Coming back to this show “Street Smarts,” are you sure the ‘dumb Americans’ are actually giving honest unscripted answers?
I ask because for the longest time one of my favorite shows in Japan was “Sanma’s Karakuri TV”, kind of combo of “Funniest Home Videos” (without the annoying voice-overs) and “People are Funny”. One of the segments was “Karakuri’s Funniest English”, in which host Thane Camus would ask random people on the street to describe some event in their life, then ask them to repeat it in English. A literal Japanese translation would be given in the sub-titles so the Japanese audience could laugh at the mistakes. Recently, they’ve started doing “Karakuri’s Funniest Japanese”, in which foreigners have to tell their stories in Japanese.
Having recently become unemployed, I signed up with a talent agency that hires foreigners as extras in TV shows and movies, thinking it would something fun to do in my spare time. Recently, they called me up and asked me to come to an audition for Karakuri’s Funniest Japanese. It turned out that they first interview people in their studio, then take the most interesting ones outside to film on the street. This was letdown #1. Letdown #2 came the day of the filming. When I arrived, the director handed me a list of “mistakes” that she wanted me to make. She explained in great detail exactly how she wanted everything mispronounced, what kind of incorrect grammar I was supposed to use, and what gag vocabulary errors I was supposed to make (instead of saying my girlfriend “totsugimashita” - moved in with me - I should say “dotsukimashita” - beat the crap out of me). The resulting 5-10 minutes of film would then be edited down to a nice little 30 second clip that would let everyone laugh at the dumb gaijin.
So, even though there are plenty of Americans who know nothing about Canada, there are also plenty of people like me, who are willing to say whatever lines they are given just so they can be on TV.
Anyway, for all you Japan Dopers out there, I should be on sometime in June. I’m the American with glasses and a beard talking about how his girlfriend has been using him as a punching bag ever since she started taking kickboxing lessons. Sunday at 7 on TBS.
–sublight.
$5000 to have sex with a cow? Well, I guess I could take out a loan…
Well, considering the neighbors we Americans have paid attention to, like El Salvadore, Nicaragua, Cuba, Mexico, and others, I think the Canadians are much better off with us ignoring them, than if we devoted our full attention to them.
That might be difficult. The United States is far more important to Canada then Sweden is. And a lot of people, particularly in the south, forget how important Canada is. I live right by Mexico so when I think of our closest neighbors I think of them. I imagine people in Wisconsin think of Canada before Mexico.
Here’s my question: why do Canadian media outlets spend so much time on “Man-on-the-street-asking-Americans-questions-about-Canada-and-then-airing-dumb-responses” pieces? It seems like every time I turn around, I see this kind of questionable “journalism”. We have the same kinds of things on American tv; Jay Leno does it, there’s some crappy late-night show called “Street Smarts” where its the whole premise, etc. Take these things with several grains of salt; some interviewees are just hamming it up for the camera, some are quoted out of context, and some are just very nervous at having been put on the spot.
Because it doesn’t air it as journalism; it airs it as COMEDY. This Hour Has 22 Minutes and Talking To Americans are comedy programs. Rick Mercer is a comedian. sigh
Mostly I love the look on their faces when I come out with some kind of howler about Canadians barbecuing seals. The best reaction is obtained by a steadfast refusal to believe they don’t eat blubber on a regular basis coupled with a statement of concern for the endangered species they are devouring.
I don’t know specifically about Rick Mercer, but I was watching clips like those discussed here (asking Americans questions about Canada) in the late 80’s on Canadian TV. I don’t think that Jay Leno was doing his yet, what with Johnny still being the host of The Tonight Show at that time.
