And all the belly-aching by our Canadian friends about how "all anybody in the States knows about Canada they get from “Red Green” and “nobody (no-body, if you prefer) respects us, boo-hoo” is so much self pity. True facts:
“Red Green” does not make fun of Canadians because they are Canadians. It makes fun of nearly guy born north of, say, Montrose Avenue in Chicago. Definitely north of the Illinois/Wisconsin border. And because we’re naturally funny and real easy targets.
Why gripe about “Red Green,” anyway? Hardly anybody watches it. It does not have culture-defining penetration. A recent national pledge drive required some stations to have only three pledgers to keep it on the air.
We here in the States have plenty of contact with Canada. Most of the run “X-Files” used British Columbia to represent the entire USA. Therefore, Canada must be just like the US.
We allow Peter Jennings to be a respected news anchor despite an accent that starts creeping out whenever he has to leave the script.
Look at that outpouring of support for America’s Sweetheart, Michael J. Fox. Despite his known Canadian tendencies.
Back here on dry land we have something called “television.” You may remember it.
Canadian TV makes this show called “Red Green,” which is like “Tool Time” on “Home Improvement” without the chicks. And funnier. And a lot more realistic.
The setting is a lodge somewhere in the North Woods (they’re like kelp beds without the water). The area is inhabited with the same collection of semi-employed guys you find everywhere–a honey dipper, a roofer who’s always hurt, etc. You know, real guys who’d rather be fishing than fixing stuff around the house, and rather be fixing stuff than helping their wives with the laundry. They aren’t real good at whatever they do, and they like a beer while they do it. Which could have something to do with the results they get.
I arbitrarily chose Chicago as the cutoff point because I live there (sorta) and south of here you start getting the southern/rural accents while north of here starts the north woods accents, which can be Minnesota Scandanavian or Canadian Canuckish. But they sound much the same, eh?
Mostly, I just wanted to start a fun fight, much lighter-hearted than what’s in the pit. Since some of our Canadian pals are a bit touchy about the “Red Green” depiction of the Canadian Male, I couldn’t resist.
Actually, I learned all I know about Canadians from watching Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis as Bob and Doug MacKenzie on SCTV and the movie Strange Brew.
And dropzone, even more in support of your argument, we let the Canadiens have not one, but TWO teams in major laegue baseball, one for each league. What other country is allowed to participate in the national passtime and compete in the World Series?
Most Canadians I know love Red Green. I hosted a conference last year of US and Canadian facility managers, and I had the Canadians in stitches with my Red Green imitation.
What Canadians don’t like is when Americans assume that “The Red Green Show” is a documentary. It’s like basing your view of England on “Are You Being Served?”, or your view of the US on “Married: With Children.”
Actually, it was probably the third or fourth time I watched “Red Green” that Irealized they were Canadian – before that I thought they were from Wisconsin. (rimshot)
In my defense, I mostly watched it at 6 AM or so during my then-infant son’s morning feedings. It was a good show to keep me balanced and manly, but I haven’t seen it much since.
They could think all Canadians are like the Kids in the Hall.
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Has anyone else ever heard Canadian used as a euphemism for being homosexual? I am trying to track down where this started. So far the best looking source is an SNL sketch “Canadian or Gay” where there was a game show that held up celebrity photos and the contestant had to guess Canadian or Gay.
</hijack>
Seriously, I did not know at first that Red Green was Canadian. It did seem to take place in one of the northern states, so I should have guessed quicker than i did. I rather like the show, especially the projects.
Why get along?? Isn’t it much more fun to be malicious (just check out the pit!!) Okay, but seriously I think we do enjoy this plesant rivalry. I am Canadian and there are some Americanization I do not like (ie ZED not ZEE). But I also really respect a lot about the US (ie an elected senate). I think that both nations are similar, yet different and that we can each learn a lot from the other country. But, in the meantime, who doesn’t tease a friend. ??
As many people have pointed out, “The Red Green Show” does not really make fun of Canadians. It’s all about that type of guy that likes to hang out with his pals, drink a couple of beers, and doesn’t really have a grand scheme of life. I’m sure these guys exist in every country, just with different accents.
The Possum Lodge swearing-in says it all:
I’m a man,
but I can change,
if I have to,
I guess.
Da Ace
Member
__________________
I’m your only friend
I’m not your only friend
But I’m a little glowing friend
But really I’m not actually your friend
But I am
Sooooooooooooo, TMBG fan are we? Did I mention I did a special on them back in May on my radio show? Interested in a dub of the show for a music swap?
(end hijack)
RE: Yankee impressions of Canuks (sp?)-
I really don’t think “Red Green” has that much impact on American’s view of Canadians as the show is only on PBS (here in Cleveland, anyway), which isn’t exactly a top-rated network.
If my fellow Americans want to learn about the land to the north of us, maybe they should check out that Molson beer commercial that so many people have written about…
And has anyone noticed that we Yanks seem to know more about England, which is on the other side of a 3,000 mile wide ocean, than we do about the country we share a northern boarder with? Here’s a possible reason - name me three British films you’ve seen in theatres and at least one British TV show. Simple, no? Now try naming as many Canadian films and TV shows you’ve seen. Take your time…
Oh, hell, get over it. Red Green is great, funny, witty television that’s universal–and proudly originates in Canada. It gently pokes fun at everybody and does it with a uniquely Canadian voice.
You got it, Guy: the possum lodge motto; Anthony Anthony, the infomercial guru of the immaculate septic service king; women w/ weedy wreath-things on the door; duct tape; the projects; blowing things up; idiot yuppie incomers; dweeby kin; derelict cars, etc. (you think Wally’s PutzCycle knows boundaries?)…it has it all.
I got to Red himself at a PBS “do” in Des Moines on a sizzling summer day. He was wearing flannel shirt and suspenders–and so was most of the audience. It was one of the damned funniest, related performances I’ve ever seen outside a Jimmy Buffet concert.
Good, goofy fun and proof that no media is hopelessly corrupted.
IMO, Canadians are weirdly defensive. Hell, check out Martin Mull’s The Canadian Conspiracy for a deft, funny poke at the brouhaha. Canada purely rocks, and the “elephant next door” knows that.
The only decent PBS pledge stuff I ever saw was a recent one where many of the cast of Red Green ran a two-hour national telethon while in character. One of my favorite TV pieces ever. They made it fun to watch a pledge break.
