. . . Oh, I’ll bet they get some doozies.
As a slight hijack from British culinary tastes, I’ve been looking for the right opportunity to link to this photo. The gentleman on the left’s first name is Ethan; I figure he must have a mostly unfabulous social life. 
The first time I saw “Mr. Brain’s Pork Faggots” in the freezer aisle I nearly went into hysterics (compounded by the legend on the box “Now With Mushy Peas!”). Even my first encounter with a bag of “Monkey Nuts” (which in the UK apparently refers to unshelled peanuts) didn’t make me laugh that hard.
I saw this product on the Norton Graham show recently. Very funny! 
Mmmmm…Pork Faggots.
I really wish I could get a clipping from a British newspaper advertising these things. The reason being I would send it in to “The Tonight Show” so that Jay Leno could include it in his “Headlines” bit on Monday nights. I read the rules for submissions and it said emails and faxes are not acceptable, it has to be an original clipping, so I guess a computer printout would not be allowed either.
If a British Doper could be so kind to send a newspaper clipping, the address is:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
ATTN: Headlines
3000 W. Alameda Ave.
Burbank, CA 91523 USA
FTR, it’s Graham Norton.
David Letterman, when he had the Late Night show on NBC in the 80’s, already did something similar to this. In a “Supermarket Finds” segment, he displayed a can of “Faggots and Peas” (not Mr. Brain’s, by the way) to a greatly amused audience.
Oh my God, it’s catching…
Here I thought “Mr Brain’s Faggots” was an updated-for-the-21st-centurty-and-oh-so-edgy sequil to Charlies Angels. I can hear the voice from the speakerphone now:
“Well, Faggots, I’ve got a hard one for you today. You can expect stiff resistance as you penetrate the oponent’s citadel”
That is an excellent idea.
That character from SNL who had his balls and wieners and such ought to market his own version.
Schweddy Faggots.[sub]matt, you still breathing over ther?:D[/sub]
Oh, the possibilities…
Mmmm, faggots. We had them when I was little. I can confirm they are delicious, very hot and spicy in a lovely gravy. Nothing nicer with carrots and mash.
BTW, I shouldn’t ascribe too much happy naivety to the Faggots website. Most people in the UK are aware what the word means in the US. I get the impression that the website creators are sniggering into their sleeves.
When I was in the Boy Scouts in England, the scoutmaster always had a supply of plump faggots for us to chow down on. Nothing nicer than enjoying a faggot al fresco by a campfire.
They’re English, not Irish. Though I think the name “Brain” may be Welsh - the local brew in Cardiff is Brains Beer (as an aside: their most popular brew, Brains SA - which I think stands for “Special Alcohol” - is known locally and appropriately as “skull attack”).
I’ve read that faggots originated in the Midlands, before spreading to the Southwest and Wales.
There was a documentary on BBC2 about this ad campaign. The show is called “Trouble at the top”, you can read about the campaign’s background here.
From Kal’s link:
"In return for a week in a posh London hotel, a family holiday to Disneyland Florida, a TV and a video, the winning ‘Faggot Family’ will be expected to represent the brand for a year, taking part in media interviews and promotional events.
“We are looking for genuine faggot fanatics. People who will preach the gospel,” says Wilfred. "
Indeed. Apply early to avoid disappointment.
btw, my old local laundrery used to be called ‘Go Gay’ – two branches in Fulham and I imagine others elsewhere. Great big flashing signs all over the place … very diamante, dahlinggg.
It seems the Doodys have bitten off more than they can chew: “Some business has probably been lost,” says Janet. “We don’t want to close our little business on a Saturday to do faggots, because then faggots will begin to take over our life.”
I know, how you feel, Janet, I know how you feel . . .
P.S. London_Calling, I’ll bet the Go Gay laundry was expert at getting that hot, rich faggot sauce out of your clothing . . .
I wonder if the clothes washed at Go Gay were purchased at Gaywear, the Irish clothing store chain*?
*For some reason, a few years ago they changed their name to A-Wear.