The Gen-X-Ray A critical examination of the world through Gen X eyes

TV Review – John Safran’s new show ‘Race Relations’

John Safran may be part narcissist and part wanker, but this Melbourne based aussie Jew has my admiration. He's a genuinely funny guy who has a knack for integrating his politically incorrect deadpan aussie larrakin humour with intelligent and often moral issues that are a 'no go' for most of mainstream media. As with all comedy, its a hit and miss affair, with bits of his previous TV shows (John Safran's Music Jamboree, John Safran vs God and Speaking in Tongues) better than others, but he is most definitely a unique talent. It was only his 'Not the Sunscreen Song' that, for me, really crossed the line into self indulgence.

I must admit that I don't watch much broadcast TV and I hadn't really been exposed to all the supposed hype surrounding the new show, John Safran's Race Relations. In fact I'd completely forgotten to watch or record it and had to obtain the show by other means.

Race Relations, as the name suggests, attempts to disarm and ridicule the barriers that are constructed around race and culture by approaching the subject with cringe inducing humour and humanist good will, and to a large extent he's successful and very funny. I thought the 'pantie experiment' dragged on a bit too long, but his plan to create a 'Jelestinian' via Israeli and Palestinian sperm banks was inspired (Yes we can!).

Its all classic Safran. He continues to smash through traditional television taboos as he did with vs God, leaving a trail of controversial wreckage that the ABC, like with The Chaser, may have to clean up in the face of viewer complaints and the ever moralising media. Seeming to anticipate the coming shitstorm, the ABC's director of television Kim Dalton actually advised conservative viewers not to tune in! Pretty funny stuff and to mine, unprecedented.

Even well before the screening, the predictable Safran outrage had begun.

Curiously today I'm struggling to find an online source condemning the show. In fact, the reports are pretty positive, and there were apparently few viewer complaints. Clearly Kim Dalton's warning was heeded.

In any case I'm looking forward to the remaining shows in the series.

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