Just Dennis

[stevezodiac]

I heard on the radio this morning that the word Menace is being dropped from Dennis the Menace. Is this true and, if so, why?

[Al]

It appears to be true if these reports are to be believed.

Independent - http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 30436.html
interesting 'comments' section.

The Times - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/soft ... -m7qwpnbh3

Daily Mirror - http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/co ... s-11756379

Lad Bible - http://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/f ... r-20171227
"aimed towards incorporating difference and diversity - is character evolution rather than any sort of political correctness."

It seems like the 66 (+10) year old kid will no longer be a 'menace' and will be name-ready for the new CBBC series called Dennis & Gnasher.

[big bad bri]

I have just read that DCT will be dropping the Menace from Dennis' Title.In another rebranding to coincide with new cartoon.how long will that last when it probably may affect sales.
http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/news/ ... ot-menace/

[big bad bri]

oh! i done a topic on this in general as i never saw this one

[colcool007]

Kev Sutherland was interviewed about it on Sky last night. It is certainly generating some interesting conversations in Facebook land.

[AndyB]

oh! i done a topic on this in general as i never saw this one

And now merged! Always check the Beano-specific forum for stuff about the Beano.

[Lew Stringer]

The "menace" name was first dropped from the comic over eight years ago!
http://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2009/ ... e-mad.html

Now the media have made a story about it, people who haven't supported the Beano for years are suddenly outraged. Quite amusing really.

One reason (that I think most papers have ignored) is that the new Dennis and Gnasher TV series stands more chance of being sold internationally if it doesn't confuse buyers and the audience by having the same name as the American Dennis the Menace.

[colcool007]

I'm still laughing at the loons that think that D C Thomson is a bastion of PC leftie thinking!

Clearly they have never read a D C Thomson editorial!

[Lew Stringer]

I'm still laughing at the loons that think that D C Thomson is a bastion of PC leftie thinking!

Clearly they have never read a D C Thomson editorial!

We seem to now live in a country that thinks it's a "leftie agenda" to not be nasty towards anyone who's different. Most of us just call that tolerance and common sense, and it's been around a long time.

I got bored looking at the various ignorant comments about the Beano on newspaper websites. I wonder if there were any still bemoaning the lack of corporal punishment in comics? Those desires were always a bit iffy, - and totally out of touch with reality, considering spanking hasn't appeared in the Beano for about 30 years.

[Digifiend]

Must've been a slow news day yesterday. These changes happened months ago, even years ago in some cases (like Walter no longer being soft - something done to make Dennis not look like a bully). Also, there's nothing wrong with adding characters like Rubi - they should've kept Curly as well though.

Sun article, which has comments: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5216679/d ... me-change/

The "menace" name was first dropped from the comic over eight years ago!
http://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2009/ ... e-mad.html

Now the media have made a story about it, people who haven't supported the Beano for years are suddenly outraged. Quite amusing really.

One reason (that I think most papers have ignored) is that the new Dennis and Gnasher TV series stands more chance of being sold internationally if it doesn't confuse buyers and the audience by having the same name as the American Dennis the Menace.

That's why it was dropped eight years ago. To coincide with the PREVIOUS cartoon series they were trying to sell to the Americans (the The Menace part was restored for the 2013 version). It's really nothing new.

Independent - http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 30436.html
interesting 'comments' section.

Nigel Auchterlounie, who writes Dennis's strip, has posted a comment here.

[Shiner]

Menace-wise, Horrid Henry is now more prolific than Dennis.

[Digifiend]

A couple of blog posts about this:
https://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2017 ... again.html
http://cavanscott.com/2017/12/29/dont-p ... ldest-boy/

[AndyB]

Slow news day, apparently - DCT thought it had been put to bed two weeks ago!

DCT's market research was on C4News tonight, with an NP picture of Jon Snow (wearing the correct tie) getting menaced by Dennis and Gnasher.

I did make a few observations on Facebook...

1. Dennis is still an incredibly naughty schoolboy. He is just no longer a bully.
2. Walter was changed several years ago to a very nasty piece of work more in the line of Swotty whatsit from Brassneck.
3. The new characters (JJ and Rubi) have been in the Beano for months.
4. Dennis comes out on top against authority most weeks (or at least against Walter and Walter's rich piece of work of a father Wilbur). He hasn't finished a story by being sent to his room or losing any sort of privileges for years.
5. Pie-Face has been getting thicker for years
6. The new 3D animation Dennis and Gnasher Unleashed has been on CBBC for weeks.

and later:

Dennis is on his third television series.

The first was a joint British-Canadian venture over two seasons in 1996 and 1998.

The second was a British-Australian venture, the first season being Dennis and Gnasher, and the second Dennis the Menace and Gnasher. Menacing content was greater in the second season.

The third is the present 3D animation, Dennis and Gnasher unleashed.

The other thing to note is how Walter's relationship to Dennis has changed. In the 1950s and early 1960s, Walter appears to have been one of Dennis's friends and co-conspirators, and Curly was as often one of Dennis's victims as his friend.

Walter's bullying was actually at its height in the 1970s and 1980s.

In short, Dennis changed (more correctly, developed) as much during his first 30 years of existence as he has since then.

In response to the first comment, someone suggested that I am absolutely nowhere near as bright as I think I am. I said, actually, I'm considerably brighter than he thinks I am, but that's not actually relevant to a discussion of who is better informed. (it would have done no good whatsoever and have been entirely irrelevant to have revealed many orders brighter I am!)

[Digifiend]

Unleashed is the fourth series, they forgot the early 90s TCC puppet show.

[AndyB]

Aha, speaking as your "they", thanks!