h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Chris Morris the British satirical broadcaster, the man responsible for "Four Lions", "Brass Eye" and "Jam".

Watching old episodes of "The Day Today" and "Brass Eye" can make you wonder how it is that he knew, in the 90s, to a disturbing degree of precision, what would be happening in real life fifteen or so years later.

And now... director and star of Kony 2012 is filmed in the street, naked, pounding on the pavement, apparently under the influence of something or other, apparently, according to his wife, "stress".

Compare and contrast:

Robert Kilroy-Silk in a made-fiction from ten years ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1yI_erpnpI&o

Jason Russell in real life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L31YOLHMNEI

At the time, Morris was simply exaggerating the sort of ridiculous things which already appeared on our screens, but instead of being shamed by such a depiction, it seems that the media decided to use his satire as a template for their future direction.

Indeed.

But if you cut that real-life footage of Jason Russel into the middle of the "day Kilroy lost his mind" sketch, it would be near seamless.

I can't be the only one to find that disturbing on so many levels.

The comparison is certainly compelling.

'In 1981, no-one died.' Still Steve Coogan's finest hour. We still quote bits of Brass Eye (especially when watching News 24 - 'News!')

I think Chris Morris saw very clearly the way it could go, and sadly he was right. I hope he's getting royalties from reality now - although I suspect he isn't.

Mol