America: Fry Version

[triedunture]

I managed to wrangle the first episode of Stephen Fry's America (from bitsofstephen, if you must know, you nosy person), and I just watched it. Though I should be writing. Ah, well. I thought it was highly enjoyable and, while I don't want to bore you with An American Perspective on Stephen Fry's Perspective on America...here it is anyway.

Firstly, I feel very fortunate that I've been able to see as much of this country as I have, and was familiar with nearly every place that Stephen visited. Besides Hawaii, I think I've traveled to every state. Fantastic. Okay. So.

Secondly, thank god Stephen Fry is himself. Anyone else could have been easily pompous, ungracious, or confused, but Mr Fry is not, so that it's a relief. He seems like the sort of person who genuinely is pleased and excited to be where ever he is. His enthusiasm for even the mundane ("Oh! A kitchen!") is so kind-hearted that I think, I hope, that most everyone who came in contact with him went away feeling a little more happy and special.

That was probably the most interesting aspect from y'all's point of view; it might tickle you non-Americans to see people reacting to Stephen without knowing who he is. I mean, they know he's British and he's filming for the BBC, but no one in the documentary seemed to know exactly WHO he was. And so they got a nice treat; I loved the lady in Atlantic City who exclaimed, "Oh wow! You're funny. This is a NICE fellow." His mild persona seemed to be well-matched to the chore of coming into contact with so many different kinds of people.

It made me laugh that the Vermont stop consisted of Ben & Jerry's. I was in Vermont one summer at the Scottish festival, and it is very beautiful there. And Mitt Romney in New Hampshire? Oh Lord. That man was such a train wreck. Thank goodness his run's over.

AND Boston! Squeal of joy. As the cab drives down the street in the opening, you can see those tall columns of glass on the left; that's the Holocaust memorial downtown. That's right behind city hall. And then, of course, he went over the bridge into Cambridge to go to Harvard, and you can see the city skyline as you pass over the bridge, the tall glass and antennae monolith of the Prudential Center.

I was pleased that New York was divided into Upstate and The City, because I guess most people don't think about how different they are. Even most Southerners will assume that "New York" means the city, and it's such a difference. Well, obviously, you can see that on the tape. Also, whoa, I guess NYC is characterized by: 1) racist cab drivers, 2) mobsters, and 3) Sting?

...Well, it's a living. *shrug*

Meanwhile, lolz, Maryland gets skipped hardcore. But whatever, besides crabs there ain't much going on there. I was stunned, though, by the British pronunciation. MERRY-land? Is it just me, or does everyone else pronounce it Meryl'nd, with a sort of rolling R sound?

And Gettysburg. I've been once, years and years ago, and it really is a striking place. Very beautiful now. As fifth graders, we were all required to memorize the Gettysburg Address. Was that just my school? Did everyone have to do that at some point? I imagine mine was the last generation to be forced to memorize anything. I can still do the first two or three sentences from memory.


Well, all I mean to say is, I liked it very much and I hope I can watch new episodes as they come out.