Elderly Asians don't see the joke in 'Kumars' chat show spoof

Older people of Asian origin are offended by the television series The Kumars at Number 42 and some black people do not see the funny side of Ali G.

Research published by the Broadcasting Standards Commission yesterday showed that, while there was a general acceptance that minorities could go further than white people in parodying their identities without causing offence, older Asian viewers of the comedies Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumarsfound the portrayal of their communities offensive. "The fact they are produced by Indian people made no difference to the offence caused," the report said.

Others agreed that the shows were funny because the people writing and performing in them were from the community they were parodying. Younger white people also found funny sketches such as "Going out for an English", which used a group of Asian people in an English restaurant to send up rudeness and ignorance about Indian food.

While many black people were amused by Ali G – in which the white Jewish comedian Sacha Baron Cohen plays a black rapper – others felt it was derogatory to black people and to women. One man ofCaribbean origin said: "If you put it in reverse, imagine a black man going on there and acting like a Jew. There would be an uproar." But many felt that Cohen could get away with the act because he was from a minority group. The study said: "They enjoyed the way in which he is considered to highlight the inconsistencies and ridiculousness of establishment figures, particular in the interviews he conducts."

Many of those questioned queried whether the Channel 4 show Banzai reinforced negative stereotypes about Japan.

The study, Multicultural Broadcasting: Concept and Reality, concluded that, despite progress in the past five years, a more authentic portrayal of ethnic-minority groups was needed to make sure they were seen as integral to mainstream society.