NYT (behind free registration wall);
Some Americans are still taken by the novelty of fake- news broadcasts like "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." But in Canada news parodies sometimes draw larger audiences than the real thing. One, "The Royal Canadian Air Farce," has been on government-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation television for 26 years.But during the current Canadian federal election campaign, Canada's television satirists have faced an issue that has never troubled "The Daily Show." An agreement between Canada's main television networks and its largest political parties blocks the shows from using film clips from the televised leaders' debates (although the film is still available to conventional news and current affairs shows).
But Canadian.
"It speaks for the parties' great respect for the power of satirical shows that they would demand this," said Roger Abbott, an Air Farce performer and writer. Mr. Abbott said that Air Farce considered declaring itself a news program, but in the end its cast used one of its specialties - impersonation - to create mock versions of the debates.Posted by Kate at January 16, 2006 4:46 PMThe four debates, which alternate between French and English, are produced by a consortium of the CBC and three private broadcasters. While the restrictions on debate clips were a surprise to Mr. Abbott, a CBC spokesman, Jason MacDonald, who also speaks for the consortium, said that the rule dates back several years; the networks, he explained, agreed to the politicians' demand in exchange for a promise that campaigns would not use debate clips in their ads.
Rick Mercer, host of "The Rick Mercer Report," a current-affairs parody on CBC, said the arrangement was unacceptable.
"The reality is that when three or four networks are at the table with three or four political parties, someone is going to be the victim," Mr. Mercer said, adding that he did not use any debate clips, but not because of the ban. "It's so pathetic I won't use it," he said. "The whole idea of calling it a debate is contemptible. They may as well have just run the parties' infomercials."
"This Hour Has 22 Minutes," another political comedy program on CBC, did not show debate clips. But Mark Farrell, an executive producer, said the reason was partly a lack of time to challenge the restrictions. "Part of me thought we should put up a big fight," Mr. Farrell said. "But we've had no problem making them look silly without the debate footage."
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what kind of crap is this ???
Posted by: soike at January 16, 2006 5:05 PMBut, but, but!.....the US is the real police state! We all know that Jon Stewart was sent to a secret re-education camp in Montana after he televised a clip of George Bush. That's why he is SUCH a Bush-toady now.
Seriously, every time I see (by sheer accident) a Canadian politician appear on a so-called "comedy" show on Pravda (such as Martin and Cretin have) I cringe. It is so undignified and stiff it is not in the least humorous.
Now doing voice-over on debate footage--that's hilarious, but it would clearly show what real boobs and buffoons Fat Paulie and Marxist Jack really are.
Posted by: Doug at January 16, 2006 5:11 PMI think the overarching point is that The Royal Canadian Air Farce is a terrible show written by CBC dinosaurs.
I have no problem with this decision. The only ones that benefit from crap like '22 minutes' or whatever it is called, (I do not waste my time there) are the likes of Mercer and his ilk. And I would just as soon they were working in the neighborhood 7-11 on Hans Island.
CRB
Posted by: CRB at January 16, 2006 5:50 PMLast Friday I watched both the RCAF and 22 minutes. They were both quite devastating of the Liberals with their satire.
Posted by: Tranio at January 16, 2006 5:58 PMConsidering the number of times they have unfairly skewered conservative politicians & shot blanks instead of cannon balls at the left, I'm not going to cry foul about this decision. Mercer's petition to change Stockwell Day's name to Doris still angers me. And the way Mary Walsh & the new pimply kid ambush politicians with their fake interviews is an embarrassment. I just hope the Conservative Party makes it a policy NEVER to appear on one of those shows. Parodies & impersonations, OK. But real live politicians pandering to those shows? A firm NO.
Posted by: Gabby in QC at January 16, 2006 6:19 PMNo worries.... I'm sure the CBC will see "budget cuts" in its very near future. Conservatives do not forget the biased "humour" of these shows.
Posted by: Jimmy at January 16, 2006 6:29 PMOh, c'mon folks. Shows like the Air Farce and Mercer are every bit as funny as, say, "The Trouble with Tracy".
Posted by: 2Sheds at January 16, 2006 6:34 PM"The whole idea of calling it a debate is contemptible. They may as well have just run the parties' infomercials."
Hey, I said that first, the plagarizing B******:
Debate night in Canadais Anglais and I for one could care less. A two hour political infomercial. I'm supposed to miss Corner Gas for this? Nuh-huh girlfriend.
http://hespeler.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_hespeler_archive.html
Posted by: Brian at January 16, 2006 6:40 PMMakes good sense to me given the stupid viciousness of these moonbats, where loudness trumps humor. But then, I haven't watched or listened to them for years. Maybe they've improved.
Posted by: jack grant at January 16, 2006 6:45 PMOff Topic but..
Some interesting reading on Maurice Strong found here. http://rigorousintuition.blogspot.com/2005/04/some-people-call-me-maurice.html
Posted by: Bullwinkle at January 16, 2006 6:51 PMAnother difference...TDS is funny. Well, to me it is. And sometimes truer than CNN.
Posted by: steve at January 16, 2006 7:10 PMHarper now has more humour than these shows, here's a quote from CBC:
"On my way in, I passed some individuals from This Hour Has 22 Minutes. I'm beginning to confuse them with the Liberal campaign."
— Harper during a campaign event in Halifax
IMHO, the overarching point is, they are just not that funny. Anybody with a real sense of humour is either writing for a Conservative Blog (we've needed it to get through the last 12 years) or making real money (as opposed to taxpayer dollars) somewhere else.
Posted by: Donna at January 16, 2006 7:42 PMKate, great interview on CBC. It could not of showed at a better time. The media has been covering Paulie lots today so.... Maybe you will have more "blogging power". There will be more people checking out you site! Looks good on you.
Posted by: MaryM at January 16, 2006 7:53 PMI always thought Rick Mercer was a card carrying member of the Liberal Party. This unfunny clod has sucked up taxpayers' money for years. I watched him on the comedy network the other day, he did a ten minute stand up routine, which consisted entirely of American bashing. This is comedy?
Last night the same network ran an episode of "The Honeymooners". Fifty years after the show was made, Art Carney and Jackie Gleason were still funny.
I actually didn't know it was coming on tonight. I dread seeing it anyway. I've turned down a half dozen TV interviews, including that one a couple of times. Still don't know why I did it. I think it blurs the message, to put too much emphasis on the bloggers. Hopefully he didn't use the insipid "background shots" with my puppies. Urgh.
What's the CBC?
Posted by: Duke at January 16, 2006 8:14 PMMy wife had CBC news on as I came home tonight.
"Wounded Canadian soldiers are in a German hospital."
I kid you not.
I walked over to the TV, and off it went.
Posted by: Doug at January 16, 2006 8:40 PMJust heard Duff say that the CBC is refusing to run the Tory ads mocking the Libs' response to the military attack ads. Apparently they're worried about copyright infringement. Yeah, right. But as Coyne noted today, CBC logo has changed from red to blue. Unless this is his idea of pre-electoral foreplay.
Posted by: Iron Lady at January 16, 2006 9:12 PM
Stephen Harper will be on CBC - Mansbridge - Thursday night.
I figured he'd wait till last. He probably couldn't get out of that without appearing chicken.
Posted by: jypsy ontario at January 16, 2006 9:22 PMThe 22 Minutes roasting of the Liberal ad campaign probably did defuse a lot of the impact Martin thought they might have.
Is the Air Farce a nature preserve for laughless dinosaurs?
Yes.
Could 22 Minutes use a some conservative leaning writers now that Mary Walsh has moved onto her own sitcom and ended her humourless Connie Bloor rants?
Yes.
Could the problem with Canadian comedy be the fact that there are about twenty comedy writers who write every show in the country?
Definitely.
I think Harper's first order with the CBC is for them to look for new writers.
One week to go. Vote early, vote often.
Posted by: Vox Poplar at January 16, 2006 9:35 PMSay what you will about Air Farce, but they gained my support when they nicknamed him "Premature E-"Jack Layton.
Posted by: Adam at January 16, 2006 9:40 PMNot a big fan of RCAF or 22 but air farce did a spoof of Belinda a couple of weeks ago that was hilarious - go check it out.
http://www.airfarce.com/seasons/season13/060106.html
Posted by: mrtisaduffer at January 17, 2006 12:30 AM"IMHO, the overarching point is, they are just not that funny. Anybody with a real sense of humour is either writing for a Conservative Blog (we've needed it to get through the last 12 years) or making real money (as opposed to taxpayer dollars) somewhere else."
Posted by Donna
Well Donna, as an outsider here I can tell you that the conservative bloggers' opinions I'm reading are certainly making me chuckle - especially the REALLY conservative ones.
You guys are funny.
I had no idea.
State comedian Ricker Mercenary is simply not funny.
He is a silly tax payer funded hack whose best days are well behind him.
Too bad we will have to watch his stupid mug on the Canadian airwaves for about four more decades on our dime.
Christ.
Posted by: Duke at January 17, 2006 1:21 AMNot allowing 22 Minutes, Rick Mercer, et al to use footage from the recent election debates does seem heavy-handed. On the otherhand, it meant that these shows had to work harder to create satire and comedy -- like the Air Farce's re-enactment. While not debate material, the fake attack ads shown on RMR were also absolutely brilliant! In contrast, the Daily Show often reverts to cheap mockery of political TV footage by speeding/slowing the tape, voice-overs, etc. These segments can be hilarious -- but they are still easy, cheap laughs that make us chortle late at night (when we are tired and stupid ;-). O yeah -- I guess the Canadian satires do the same thing sometimes but overall their election coverage has been pretty good i think.
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