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| Fox Funny? Only in Canada |
| 04.28.04 (8:18 am) [edit] |
Before I really get started, let me express my admiration for the wonderful people of Canada. To me, Canada is like Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, except that everyone there is Mr. Rogers. Canadians are consistently the nicest, most considerate people I have ever met. Worldwide, Canadians are admired for their thoughtfulness and civic mindedness. Perhaps no country is more universally respected. But, sadly, Canadians just are not funny.
I'm sorry I had to say it, but it's true. There is no distictive Canadian sense of humor, or at least none that has managed to escape the Great White North. Even the British, whose epic lack of a sense of humor is mocked even by Belgians, have managed to give to the world Monty Python, Peter Sellars, and Douglas Adams. I racked my brain for funny Canadians and only came up with Red Green, Celine Dion and Paul Shaffer. And as a serious musician, Shaffer doesn't really count. And, well, Red Green is more of a cult phenomenon.
I mention this as background for the little spat that erupted when the TV columnist for the Toronto Globe and Mail, one John Doyle, mentioned that he was looking forward to Fox News coming to cable systems in Canada. In fact what he said exactly was this: "Beauty. Bring it on, I say." So far, so good. Mr. Doyle then goes on to say, "The Fox News Channel is a kind of live theatre of the airwaves, with right-wing pundits playing journalists in an ongoing soap opera." Now coming from Dublin or London, that kind of statement might be considered ironic or satiric. But Mr. Doyle is Canadian, so it must be, as it is, a simple statement of fact. Mr. Doyle also wanted to know if "this Bill O'Reilly fella is as stupendously pompous and preening as he appears to be." Again, just a simple question. A calm seeking of the facts, Canadian style.
Then, of course, Fox had to get in to the act, lead by the warhorse, Bubba O'Reilly. Now, ole Bill has the same relationship to hard cold facts that Canadians have to comedy, that is to say, none. He immediately attacked Mr. Doyle, and the "the far-left Toronto Globe and Mail." Bill ranted on with his usual stream of invective mixed with total disregard for even the outlines of reality as the rest of us experience it. He ended with "Hey you pinheads up there, I may be pompous, but at least I'm honest." Now that's funny!
Now, Canadians may not have much of a sense of humor, but their sober analysis gives them a leg up on most Americans. Of course, "Bill O'Reilly" isn't real. He is simply a character on the Fox News Channel, which also isn't real. "O'Reilly" is a performance artist spinning Dada-esque monologues for the amusement of his audience -- hence the total disregard for any factual material. And Mr. Doyle understands this. Before Fox even reaches his TV set, he applied his razor sharp Canadian mind to Fox and saw through the whole thing. Snap! Just like that.
Fox is allegedly a news operation, but the person running it is one the the most virulently partisan political operatives to come out of the Republican party -- and has no journalism experience. The talking hairdos they have hired run on the political spectrum from Reagan Republicans to somewhere to the right of Attila the Hun. So when Mr. Doyle says: "The Fox News slogan is 'Fair and Balanced,' which it obviously isn't. It's a tip-off that you're not supposed to take it seriously. The slogan is a joke, a raspberry blown at every other news channel. It's tongue-in-cheek..." you can't possibly laugh, it's just a fact.
Yes, Mr. Doyle has seen through the whole enterprise. So much so that Fox had to send him hundreds of emails which looked as though they came from all over the United States. Emails which were full of invective, lame insults and incorrectly spelled expletives. Those boys at Fox just won't quit! No expense is too much to carry out their joke. You just know that in several years, Matt Groening and the other creators of the Simpsons are going to be writing a book about the brillant "News Channel" they created to pull the wool over the eyes of the unwashed.
But Mr. Doyle threatens to spoil the joke. He has recognized Fox News as "the most hilarious thing on American TV since Seinfeld." But then he goes to far and wonders "if, like Seinfeld, it's about nothing." Mr. Doyle, please! Don't spoil the fun. It's like telling people that American Idol is rigged! Please, Mr. Doyle, let us have our illusions for the sake of entertainment.
Canadians may not have much comedic inclination, but they get it. Get it right and get it fast. "Bill O'Reilly" hates that.
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posted by: Savannah (reply)
post date: 04.28.04 (8:26 pm)
I have some thoughts about your article. While the bit on FOX is generally well understood by myself, I think you have some serious errors of judgment within the article.
As a Canadian I think that your opening statement is grossly misguided. Canada is a country filled with laughter. Unfortunately for the Americans they do not understand it, as most of it is about them. While much of Canadian time may be occupied with being appalled at American actions, policies and self-centeredness, much of it is spent in rales of laughter over the stupidity of it all.
In addition, there are many famous Canadians lightening up the world. Many of them you wouldn’t know are Canadian, as unlike Americans they do not run around screaming to the world that they are American. This is because Canadians, unlike Americans, do not feel the need to tell everyone how great we are and attempt to insidiously take over the world. I cite examples such as Jim Carrey, John Candy, and Tom Green. Aside from talent that the country has exported there are many quality television shows, and movies that are Canadian made which display the great sense of humour of the Canadians. We do not export these however, as the level of comedy is far beyond the level of the average American viewer who is stunned by the quality of the FOX network.
Finally, in regards to American Idol….back off! It’s one of the only shows on American television that is not some silly sitcom or some shoot-em up, rape and kill ‘em show!
Sincerely,
A Canadian….yes you know which one!
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