I love how he COMPLETELY takes over the set and makes Mika suddenly self conscious about everything she is doing. I am not a huge Mika fan, but I do like her more than Scarborough who I find insufferable.
"She grasping for the shaft, she's a shaft grasper." Sweet!
It took me a little while to warm up to Brand but I have to admit that I am finding him more and more likeable every time I see him. And I am also pretty interested in this Messiah Complex tour of his.
It sounds a little provocative.
I LOVE provocative.
Update: For those who have not seen Brand interview the Westboro Church members, you must see this.
He's an amazingly smart man. It took me awhile to see past the antics and off the wall stuff he does, but I am a fan too.
ReplyDeleteOT, but there wasa HUGE tar sands spill in Alberta on June 1 that is having major repercussions with the native people, who were not told that this spill has killed every plant and animal it touched (on their hunting grouds, ) AND that the oil company lied about the age of the pipeline (only 5 years.) This may do what President Obama is so reluctant to do: shut the damn thing down before TransCanada can ruin America.
Whoa! That was just BEAUTIFUL!! Would love to see Russell Brand, toying with talking head "news desk" shows all over the land. Nothing like suddenly realizing you're a flaming fool right there on national tv, eh MIka?
ReplyDeleteLove him.
ReplyDeleteIf you get a chance, check out the YouTube clip of his interview with the Westboro Baptist guys.
I know Brand has a reputation for being something of a horndog, but honestly he's a lot more insightful than folks would realize.
One of the few celebrities I love.
FLOVE!
ReplyDeleteI think Russell Brand is whip-smart! That Westboro takedown was masterful.
ReplyDeleteStephen Colbert may be the only person out there with a quicker wit than Russell Brand.
I've always liked Brand =, and I like him even more after this "interview." Boy those hosts came off a stupid, just talking around him, and generally being inept. I don't watch the show. Are they that daft all the time?
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Are those hosts always that inept? Kudos to brand, though. I'm a fan.
ReplyDeleteHey Vera, I am too, now.
DeleteOften I'm like Mika on lots of popular culture these days. I'm too busy to give much time or attention to flavor of the day celebs or any of the faux rage issues that dominate the headlines and the talking head shows. Same with entertaient---something or someone has to be pretty good to make it through my defense filters I use to prevent my wasting time on mindless crap. The one obvious exception that I make is to allot ample time for ridicule of Sarah Palin. Now I understand why my grandmother's country cat would "play" with its kill just for amusement, because he could, and it never got boring.
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/12/05/david-lynch-foundation/
ReplyDeleteThe MSNBC crew were incredibly rude to him. Mika B. introduced him by saying, "I'm told he's famous. Whatever..." and it just got worse from there. They made fun of his accent and acted as if he wasn't even in the room. If I had been in his shoes, I'd have stormed off. Brand made them look like the douches they are, and yet was courteous and capable throughout. I am not a Russell Brand fan, either, but I acknowledge he is more intelligent and more professional than these clowns. Oh, the state of American news...
ReplyDeleteReally, I've wasted almost the whole day enjoying this, can't get enough of this little slice of wonderfulness.
DeleteAfter Ms. Brzezinski makes her rude remarks, Brand starts to make a face at the camera, then abruptly turns away to stifle it, taking control of his face, and the idiots. The comedy show rolls on from there...
He's OK when he's behaving himself but he can get tiresome (and I want back that ten minutes I wasted watching his Arthur movie). I was so pleased when I saw yesterday that Morning Joke was Joke-free, and that Russell Brand was wide awake and sober. I don't think they'll be inviting him back when Joke is around, though.
ReplyDeleteBrand was genuinely offended by the Americans' use of pronouns instead of people's names when referring to them; in other English-speaking countries it's considered very, very rude even in children.
"...Americans' use of pronouns instead of people's names when referring to them; in other English-speaking countries it's considered very, very rude even in children.
DeleteFirst time I have ever heard that, and I'm an English teacher. Wow.
Yes, using a pronoun to refer to someone when they are right there with you is very rude. It is talking around a person and it is disrespectful. It is treating the person as if they are not only not a part of the conversation but not even present. When a person is in your presence, the proper thing to do is to refer to the person by their name. Mika was speaking to the tie guy and referred to Brand as "he" while Brand was sitting right there next to her. It is disrespectful and that is what Brand pointed out to Mika and explained why. He is right.
DeleteIt's not a matter of English, it is a matter of courtesy.
Do unto others... How would you like to have people (alleged to be engaging you in a discussion) talk among their group as if you were not even there. That is how stupid people treat crazy people. Seriously, people have to be told it is wrong and ineffective?
DeleteAmericans treat guest like that?
@12:11
DeleteDo you mean referring to someone in the third person when he/she is actually sitting there? That isn't at all clear in your first statement. Americans think that is rude too, if it is being done to avoid engaging the person to whom one is referring. It would not be rude to use a pronoun, for example, to say, "What she means is...."
Also, Americans do not have a corner on that market of rudeness. It is a passive/aggressive control device that is used by rude people all over the world.
Delete@WakeUpAmerica it's a common thing in the US completely without intention. The nicest people do it. The next time you see a couple being interviewed on TV, look for it. Americans just don't habitually use each others' names if the person is there- not even in their opening sentences.
DeleteNext week, another American cultural oddity: chewing with one's mouth open.
WakeUpAmerica @3:00
DeleteYes, my statement at 12:11 is very clear. Russell Brand's calling Mika on it was also clear.
And yes, it would be rude to say "What she means is..." while that person is standing right there with you. The correct phrasing would be "What Sheila means is..." still using the person's name. That is, if you would be so rude as to presume to speak for someone who is standing right along with you and tell others what she "really" means.
@4:12
DeleteWell, shucky darn, isn't that something?
I'm guessing you aren't American, but that is only a guess. It sounds to me like you are talking about cultural differences. That doesn't make the behavior rude everywhere. However, I did decide I would do some Googling on the subject of rude habits and their cultural roots. Here is a link to an article on what is considered polite or rude in America and Britain.
http://tinyurl.com/kd64sqv
True, and when Russell said "She's grasping for the shaft, she's a shaft grasper.", the polite thing would have been to say "Mika is grasping for the shaft, Mika's a shaft grasper", she is sitting right there and he's referring to her by a pronoun, as if she's not even in the room.
DeleteAnita Winecooler,
DeleteOh dear! Russell, a Britain, was rude to an American? Tsk, tsk.
Oops, of course I meant to say, " a Briton."
DeleteWakeUpAmerica,
DeleteYou are assuming all the posts under the name Anonymous are the same person - me. This is not correct. My posts are at 12:11 and 4:12. At least 2 others are commenting under Anonymous on this thread.
You also assume I am not American - this is not true, either. I was born and raised in the Midwest - you know, Heartland of America and all that.
I am also aware that it is considered just as rude in other countries. I agree completely. I didn't mention anything about it being uniquely American in either of my comments. I am not the original poster either.
"I am not the Anonymous you are looking for."
@8:55
DeleteI actually didn't make any of those assumptions. I made one "guess." I have been to the Midwest, but I have not spent a great deal of time there. I can only assume then that our conversation involves cultural differences between the Midwest and the West Coast. Certainly, each region of the United States has taken liberties with the conventions of our language. When I visited my husband to be in AL thirty years ago, I was appalled at what I perceived to be very rude and backward behavior. It was totally normal and acceptable behavior to the natives of the area. I'm sure they thought the same of me. Furthermore, I would love to lose my California "yeah" or "yep," but it doesn't seem to be happening. It is as natural to us as a Canadian's "eh" at the end of a comment. Furthermore, language is dynamic and fluid not static. Rules and conventions change over time.
WakeUpAmerica@9:55
DeleteYes, you did make those assumptions. You assumed I made the first post which I did not. Your response to my 12:11 post about pronoun usage was that "That isn't at all clear in your first statement". 12:11 WAS my first statement. The first statement in the thread was not mine. (And for the record, that person's statement was equally clear.)
I never said anything about rudeness in America or any other countries - you assumed that also. Those remarks are from a different Anonymous.
Yes, you did assume (guess) that I wasn't an American and I don't know why you would assume (guess) that. Guess I need an American Flag Icon to let people know that I'm not some gol-durned foreigner when I talk.
I'm not talking about cultural differences nor regional differences. And I'm not interested in debating a list of taboos in other countries. I'm talking about simple courtesy when speaking about people while they are in your presence.
You say "That doesn't make the behavior rude everywhere." Perhaps I'm just not as well traveled as you and haven't encountered a situation where talking around a person is considered NOT rude. Please tell me where these places are.
That was worthwhile television. Brand can be silly and his accent is difficult for some of us unless you totally immerse yourself in focusing on the ideas that go with his words. I can think of several other shows that I hope he gets booked on. They need to hear his brand of the truth for about 10-12 minutes. More important, their listeners need to hear something of substance. I'm talking partisan shows on competing networks that pander to the left and right without regard for differing opinions that often balance the scale.
ReplyDeleteCome on Roger, let Brand have a segment with F&F with Sarah Palin on the couch as well. I haven't watched any videos of her since Ailes cut her loose several months ago. But I would take the morning off from work to watch live and record on DVR to enjoy again later.
A bit rude but I think Mika just had an orgasm on live television.
ReplyDeletePrimogen1
I must admit, I have not seen the video, but from what I have read on the Net, it sounds to me like sexual harassment. She is a 'shaft-grasper' and a 'shaft-stroker'??? GIVE ME A BREAK!!! If that has no sexual innuendo, then I have a bridge to nowhere to sell you!
ReplyDeleteYou have to watch the video. They made generalities about his appearance and he let them know that it was superficial and misleading so he did the same. She happened to be grasping a water bottle thus shaft grasper...see how that works? His appearance had nothing to do with him being on the show so why should it matter. Play with the bull and you get the horns.
DeletePrimogen1
That was hilarious. Mika was so flustered and absolutely silly in his presence. And, Anon. 6:54, I would love to see him on a show with Sarah sometime. That would be worth it's weight in gold.
ReplyDeleteI don't watch the show, but I think do Mika should lose the Calista Gingrich helmet hairstyle.
Oh I don't know, Gryphen. I really enjoyed watching Scarborough's face palms and hearing, "What is he thinking?" while Romney was running for POTUS. I respected his honesty in taking down his own party's candidate.
ReplyDeleteHere's something interesting. Ordinarily, huffpo would have been all over something like this, keeping it posted for at least 3 or 4 days. Nothing. You can't even get a comment posted with the words "Russell Brand" in it.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the story? Anyone know?
"Morning Joe" is only watchable on days that Joe Doucheboro is absent.
ReplyDelete