Talking to Americans, Talking to Canadians

In a shared-border "newsyness" coincidence, Feist appeared on the Rick Mercer Report and the Stephen Colbert Christmas Special within one week of each other.

Stephen Colbert is to Rick Mercer's humble pie, what Mercer is to Colbert's raging eagle-ego. If you're worried that correlative doesn't make sense, so am I. I'm just trying to say that they are related, if even inversely. If the two were characters in a science fiction movie, one man couldn't exist without the other. Shared lifeblood? Perhaps. Except they've probably never met.

I'm not even sure if their acquaintance matters to the plot of my made-up film; all I know is that they are both funny and both like to talk to Americans. They both deliver the truth-ish. They both seem tall.

Rick Mercer first came to note in Canada with a series of short videos entitled, Talking to Americans. I have embedded a clip below. It is really insanely funny, regardless of nationhood. Do not watch at work! Unless you can stifle laughter and stare stone-faced as the screen, because the laugh-cough-cough-cough thing never works. [Actually, check out this site Vanishd.com. It helps you conceal your desktop so it looks like you're word processing, even when you're not.]

Rick also recently joined Leslie on tour to learn how to be a roadie. This just aired a few days ago. Here's the link (scroll down the right side to find RMR: Feist). Favourite answer from Leslie, after Rick Mercer asks her how many people have downloaded 1234 (Muppet version) from the Internet: "Well, since at birth, children are now able to use the Internet, the number is, well, uncountable".

As for Mr. Colbert, Feist joined his motley crew (Elvis Costello, John Legend, Toby Keith, Jon Stewart, a bear, and others) to summon the yuletide. Leslie was a nail-filing, call center angel. She was great. Unfortunately, this video may not run on screens outside of the U.S. (perhaps we need Mercer to talk to a few more Americans), but give it a try.

Comments

Tammy - November 27, 2008 3:50 pm

I watched Feist on the Rick Mercer Report on Tuesday, and it was hilarious! I laughed the hardest at the look on Feists face when he broke two of her tiny light bulbs on stage.

igor baranec - November 27, 2008 4:26 pm

Dear all,
I am from Slovakia and I dont know hw I can write queston to you, so I use this way. Do you plan in the future come for concert to Europe? It woul be very nice to hear you live. Thank you

H - November 28, 2008 11:39 am

I think what excites me the most about seeing Feist's news on her site, is the way they are delivered. I look forward to them just to get a good read. Maybe wit is genetically encoded in canadians by nature?

Kat - November 28, 2008 11:43 am

I'm very insulted when I'm called an "American," we live in the United States of America.. And you live in Canada. But we both live in North AMERICA.
Not the point
Awesome.

Rodrigo - November 30, 2008 8:21 am

I always thought that Feist had the voice of an angel, but it is actually very funny to see her dressed up like one. Can I have her for my Christmas tree, please?

By the way, I was able to watch Colbert's video and I am writing to you from Switzerland (yes, I am the same guy who wrote the reviews for Feist's concerts in Neuchâtel and Madrid). On the other hand, I cannot watch Rick Mercer's video with Feist. Each time I click on it, an annoying voice repeats "This content is currenty unavailable". Maybe Rick should stop talking exclusively to americans and start talking a bit to the rest of the world... Well, I suppose it is all the fault of CBC, intellectual property rights and all that pretty boring stuff.