As a fervent admirer of art and the resilience of artists, I find myself deeply moved by Felicity Ward’s words and experiences. Her 16-year journey as a stand-up comedian has not only honed her craft but also hardened her spirit against the relentless barrage of sexist criticisms that often come her way.
In a novel take, the recently released version of the cherished sitcom “The Office” introduces its inaugural female lead, with Felicity Ward portraying the new boss character, Hannah Howard. The prospect of yet another adaptation, and specifically one fronted by a woman, has sparked resistance from certain groups (often referred to as traditionalists or sexists), leading to a significant amount of criticism online. Regrettably, such responses are common nowadays. In an interview with THR, Ward addressed the adverse reactions towards both the show and her role head-on, stating, “I’ve been a stand-up comedian for 16 years. I’m used to this kind of backlash.
It seems that everyone keeps inquiring about whether I’m feeling pressured, and in the past week alone, I’ve been asked this question about 40 times! Journalists have been asking me questions such as “Do you feel the pressure, Felicity?”, “Are you under any pressure?”, “What do you think of the pressure?”, etc. However, it’s not coming from anyone else – my family is nothing but supportive, expressing their pride for me instead.
In this exercise, you’re asked to find any female stand-up comedian on YouTube or Google and examine their comment sections. It’s expected that such an action will lead to certain responses, given the existence of some hostile individuals. After all, it’s a double challenge: involving The Office (a popular show with its own fanbase) and being a woman in comedy, which has had its share of backlash. However, I don’t present this as an expression of victimhood; rather, it’s simply acknowledging the reality that such challenges exist due to my 16-year career in stand-up comedy. I’ve encountered this kind of reaction before, and it’s nothing new for me.
Felicity Ward Sympathizes With the Legitimate Concerns About the Remake
Nevertheless, although Felicity Ward may appear unfazed by sexist criticism, she acknowledges the genuine disappointment over the remake. In her own words, “I understand the feeling of loving something deeply and then having a new version made that infuriates you.
Additionally, I can relate to the feeling of loving something deeply, only for it to be reimagined, and this fills me with rage. It might seem irrational to express this aloud, but I have indeed experienced such intense anger. My all-time favorite movie is Point Break, and I adore it. Why would anyone dare to tamper with a flawless film like that? When they decided to remake it, my anger knew no bounds. Instead of taking my frustration out on the actors online, I chose not to, recognizing that as madness. I understand my anger, but what I did instead was reach out to a friend and share my feelings with them, you know?
As a movie enthusiast, I found myself drawn to reflect on the parallels between the initial skepticism towards “The Office Australia” and how British fans initially reacted to the U.S. remake. Remarkably, that American adaptation has since transformed into what is now considered “literally the most cherished comedy of all time.” In light of this transformation, it seems prudent to extend a fair chance to this new endeavor.
20 years ago, a similar situation unfolded with the American adaptation of the show. People were initially upset when it debuted because they felt it was inappropriate to alter a beloved British comedy that has become an institution. However, as the U.S. version began writing its own stories, it evolved into one of the most adored comedies ever made. Despite having original scripts, characters, and storylines, it’s not the same show as the British original. Today, we find ourselves in a similar predicament as the creators of the American Office back then.
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2024-10-20 16:33