Russell Brand Explains Why He Hijacked ‘Morning Joe’ [VIDEO]
In a time when so many different so-called "news" networks claim to be fair, balanced, accurate, and other things they clearly are not, its refreshing to see a guest break through the façade and put the network in its place.
A few weeks ago, comedian/actor Russell Brand was a guest on MSN's "Morning Joe" to discuss his new stage show "The Messiah Complex". But maybe "guest" isn't the best description. When someone is a guest on a news show, usually the hosts and producers take the time to know who they are. Instead, the hosts clearly had no idea who Brand is, calling him by the wrong name or referring to him in the third person. After a few minutes of this, Brand went on the offensive and took over the show and started doing the job of the hosts.
In a new article for "The Guardian" in the United Kingdom, Brand explains his actions, saying that things on the MSNBC show seemed to go downhill from the start when the soundman was impatient and rude,
"Often when you encounter rudeness from the crew, it is an indication that the show is not running smoothly, perhaps that day, or maybe in general. When I landed in my chair, on camera, and was introduced to the show's hosts – a typical trident of blonde, brunette and affable chump – it became clear that, in spite of the show's stated left-leaning inclination, the frequency they were actually broadcasting was the shrill, white noise of dumb current affairs."
For many people in the states, their exposure to Russell Brand has been a collection of mediocre films (though I really enjoyed his remake of "Arthur"), his failed marriage to Katy Perry, and his controversial statements when he hosted the MTV Awards. Unfortunately, that means a lot of people are missing out. Brand, through his strange and eccentric behavior, is a brilliant comedian who has no problem turning the knowledge switch on to point out the hypocrisy and lack of true intelligence on society,
"One of the things that's surprising when you go on telly a lot is that often the on-camera "talent" (yuck!) are perfectly amiable when you chat to them normally, but when the red light goes on they immediately transform into shark-eyed Stepford berks talking in a cadence you encounter nowhere else but TV-land – a meter that implies simultaneously carefree whimsy and stifled hysteria. There is usually a detachment from the content. "Coming up after the break, we'll be slicing my belly open and watching while smooth black eels loll out in a sinewy cascade of demented horror." This abstraction I think occurs through institutionalisation."
Take some time and check out Brand's full article. Fair warning, he is a bit brash and the use of language may take you off guard. But don't let that distract you from the points conveyed in his article. What people tend to forget is that while a comedian's job is to entertain and make the audience laugh, several comedians are the closest thing we have to modern day philosophers.
Isn't it sad when someone from England has to point out how contrived and ridiculous American news is?