Question Period in the Canadian Parliament
For us unhumourous (note the spelling) Americans, Canadian comedy is unbelievably funny. Nothing in the states even compares (save perhaps Jon Stewart). When asked recently how to save shows like Saturday Night Live and mad TV, Robin Williams commented, bring down some Canadian comedians. It's so good, that even what is supposed to pass as "pin-your-eyelids-open" C-SPANesque coverage of political debate is drop-dead funny.
I'm fortunate to work in a small shop where we need to keep our pulse on current events, therefore CBC runs on the flatscreen near my desk all day long. Okay, it does get a bit old when the D'Giorno Pizza ad runs for the 736th time, but it has its moments. Take for example question period in Parliament. CBC runs live coverage of this free-for-all where the opposition claws at any shred of controversy in the Minority Liberal Government and the Liberals put up one lackey after another to paint a rosy picture of all that the government is doing to address the issue. Now, what makes it funny, is that the rules forbid them from talking directly to each other, so all their barbs are directed to the "Speaker" prefaced naturally with "my esteemed colleague" or the "honourable minister from you name the Canadian riding". While all this is going on, the gallery of ministers are either honking out a "here-here" or an "I say" in support of their colleague or an impassioned "no" or "guffaw" or some other less polite derogatory in disdain of the speaker. It's like a gaggle of geese and half the time you can barely hear the minister who is speaking who's voice gets louder and louder as he continues his diatribe to the point where he is shouting to be heard at the end of his speech. Okay, maybe it's not as colourful as a no-hold barred fist fight during a Taiwanese legislature meeting, but it is pretty darn funny. And of course, absolutely nothing is accomplished during question period. It's pure entertainment, and with the way Mad TV and SNL have gone down hill, I may just tape a few question periods to watch on Saturday Night for my laughs.
For some ideas on how to spice it up
I'm fortunate to work in a small shop where we need to keep our pulse on current events, therefore CBC runs on the flatscreen near my desk all day long. Okay, it does get a bit old when the D'Giorno Pizza ad runs for the 736th time, but it has its moments. Take for example question period in Parliament. CBC runs live coverage of this free-for-all where the opposition claws at any shred of controversy in the Minority Liberal Government and the Liberals put up one lackey after another to paint a rosy picture of all that the government is doing to address the issue. Now, what makes it funny, is that the rules forbid them from talking directly to each other, so all their barbs are directed to the "Speaker" prefaced naturally with "my esteemed colleague" or the "honourable minister from you name the Canadian riding". While all this is going on, the gallery of ministers are either honking out a "here-here" or an "I say" in support of their colleague or an impassioned "no" or "guffaw" or some other less polite derogatory in disdain of the speaker. It's like a gaggle of geese and half the time you can barely hear the minister who is speaking who's voice gets louder and louder as he continues his diatribe to the point where he is shouting to be heard at the end of his speech. Okay, maybe it's not as colourful as a no-hold barred fist fight during a Taiwanese legislature meeting, but it is pretty darn funny. And of course, absolutely nothing is accomplished during question period. It's pure entertainment, and with the way Mad TV and SNL have gone down hill, I may just tape a few question periods to watch on Saturday Night for my laughs.
For some ideas on how to spice it up
posted by Paul Crowley @ 6:23 PM
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