Which one of you has balls of steel? None of them apparently... (Balls Of Steel)

Member Name: hewhoisme

Product:	Balls Of Steel
Date:	25/10/09 (25 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Oh...you're being serious.

Disadvantages: The belief that unjustifed abuse of the public is humorous

It is a well known rule of comedy that there is a fine line between mockery and humiliation, and Balls of Steel is a show that is definitely standing on the wrong side.

Usually I have a quite a good sense of humour, and have no qualms about watching someone receive a few good natured pokes in the ribs, shows like 8 out of 10 cats and Have I Got News For You being good examples of quality comedic banter, but Balls of Steel is just...juvenile.
The series consists of a long line of amateur comedians, who attempt to win the 'Balls of Steel' trophy by proving how metallic their nethers really are, mainly by irritating members of the public and hosting a rigged game show. One of the more notable (i.e. infantile) members of the cast is Alex Zane, a well known DJ who stitches up his 'contestants' in a series of pseudo-quiz shows. Whilst this is hardly new territory Zane seems to take it to a new low, his sole goal being to humiliate his victim until they have about as much self-esteem as a garden snail. Then there's 'Neg,' a tittering Neanderthal who seeks no greater joy in life than to hurl fast food at innocent pedestrians, and the Annoying Devil, a man who believes 'annoying' and 'criminal damage' mean the same thing.
To be honest the only part of the show that isn't horrifying is the Pain Men, hosted by Pancho and Prittchard of MTV's Dirty Sanchez, because they have the good grace to assault themselves rather than a passing banker.

I detest Balls of Steel because it represents, and glamorises, a growing sense of disrespect within our nation. Now don't get me wrong, I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion and we shouldn't have to tip toe around everyone with cotton wool shoes, but I don't see how riding someone like a deranged chimpanzee can be condoned as socially acceptable behaviour. I also fail to see how splashing a newly washed car with paint and smearing dog mess on a traffic light can be perceived as comedy. Sure it's funny if you're the one doing it, but you're also the guy wearing a skin tight devil suit and acting like we're the idiots. Personally I await the day that one of these social skin lesions takes their so called 'comedy' a step too far, and receives five-knuckled reminder as to why blocking people into a car park really isn't funny. Maybe they'd even rename it. 'Obnoxious twits get punched,' now that's a show I'd watch.

To be honest I miss the days of good old fashioned comedy, when making people laugh was considered a talent and not an hour long ASBO award. Please, please, for the love of things good and tasteful, don't let there be a fourth series.

Who am I kidding. There will.

Summary: Prime time viewing for happy slappers in training