lady from Dorking, but I would assume it's a distinction between advertising the BBC has been paid to present and advertising that happens to be present in a BBC broadcast. Thus, Budweiser paying a BBC employee to say nice things about their beer is different than AIG paying Manchester United to be on their kit while the BBC broadcasts their match.

I think the logic behind the complaint isn't "I don't want to see advertising!", it's more "I pay my TV license so that the BBC doesn't need to advertise, why are they hawking (hocking?) a product?"

EDIT: of course this incident was on the radio, but you know what I mean.

Thus, Budweiser paying a BBC employee to say nice things about their beer

It sounds like they were just relaying a feed from an American corporation.

Savage Garden story: A friend's friend was getting married. He and his fiance were deciding on a "first dance song" or whatever it's called. They settled on Savage Garden's "Truly Madly Deeply." Upon finding out that member(s) of Savage Garden is(are) gay, he demanded that they change the song.

I didn't go to the wedding so I don't know what second choice song they went with.

An Elton John tune. Or maybe Night and Day by Cole Porter.

Savage Garden story: A friend's friend was getting married. He and his fiance were deciding on a "first dance song" or whatever it's called. They settled on Savage Garden's "Truly Madly Deeply." Upon finding out that member(s) of Savage Garden is(are) gay, he demanded that they change the song.

I didn't go to the wedding so I don't know what second choice song they went with.

My favourite wedding song story...
This summer a friend of mine got married - it was pretty low-key, just at his grandparents farm and I was the only non-family member there. Pretty much the only thing they planned was the bride wanted a specific song playing for when she walked down the aisle (which in this case was a lawn). So my friend had enlisted the help of a cousin who had some speakers and various audio components to bring his gear. The weekend unwrapped as follows...

Thursday - Groom calls cousin 3 times over the course of the day, ostensibly for other things but really just to remind him to bring his audio equipment, as he lives in the Northwest Territories and the wedding is in Calgary 15+ hours away.
Friday - Cousin arrives, is asked "do you have the speakers?" - affirmative
Saturday - Day of the Wedding
Noon - Discussion over lunch about complications over what audio cable to use, how to connect the ipod, where to put the speakers etc.
2pm - Groom gives the order to start setting up chairs and speakers
3pm - Ceremony literally in 5 minutes, cousin turns to a group of us setting up chairs and says "you know...I think my speakers are in my other truck". Hilarity ensues.

The groom's brother ended up backing his car onto the lawn and opening all his doors to play the song on his car stereo. Luckily (though sadly for entertainment purposes) both the bride and groom are super laid back so weren't bothered at all by it, but it was good fun.

It sounds like they were just relaying a feed from an American corporation.

Ah really?
Then I have a hard time sympathizing with the complaint. Not that I really did in the first place, but even less so now.

I didn't go to the wedding so I don't know what second choice song they went with.

An Elton John tune.

If you consider him homosexual I think the best wedding songs have to go to Morrissey.

You're the One for Me Fatty

William It was Really Nothing
"How can you stay with a fat girl who'll say:
'Oh! Would you like to marry me?
And if you like you can buy the ring'"

Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others

Will Never Marry

Or what would be my personal choice The Girl Least Likely To

And yet Jessie J. desecrating the legacy of Freddie Mercury somehow made it to air.

I don't think that's a legacy that's truly capable of desecration.

There apparently was about six years between the first appearance of sponsored football team jerseys and showing those teams' highlights on British television.

An Elton John tune. Or maybe Night and Day by Cole Porter.

Hopefully something by Billy Strayhorn.