August 15, 2008

"That's it then? That's the jumping on the eggs?"



(Via BoingBoing.)

18 comments:

Peter V. Bella said...

Nice video of rhhardin.

chickelit said...

Lame old cuckold he.
cluck, cluck

the wolf said...

Except for the fact that they were dead serious, that would have been a perfect Monty Python sketch.

Richard Dolan said...

Only in England. Even as a joke, can't imagine it in any other setting.

vbspurs said...

"That's it, is it?"

LOL. That's a devastating put-down of ego-crushing proportions.

Most foreigners don't pick up on it since it's understated, but I do think North Americans can.

Beth said...

VB, her expression said it all. And his "yes, that's definately been jumped on" response was hugely funny. Defensive, but restrained.

vbspurs said...

Defensive, but restrained.

Right!

There is an unbelievable amount of ridicule being levelled at the man in the funny shorts, in those few words, which he absorbed because he knows he's eccentric.

But as you say, in his restrained response, there is a quiet dignity in his reproof to the presenter.

If it had occured anywhere else, it might've gone like this:

"You've got to be joking? Is that it? That's totally lame."

"Yeah. That's it. Maybe if you jumped off your pampered high-horse for a minute, and wiped all that mascara from your self-satisfied face, you'd see the indentations on the egg, clear as day. Snooty cow."


Cheers,
Victoria

vbspurs said...

According to the BoingBoing comments, that's Sue Lawley (wow, I barely recognise her younger self). In American terms, she's our Barbara Walters -- one of the earliest female newsreaders/journalists on television.

Her regional accent was in transition, as some of you (Simon) can hear in this segment.

Ruth Anne Adams said...

What's this 'our' Barbara Walters? Don't you mean 'their'?

Which leads me to ask this [of Victoria and Simon]: Do you get more choked up at the Star-Spangled Banner or another national anthem? Why?

vbspurs said...

Speaking of being in transition, Ruth Anne, that's what I am culturally.

Roughly, I'm 60% American, 40% British in my reactions.

Last night, when I watched Aaron Peirsol moist up during the National Anthem, I started crying when they got to the "And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air" stanza. That bit ALWAYS gets my waterworks a-flowing.

Conversely, I have never cried during GSTQ. Ever.

Not because I don't care for the poor lady or my old country (I actually respect her a lot, and I love Britian)...but because culturally in the UK, one is taught to hate sentiment.

We have a word for that American reverence for the Old Glory, and crying when Lee Greenwood sings "God Bless The USA".

It's twee.

Not sure I answered you, but hey.

Chip Ahoy said...

Pish tosh. In circ Draglion Chinese gymnasts perform unnatural feats atop a bed of light bulbs. But then, they never turn on the light bulbs so they're probably fake.

vbspurs said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
vbspurs said...

Ahh, I think I got it. That's Sue Lawley all right, in the Nationwide intro. But surely that's just a regional Manc presenter who utters the put-down. She doesn't look like Lawley.

Whew mystery solved.

Althouse chorus: How fascinating, Vic.

MadisonMan said...

Yes, thank goodness you are here to explain this all to us.

vbspurs said...

I've been practising, MM.

Hazy Dave said...

"Oh yes, that's definitely been jumped on," is for sure the catch phrase of the week. I think I'll turn off the sound on the Olympics coverage tonight, and just keep muttering it to myself...

blake said...

Really, V? Twee?

Wow, I think the tough guy rules say while it's generally not okay to cry, winning at the Olympics is an acceptable circumstance.

Trooper York said...

"Oh yes, that's definitely been jumped on,"

Didn't John Edwards say that about a picture of his pregnant paramour when he denied having an affair?