Maguc Numbers Wlk Oout On TOTP

Why do fat people look happier when they smile than skinny people who smile?

Or is that just me?

I don't get it. Maybe I should just give up now.

it's almost a shame that they didn't play anyway, to show possibly their biggest tv audience to date that it's ok, k'know, to be not-skeletal.

but then again, totp's audience is plummetting every week, so perhaps the principle is worth upholding anyway!

hmmm.

x posts

yes. it's not even funny ... FFS, do they not bother with scriptwriters any more? perhaps that's the point: the MNs were walking out in protest at the piss-poor quality of BBC link material.

i'm going to listen to their album again in a whole new light. good on them :)

If I have a bacon sandwich I find I want a can of ice cold Coke a few minutes later

OH WAIT, NOW I SEEEEE

A BBC spokesman said Bacon used the word "fat" as a "figure of speech referring to the band's status".

"It was absolutely in no way referring the appearance of any of the band members," he said.

This is the most annoying thing about it, Bacon's bullshit. It's all too easy to imagine him sniggering about it in an interview with Chris Moyles or some other cunt "They thought I meant fat but I really meant PHAT! *winky winky* Eh? Eh?" I hope a muscly MN fan kicks Bacon's face off.

riiiight. i'm using the words "talentless toss" as a figure of speech referring to bacon's ... er, talentless tossishness.

yeh, i can see moyles finding it hilarious :)

"It was absolutely in no way referring the appearance of any of the band members," he said.

Most unconvincing defence EVAH

The Magic Numbers "We walked out because the presenter was fattist"

Bacon "Actually I think you'll find you're fattest"

Jimmy Carr "Hey that's my joke!"

Bacon "Oh as if any of your material is remotely clever or original you pudgy-faced nonce"

Carr "Look who's talking Mr 'I Know I'll Cover For My Natural Alan Partridgeness By Making It My Ironical DYS Schtick'. And you stole my cocaine!"

Bacon "I'll kick your arse you faux-posh clunt!"

Bacon and Carr fight to the death...

I'd watch it.

-- grimly fiendish

haha oops, yeah maybe not Moyles but one of that lot anyway, some snidey radio twat like him.

you have no control over your race or sex, you have control over your weight. This is not to say it is acceptable discrimination, it just is slightly different.

Like TOTP/Bacon wouldn't make a sexist remark about Rachel Stevens!

Good for them :)

Nope.

can i - calmly - ask why? because surely it's true? if one is over - or under - weight and is unhappy about it, it is possible to do something about it. (just ask two of my former bosses, who are now nigh-on unrecognisable.)

theoretically it's possible to change your sex, but it's hardly the same.

i'm genuinely not sure why it's "stupid and ill-informed", because i know people who have exercised supreme control over their weight. similarly, i know others who'd never dream of doing so - and don't give a flying fuck. as long as everyone's happy and nobody's getting grief (eg from failed children's presenters), what's the problem?

I suppose there is a difference when one of your "peers" aims a well-meaning jibe at you, and some jumped-up BBC/C4 jobsworth delivering a scripted jibe which drips with nothing but sour sarcasm.

TOTP used to be good before the Cool Police wrecked it.

"Skunk Anansie. So called because they're black, they're white, and they stink"

Wouldn't know, don't watch it. JR is sarky about everyone (which is one of the principal reasons why I don't watch it) but he gets ratings and boosts record sales, neither of which could be said of TOTP, so I suppose they'd have to grit their teeth and bear it if they were asked on there.

For a second there I misread your post as "Dennis Potter's hosting of TOTP." That would have been the greatest TOTP EVER!

They were on the radio show on Saturday and sounded like they were having a great time, he asked them to appear on his TV show when it's back in the Autumn.

http://www.nme.com/media/images/thisweeksnme_cover.jpg

we don't want anything disturbing our cosy little autistic xfm indie world, now do we?

Have you ever heard Comus on Xfm?

theoretically it's possible to change your sex, but it's hardly the same.

It's more than "theoretically" possible to change your sex. But this isn't the issue - the issue is that essentialism ("I was born like this, it's genetic and I can't change") was always a bit of a rubbish defence against homophobia, sexism, racism, etc. Those attitudes aren't wrong just because they judge people for things they can't change - that tends to imply that if people could change those things, maybe they should. Hence queer-phobic and transphobic comments often paint the objects of their scorn as capricious, making arbitrary decisions on a whim - the very concept of being able to make your own choices becomes demonised.

The fact is, I'm sure it's quite possibly to be classified as "fat" by early 21st century Western society because of a body shape that you were born with. But that's not the point. "They can't complain about getting abuse for it because they could stop being like that if they really wanted to!" is intolerant bullshit, whoever it's aimed at.

oddly enough, i did once, on keith cameron's show, back in the early days when they had no playlists and could play what they liked. much more entertaining, but unfortunately i am not the majority and in terms of commercial radio, no playlists = no ratings, so i suppose they had to tighten the screws or go bust.

Someone's doctored that NME cover!

They were on the radio show on Saturday and sounded like they were having a great time, he asked them to appear on his TV show when it's back in the Autumn.

...and on said radio show Ross, in that disarming way of his, mercilessly ribbed them throughout about their size, and they couldn't stop giggling (as is there way).

So I agree, it's purely the Bacon Effect. Or their just finally getting fed up with it.

:-)
I used to love Melody Maker.

Big girls' blouses

Ann Widdecombe
Thursday August 11, 2005

So the Magic Numbers, who I am reliably informed are a rock band, refuse to appear on Top of the Pops because Richard Bacon, the presenter, says they are fat. I have never watched this particular band in action - I last watched Top of the Pops in 1966 - so I have no idea whether they are fat, thin or just a tiny bit tubby, but I do know that they must have either colossal egos or a degree of sensitivity not normally associated with the pop world.

Apparently, they consider the word fat to be deeply insulting. Why? Is the word thin insulting? Is short insulting? Or tall? Or bald? Insult is in the ear of the listener. Statements of fact cannot be insulting unless you feel that the label applied indicates some failing, moral or otherwise, in yourself. If someone calls you fat and you are fat, then it will be hurtful only if you feel you should not be fat.

Clearly, then, the Magic Numbers are embarrassed by their appearance. They are not happy to be fat. So the answer surely is not so much to flounce out of Top of the Pops as to join Fit Club and let Harvey Walden loose on them. Otherwise their silly behaviour might catch on and the Teletubbies might go on strike or Hattie Jacques films be banned, for fear of offending the circumferentially challenged.

I could understand a 10-year-old refusing to play if someone called him fat, but not an adult who wants to put his talent on display to the world. When the press thought that it might be wounding to call me Doris Karloff, I used to pick up the phone and say "Karloff speaking" and grin at the intake of breath at the other end. The Magic Numbers should call themselves fat and they would be amazed how quickly people assure them they are thin. In my schooldays, I was Titch, Skinny and Freckles. These days, I answer to Karloff, Fatty or even Twiggy from my more sarcastic friends. If they called me Ann I should wonder what I had done to offend them.

I do not know how long the Magic Numbers have been on the rock scene, but I do know that they won't last unless they discover a sense of humour - or a diet that works.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/media/485.gif

woah. you really want to go there?

Plus, Ann Widdecombe thinks they're just a bunch of silly billies and fuddy duddies who need to jolly well chill the fuck out, rah?

(or just more healthy food)

But concerning the topic, I do like the idea of them deciding they weren't going to take any shit from that guy, who sounds like a dick.

Fat people should eat less. I hate it when they take up too much room on the bus.