How to lose friends and alienate countries

[crazy canuck]

Some Fox show I have never heard of has managed to offend a large number of Canucks. 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090323.wfoxapology0323/BNStory/Entertainment

OTTAWA — A Fox News host apologized Monday to Canadians in the face of widespread outrage over comments he and his guests made on a late-night talk show.

The statement came hours after a request by the Canadian government for an apology over remarks about this country's military that were described as "despicable" and "disgusting."

Greg Gutfeld, host of the controversial segment on Fox's Red Eye show, said he never intended to make light of Canadian military efforts in Afghanistan.

"However, I realize that my words may have been misunderstood," Mr. Gutfeld said in a statement released by Fox News.

"It was not my intent to disrespect the brave men, women and families of the Canadian military, and for that I apologize.

" Red Eye is a satirical take on the news, in which all topics are addressed in a lighthearted, humorous and ridiculous manner."

The recent talk-show segment was taped just before four more Canadian soldiers were killed in Afghanistan and featured a group of pundits taking turns trashing Canada and its reliability as an ally.

They were spurred by comments from Canada's army chief that the military would need a year's hiatus to regroup and refurbish after its Kandahar mission ends in 2011.

In the Fox News segment, widely aired on the Internet, Mr. Gutfeld said the Canadian military "wants to take a breather to do some yoga, paint landscapes, run on the beach in gorgeous white capri pants."

"Isn't this the perfect time to invade this ridiculous country?" he said. "They have no army."

Defence Minister Peter MacKay requested an apology just before leaving for Canadian Forces Base Trenton, where he was to attend a homecoming ceremony with the families of the latest soldiers killed.

"It's crass, it's insensitive, it's in fact disgusting, given the timing," Mr. MacKay told CTV News.

"There should be an apology — to the families in particular, and to the Canadian Forces and to Canada generally — given the sacrifice and the commitment that we've demonstrated in Afghanistan."

Canadian soldiers have been fighting in Afghanistan since 2001 and have spent the last four years in the country's most violent region. Canada has lost 116 soldiers in Afghanistan, the highest casualty rate among allied countries fighting there.

Earlier Monday, a spokesman stressed that the Canadian government specifically wanted an apology from the panelists who made the wisecracks — and not just from the Fox network at large.

"These are despicable, hurtful and ignorant comments," said Dan Dugas, a spokesman for Mr. MacKay.

"I think that so-called comedian should stare in the camera at his first opportunity and apologize to all of the families of people he's hurt with these despicable comments.

"And he's got to say, 'I was misinformed. I was ignorant of the truth and the contribution of the Canadian Forces to the war on terror, and I want to take it back. I know as a comedian that I can fail sometimes; I failed miserably at this so-called comedy.'

"And his panelists should say the same."

Canada says it will withdraw most of its 2,500 troops from Kandahar when its current combat mission expires in 2011.

The Fox News program aired after Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, the Canadian army chief of staff, said the military would need a one-year break from operations once the long and difficult mission in Afghanistan winds down.

One of Mr. Gutfeld's panelists, Doug Benson, said he didn't even know Canadian troops were in Afghanistan.

"I didn't even know they were in the war. I thought that's where you go if you don't want to fight — you go chill in Canada," he said.

The segment was posted online under the title, "How to Lose Friends and Alienate Countries."

By Monday afternoon, more than 3,000 people had posted responses to the clip, which also makes fun of RCMP officers and their traditional red uniforms

[Barrister]

I've never seen the show, but isn't it supposed to be a late-nite Saturday mock-news show?

Come on - 22 Minutes has had things equally as offensive about the USA...

[grumbler]

Wow.  Peter Mckay is quite the emo cretin, isn't he?

This is the kind of OTR stuff that costs a man his cred.  McKay should have kept his mouth shut, and both viewers of the show would just have yawned and forgottent the little spiel.

[Martinus]

I think it's a bit of an overreaction. I thought only the Polish twins go after foreign satire shows ridiculing them. Pretty silly, if you ask me.

[crazy canuck]

Wow.  Peter Mckay is quite the emo cretin, isn't he?

This is the kind of OTR stuff that costs a man his cred.  McKay should have kept his mouth shut, and both viewers of the show would just have yawned and forgottent the little spiel.

I think it was the circumstances.  Four Canadian soldiers were just killed.  He had just met with the families and a reporter propably asked for his reaction to the piece.

[crazy canuck]

I've never seen the show, but isn't it supposed to be a late-nite Saturday mock-news show?

Come on - 22 Minutes has had things equally as offensive about the USA...

Speaking of 22 Minutes:

Renowned comedian and political satirist Rick Mercer has a few words of advice for the Fox News panelists who incited the Canadian government to demand an apology for their mocking of the Canadian military.

"If you're going to do satire, three of the most important rules are you have to tell the truth, you can't be a bully and don't be an asshole," said Mr. Mercer, who hosts his own show on CBC. "Being a bully is not satire."

[Martinus]

I think the most important rule of a satire is to be witty and funny. I can imagine that those working for Fox may be lacking in that department.

Still, if making unfunny jokes was a cause for a diplomatic incident, no country would keep an embassy in Berlin, I'd imagine.

[Neil]

I've never seen the show, but isn't it supposed to be a late-nite Saturday mock-news show?

Come on - 22 Minutes has had things equally as offensive about the USA...

Indeed.  But it plays into the Canadian inferiority complex, so the government had no choice but to respond.

[The Minsky Moment]

I am shocked, *shocked* to hear that something stupid, juvenile and offensive aired on Fox News

[Admiral Yi]

Speaking of 22 Minutes:

Renowned comedian and political satirist Rick Mercer has a few words of advice for the Fox News panelists who incited the Canadian government to demand an apology for their mocking of the Canadian military.

"If you're going to do satire, three of the most important rules are you have to tell the truth, you can't be a bully and don't be an asshole," said Mr. Mercer, who hosts his own show on CBC. "Being a bully is not satire."

That statement is funny on a couple different levels.

[Grey Fox]

You have to understand McKay, his longtime girlfriend left him & joined the other party, became an MP & still has way more money then him.

The guy gots nothing.

[Malthus]

As "humour" it's lame, but it doesn't particularly offend me. Just a display of vulgar ignorance on Fox - what else is new?

[Neil]

You have to understand McKay, his longtime girlfriend left him & joined the other party, became an MP & still has way more money then him.

The guy gots nothing.

Almost everything in this sentence was incorrect.

However, it's important to note that Rick Mercer isn't even a little bit funny.

[Grey Fox]

You have to understand McKay, his longtime girlfriend left him & joined the other party, became an MP & still has way more money then him.

The guy gots nothing.

Almost everything in this sentence was incorrect.

However, it's important to note that Rick Mercer isn't even a little bit funny.

He went out with Belinda Stronach
She left him, She crossed to the lib.
She's richer then him.

[The Nickname Who Was Thursday]

Funny show, worth watching if you're up at 3 am. More farce than satire though.