[coolngroovy]

G'day all,
Incase you haven't heard, last wednesday there was a show aired on tv in this country called 'Hey hey it's saturday'.
This show was a reunion, as it hasn't been on air for many years. Most of the content was dragged up from the past, along with all the characters.

On one segment there is a [no]talent contest. The contestants go through their acts, & are judged by a panel of 3 judges.

One such act featured 5 performers with painted faces, doing a skit on Michael Jackson. Apparently this has caused a HUGE controversy in the US.

I know the line between controversy & comedy is a fine one, & 'comedy' is a matter of interpretation, but can my US cousins please enlighten me on what the offensive part was? Is it really a racist slur, or a storm in a tea cup?

I dont wish to turn this into a racial debate, i simply wish to understand the issue.

BTW: the same act, with the same performers, actually won the prize when they were featured 20years ago on the same program.