Didn't get on "Weakest Link"

[OUTSIDER]

DCL sorry you never made it on to the show I think from your posts you would have been a damn good contestant..

As to the Brit question I think we're all brits in the UK but we only refer to ourselves as that to help out others understand who we are, within our own country we are Scotish/Irish/Welsh/English...and even within England we are different, there are northerner's, southerners, Cornishmen and so on but when it comes down to it and the country is in peril or mourning then we're as one.

 

[bluntforcemama]

Hmm...

If I ever got onto that show, they'd better have security guards, because I think I'd have to go Jerry Springer on her ass. Where's Steve?

 

[alexander tzara]

Oliver Clozoff
Rog and co.: do you think of yourself as Scottish, British/UK subject second? Would you think a foreigner had you pegged wrong if he asked if you were British?

I'm Scottish and British but I'm not English. I don't know any Scot that would take offense to being called British. We've been part of the Union for centuries, and done pretty well out of the deal. (I'm a bit confused at why Gus, down in England, doesn't recognise himself as British.)

Many Americans, though, refer to the whole of the UK / Britain as "England". If you accuse a Scot of being "English" they might well take offense - because of that Auld Rivalry. I'm sure Sean Connery thinks of himself as both Scottish and British, depending on what he's being asked. But, as a staunch Scottish Nationalist (living in LA - haha!) he'd no doubt punch the man that accused him of being English. Silly, I know - but that's what comes from a diet of BraveHeart-style bedtime stories. You'd probably get a similar reaction in Wales or Northern Ireland (the two other countries in the Union). You might well not get out of certain parts of Eire (The Republic Of Ireland) alive if you accused someone there of being English. LOL

I'm sure that DCL thinks of himself as both American and a New Jersey-ite. He'd undoubtedly take umbridge if Sean Connery accused him of being Californian, even though he lives there.

It's different in Northern Ireland, though. A staunch Protestant in Ulster would say they were British. But a Catholic Republican might take great offense to the word. They even have different words for the towns they live in, depending on which side of the sectarian divide they are on. Catholics say, "Derry", Protestants say, "Londonderry" for example.

Are you telling me that if go to Scotland and walk up to man in a kilt playing the overture to Brigadoon and ask him if he's British he's going to say "I am, laddie! Ya ken?"

LMAO, DCL. The gentleman you describe is almost assuredly an American tourist.

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

That's the other thing - I'm certain it's just me but.....

But her accent "get's in my way on understanding." Three times last night - the one I remember was difficulty in the word Dover which I thought she said Denver.

This is not good. But probably a equal handy cap to all who are not Brit.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

I think the Brits sort of miss that too when it comes to us Yanks. Someone said it above, don't call anyone south of Connecticut a "Yank". (Not even in New York. Don't even get me started on how many different things you're supposed to be calle din NY, from Villager to East Villager to Eastside to Westsider to the Bridge and Tunnel people...) Take two states like Kentucky and California -- you'd might as well considere them separate countries connected by an Interstate. The differences amonsgt the states are staggering. Whole different worlds. Which is why I bristle whenever someone starts a sentence with "You Americans are all..."

The States here truly are separate countries with enormous powers, but "United" by an (arguably) small Federal authority. Yanks, Crackers, Hoosiers, SoCals, Hillbillies, etc. etc. It's a big place. A lot bigger than Aaron Spelling might have you believe.

So I totally understand the prickly connotation associated with natives using the word "British".

Now, can someone explain to me where the "Pinkos" are?

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

Pinko's ?

Didn't they all migrate to Idaho?

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

You know?

They can make their own Vodka up there and everything.

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

And as far as differences in the states -

All anyone has to do is hang out in DC (or better yet Baltimore) for a few days and then - drive south to Richmond Va. (from DC only 90miles, from Charm city 125) and witness the differnce between true north and south.

 

[alexander tzara]

Now, can someone explain to me where the "Pinkos" are?

It's them damn Commie Pinkerton fellas trying to put a stop to our moonshine 'n cattle russlin'!

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Speaking of Pinkertons...

If I ever got onto that show, they'd better have security guards, because I think I'd have to go Jerry Springer on her ass.

Which is why they have auditions, contestant supervisors, and, get this, Pinkerton Detectives!

You see, when you're holding auditions two or three yards away from "The Tonight Show" set NBC wants to know who the hell they have on their lot. So before the show, while everyone's outside, a contestant supervisor walks up and down asking people "screening" questions. And (as she confessed to a few of us) they also had Pinkerton dicks all over the place. You never know, right?

There's a big screening process for shows like these (though Jeopardy is much more tame -- how many psychotics are going to pass that audition?) There's no chance they're going to let anyone one who will going "Springer" -- and even if they did, it's easy to edit them out (or not even air the show). There's no chance they're going to screw up the show's host-in-charge image.

------------------

This reminds me of the one time I actually got escorted off a lot by a security guard. I had access to the Universal lot for a while, and I spent many days walking around with my writing resume in hand. I dropped off resumes to all the production companies on the lot. The only one left was "Amblin", which is in a sort of secret location on the lot, since it's where Speilberg had his office (before moving to Dreamworks).

Well, I walked over to Amblin and sort of circumvented the Security Booth by walking around some hedges. I got to the front office and asked where I could drop off my resume. The startled secretary gave me an address to send it to, and a Security Guard quickly appeared and politely escorted me out the gate.

I explained to him why I was on the lot in the first place, and he clued in immediately that I wasn't a nut, and confessed that many nut-cases regularly tried to get to Spielberg, so security was always tight. We laughed about it, but all the same he kept walking me to the entrance.

I thought Spielberg would appreciate the effort, since he essentially did the same thing as a young man (if you haven't heard the story -- he jumped off a tram during the Universal tour, walked out the employee exit and waved goodbye to the guard. When he returned the next day the guard remembered him, and, thinking he worked there, let him on the lot. Spielberg wandered into an empty bungalow and opened an "office". He got caught six months later when he tried to have a telephone installed. A studio chief heard aobut his, called him in, let him direct a "Night Gallery" episode, and the rest, as they say, is history).

 

[alexander tzara]

(if you haven't heard the story -- he jumped off a tram during the Universal tour, walked out the employee exit and waved goodbye to the guard. When he returned the next day the guard remembered him, and, thinking he worked there, let him on the lot. Spielberg wandered into an empty bungalow and opened an "office". He got caught six months later when he tried to have a telephone installed. A studio chief heard aobut his, called him in, let him direct a "Night Gallery" episode, and the rest, as they say, is history).

LOL. That's proper old-style pioneer spirit. I wonder if he got the idea from that Cary Grant / Audrey Hepburn film, 'Charade'.

 

[RonG]

I think I'll call "Jeopardy" today...

I did that audition. 50 questions (roughly $800-$1000 level of difficulty) and you have to get 35 right to pass. The test is taken on paper with the answers given to you by video monitor and all you have to do is fill in the correct question. You don't have to phrase it in the form of a question, though. Then, if you pass, you play a mock version of the game with others who passed to see if you are their kind of player.

Well, I passed the test and played the mock version. Kicked the asses of my opponents but still didn't get on the show. One moron I smoked did get on the show and I was pleased to watch him end up negative and out before Final Jeopardy!

DCL, you would have ended up broke on The Weakest Link. That step when they are down to three people and the two stupid ones vote off the smart one really sucks. The trick is to be reasonably bright but hide it until the end when you need it.

Some sample Jeopardy! Answers: Gregor Samsa is the protagonist of this novel; This man is Genghis Khan's grandson; The absurdist play The Bald Soprano is this work of this Romanian playwright.

 

[alexander tzara]

"Gregor Samsa is the protagonist of this novel" - 'Metamorphosis'. It's not a novel, though - a longish short story

"This man is Genghis Khan's grandson" - Chaka?

"The absurdist play The Bald Soprano is this work of this Romanian playwright" - Tristan Tzara or Eugene Ionecco (spl)?

 

[RonG]

"This man is Genghis Khan's grandson" - Chaka?

Rufus was playing gigs at Xanadu when Chaka hooked up with them. "Tell Me Something Good (or I will storm your hut)" was their big hit.

 

[alexander tzara]

Yup. I remember that one well, Ron. But wasn't that by Hannibal And The Elephantz?

 

[Skibum]

Re: Speaking of Pinkertons...

I thought Spielberg would appreciate the effort, since he essentially did the same thing as a young man (if you haven't heard the story -- he jumped off a tram during the Universal tour, walked out the employee exit and waved goodbye to the guard. When he returned the next day the guard remembered him, and, thinking he worked there, let him on the lot. Spielberg wandered into an empty bungalow and opened an "office". He got caught six months later when he tried to have a telephone installed. A studio chief heard aobut his, called him in, let him direct a "Night Gallery" episode, and the rest, as they say, is history).

Well, there is the slight matter of his talent to consider!

 

[RonG]

Well, yeah they covered it on Hannibal Pinups. Along with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Watch Your Step"

 

[alexander tzara]

River Deep And Mountain High...

I was going to say 'Xanadu', too but I think that was Laurence Olivia Newton John Of Arabia.