Join this American as we look at the hilarious Rick Mercer's classic, Talking to Americans - the Special, Part 2. #johnfamericanreacts #Talkingtoamericans For more from my channel click here: For original content click here:
We love that you get these jokes! Has anyone reached out to offer you an honourary Canadian citizenship? We'd welcome you and your beautiful family anytime♥️. I know you love the USA and they actually need more educated and curious folks like you so we'd understand if you stay:).
This is hilarious but quite sad. Think it was Mordecai Richler who said: "Canadians are malevolently well informed about America while Americans are benignly ignorant of Canada." Apparently little has changed. I do hope some of these victims are playing along. You, on the other hand, are getting the jokes like we do. Bravo!
@@johnf-americanreacts1287 oops, sorry, John. It was not Richler but J. Bartlett Brebner who said that, plus I reversed the nations. Still true but now I have to go refresh my memory of Richler's quotes. My bad.
You are spot on. Remember though -- Mordecai was not an optimist. I am. Good on you. I don't find it sad; I find it joyous. I have been all over America and have many friends scatterred all over. Many expat Canadians with their American pals. or wives or....I know that they are the greatest kindest hosts in the world. (When you are on their soil) Generally they are not smart and talk WAY too much about what they do not know. Kind and independent people they are. NORAD and NATO protects us. (Canada) We are thoroughly linked. I am happy that Americans regard Canada as their unkown attic. That is good for us. Example: Over 52% of crude oil products that America imports is from Canada... .. .. S'truth.
😂😂😂 Rick Mercer is an absolute genuis! The subtlety of how he presents the questions to these nice, unsuspecting people is exactly why the segments were so well received. And yes, like you, I recognize that some of the language and the topics were much more acceptable at the time than they are now, but we also are looking at quite a lot of time that has passed since these recordings were made. We have grown as humans, and Rick is no exception to that growth. You may be interested to know that, despite his obvious intellect and knowledge about a wide range of subjects, not to mention his comfort in confidently speaking to people with varying levels of education, Rick does not have any formal post-secondary education. As a matter of fact, he is a high school dropout, a fact he does not hide, nor something about which he is proud. He acknowledges vehemently that he has been extremely fortunate to have the successes he has enjoyed and the wonderful people who have assisted him in achieving those successes. He has been a very vocal proponent of keeping kids in school and encourages education for all. But be damned if he isn't funny as hell!
Oh, I forgot to mention, belated Father's Day greetings to you. I also thought the t-shirt from your daughter was a brilliant and beautiful gift. Such a lovely family! You and your lovely wife are doing a great job with your kids. (I bet they grow up not only knowing where Saskatchewan is, but how to spell it, too! ❤😂🇨🇦)
It’s amazing how smart people can self-educate. I agree, school is important but some people show how it’s not always the path to success and intellectual development. Neil Peart from Rush is a good example of that. My grandfather too. A very well read and intellectual man. But he was adamant his children go to college.
@@carolmurphy7572 thank you so much Carol. I can promise they’ll know where Saskatchewan is. How to spell it, that’s a different story. 😉Actually we have a lot of native names here in the east too. My town is a native name. We are sort of used to it.
On the street or ball fields where NORMAL people are they are not bound to some sort of linguistic correctness. We call you a reetard or a c-unt(or worse if you deserve it - yeah we know sailors in Saskatchewan too); if you deserve it & it is common language. No ambiguity, you know what we meant. We don't have to be polite to no one.
As another Canadian seeing this for the 1st time - & your comment - YES, you DO NEED TO BE POLITE to EVERYONE (except POSSIBLY those who 1st, starting acting rude - & even here, MOST people know how to make their point WITHOUT HAVING to stoop to such POOR levels in return!) Do you NOT have enough knowledge of vocabulary to make a point WITHOUT being rude or using offensive language? Is the Saskatchewan government failing your education THAT badly? - is it just you? Just wondering. @@bunzeebear2973
Newfoundlanders like Rick tend to be great slingers of stories, especially when snowballing someone. Rick is such a master at this that he makes it looks easy, and he is truly one of the funniest people to ever grab a mic. His books are great too.
My Mom and I visited family friends in New Orleans in 1972. Prior to flying home, we stopped at a family-owned florist to buy a thank you bouquet. Their daughter was working that day and since she and I were about the same age (18), we got chatting. When it came time to pay, we talked about our respective currencies. That young woman was absolutely gobsmacked to learn that we also had bills and coins. I think she thought we used rocks or something. I had some Cdn coins in my wallet and told her she could have them and she was thrilled beyond measure. 100% true story and every Canadian has at least one.
i got a funnier story about Canadian money it was late 70's or early 80's we went vacation the Alabama Government said they would take the Canadian dollar at par but when we got there no business would take the Canadian Dollar so my Dad had to go Montgomery and find a bank that could do the exchange at par
It’s somewhat surprising but then again, I suppose for those of us who have never traveled abroad? 🤷♂️. I went to Canada, Mexico and a number of Caribbean islands as a kid so it was never surprising to me that money was different, and colored and occasionally had the Queen on it. Been to Europe too but not until I was an adult. Still, it’s weird to me that people are surprised by foreign currency. It’s just not a thing in my world.
Rick mercer is one of, if not the greatest Canadian alive currently. His old show, the Mercer Report, had him travelling the country taking on jobs that usually had some distinct piece of Canadian culture attributed to them. If he ever ran for PM, he'd win in a landslide.
I read Rick's book, and a lot of people think he did this with hundreds of people to get one or two clips, and when he pitched it to CBC he got a two week all expenses paid trip to the USA saying he would need that long to get enough footage. Apparently it took him more time to set up the equipment then get the footage, so him and his crew had a good old time!
When watching these as a kid, when these came out, the Peter Mansbridge joke was my favorite and has been the most memorable to me. It’s awesome that you got that one!
@@johnf-americanreacts1287 Well, I would have joined them! 😁 We haven’t had an ice cream truck in my community since I was 11 years old. Such great memories, and so happy to be reminded of the joy they can bring to neighbourhoods with children! 💕 Enjoy! 💕 ….and, I loved seeing you laugh so much! Thank you for the love and joyful openness you share regarding our country! 🇨🇦 The appreciation is mutual 💕🇺🇸 💕
Even though I have seen these before, I still laugh at Rick and his questions and the answers he gets. This is hilarious. Thanks John for this. Really enjoy your reactions. I loved the Prime Minister Tim Horton. It’s always good to laugh. 👏👏🇨🇦
It's been such a heavy week here, I was delighted to just watch and laugh along with you. I've travelled throughout the US although Canadian/Irish and have been to Cuba 27 times, beginning in 1991, and so having the knowledge, history and cultural references made definitely make it all the funnier, and more meaningful. Bust-out laughing at a few points. Thank you for sharing your family with us too. Watching your knowledge and body of work grow, and along with it your sense of Canadian humor is good for the soul. Greetings from Toronto.
I remember watching this particular episode and just laughing and laughing! Rick Mercer is so witty and funny. We Canadians sure miss him😢. We do have other very funny people.
Oh John, I get such a kick out of watching YOU watching these videos! I remember watching these, two decades ago but watching you makes these even more hysterical! 😅
What a great shirt, belated fathers day to you too John,P Your reaction to these jokes are priceless John and makes me laugh all the harder. Bless you Brother a great spirit, keep up the good work. P
Lol. Never apologize for the ice-cream truck! Also, dogs barking.. I work from home and I hear that too.. I used to apologize for the neighbours dog too. Lol. You are outside so it’s fine. You are so nice.. lol. and a proud dad!!! Have a nice weekend. Thanks for the video. PS My daughters friend moved to Philadelphia when she was in grade 9 or 10 . They still keep in touch. I remember when she first moved there, one of the things she noticed is that no geography was being taught. This video kind of leads me to think that she was correct?
I also love Rick Mercers’ Rants. Very intelligent. If you want more laughs with him, check out any videos that have him and Jann Arden together.( another Canadian singer/icon) There are several. The things he gets her to do and her reaction on their “dates” is hilarious, I think. Happy belated Father’s Day and all the best to you and your lovely family. ❤from Ontario, 🇨🇦
At the time these shows were broadcast to Canadians many in the American media saw it as Americans being made the butt of the jokes. I saw news pundits discussing the show on a major US network. Most were outraged (imagine what Tucker would say) but there was one commentator who pointed out that most of the Americans asked questions typically responded with a clear sense of what's right & wrong and American values. They might not know about Toronto & polar bears but have a clear understanding that the slaughter of any bears anywhere is just wrong.
Wow, I appreciate this perspective. I think that’s right. You articulated it better than I did. I said they were nice and I suppose that’s what I meant. Great comment my friend.
Today the 24th of June, in Quebec, Canada, its "Saint-Jean Baptiste" day. Its a french holiday, you should react to something from the St-John Baptiste. Thanks! Love the content
Love you showing our pride and joy Rick Mercer. Canada has fought for years to be seen different then USA. We desire to be known but we are too polite to push our pride
Rick Mercer's comedy is "tongue in cheek" stuff at its best. If you love crazy, bizarre comedy, look up The Red Green Show......also a totally wacky, Canadian production.
The best part that got cut off was this little boy when his mum was being interviewed and he goes "WAIT A MINUTE ...thats not true.I cant remember the details but I always wonder where that kid is now.Hed be in his thirties.😂
I do want to give the Americans in Miami some credit. They were very gracious and seemed like kind folks who clearly had nothing but love for Canada. These jokes are all hilarious but there’s always love behind them 🇨🇦 🇺🇸
I have to imagine that a portion of the interviewees were in on the joke. And I'd love to see the reactions of those who knew he was full of s**t. Love you and your channel
Morning happy belated Father’s Day. That T-shirt your daughter created for you was an awesome gift! Loved how she incorporated both flags… Rick Mercer has his moments.. I often felt can Americans really be that naïve. I think not, in defence of those victims lol long before social media, and your right the subtle way he throws in a word or statement over their heads, there also isn’t much Canadian news coverage in the US either from my understanding your simply too big with your own news so how would you know half what he asks lol. Look forward to your next video travelling through our Country. Enjoy the weekend🫶 Oh and what, you still have ice cream trucks so jealous…
It occurred to me with the Peter Mansbridge joke, the two of them would have worked in the same building I wondered how Peter greeted him the day after that aired. Speaking of elections how is your hanging chad?
As a 49 year old born and raised Canadian, I learned a long time ago to never underestimate most Americans benign ignorance of Canada(or any other nation for that matter!) and their virtually myopic view of the world. It's a credit to their massive strength militarily and culturally, but can also be their greatest weakness.
OMG all daughters. I feel for you. As a Canadian i am so relieved that someone understands us and i LOVE the shirt design. I was talking to my CANADIAN wife about the Peter Mansbridge joke and she didn't get it. I am now going to subscribe to your channel. You get it
Lol! I know Newfoundland has a town called Dildo! Jimmy Kimmel did a few jokes about it, and the citizens there made him honorary mayor! There is a video on RU-vid with all the funny names of Canadian towns and cities! Stay safe, stay sane, stay strong Ukraine 🇺🇦
Some of my favourite Talking with Americans segments are: The 20 hour clock Mount Rushmore and adding "President Mulroney" Protecting Parliament with a dome The polar bear hunt
When given the chance to troll Americans is one of our favorite things to do. Sooooo easy. Have you heard of the our yearly Jakalope hunt in the fall? The Glacial Ice Trout fishing derbies?
Can't resist. Americans mystified that Canadians are funny, sarcastic, maniacs. Ok. Here's a few: Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Rick Moranis, Catherine O'Hara, Robin Duke, Jim Carrey, Rick Mercer, Mark Crich, Mary Walsh, Sean Majumder, Mike Myers, Phil Hartman, Seth Rogen, John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Leslie Nielsen, Tom Green, Dave Foley, Norm MacDonald, Russ Peters, Will Arnett, Colin Mochrie, Dave Thomas, Brent Butt, HOwie Mandel, Ryan Stiles, Jay Baruchel. And THAT is only the tip of the Canadian iceberg..... 8-)
I think that the Brits allowed Catholics to vote in Canada before they allowed them to vote in the UK, but my memory sucks. In Canada, there were Irish Catholics and Irish Protestants - the latter were definitely not discriminated against. A Canadian invented Standard Time. Grievous Angels - La Flamme d'Enfer - from the annual Hootenanny BTW - Happy Father's day.
The Protestant Irish tended to come to Canada while the Catholic Irish tended to go to the U.S. They faced difficulties but not the kind of discrimination that they were met with in the U.S. At one point, Ontario was 70% Irish. Our public education system was based on the Irish system as well.
Best comedy Canadian sketch shows ever? 1.) The Rick Mercer Report. 2.) This Hour has 22 Minutes. 3.) The Royal Canadian Air Farce. (Hit me back with what I missed. These are my top 3 but I know there are more.)
You need to watch a few episodes of “This Hour Has 22 Minutes”. The name is a nod to one of our first investigative journalist programs called “This Hour Has 7 Days”. Lots to of really heavy content and an attempt to mimic some of the American shows. 22 Minutes has lots of those segments as well. Rick always does a rant at the end of every show and those were hilarious and often hard hitting.
2 more comedy groups for you that were on TV are the Royal Canadian Air Farce and SCTV. Some famous alumni of SCTV are John Candy, Rick Moranis, Mike Myers, Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas and Andrea Martin.
These videos are so funny. I think people answer things that they don't know about because there is a camera in their face and a guy shoving a microphone in there face.
Irish Canadian on my paternal grandfather's side. Since 1820. So really a Canadian Mutt at this point. Think it was different here where the O' in the last names. Also interesting history in Quebec where the orphans were able to keep their Irish last names when adopted. Always interesting trivia in History.
rick mercer started on a Canadian show called this hour has 22 mins and i found it very funny but i understand the humor cause i know and understand the different Canadian cultures
Unless I missed it somewhere in videos 1 or 2, they missed the time Mercer ambushed GW Bush at one of his rallies, asked him his thoughts on our then Prime Minister Jean Poutine and Bush completely fell for it. lol
Kudos to all the Americans willing to just respond when someone comes along and shoves a microphone in their face. I love our Canadian humour but I can see how others could take offense. All I can say is that we are equally good at making fun of ourselves.
I think that's what floored me when I first saw this show - that the majority of people he questioned were well-educated (senators, professors, etc.). I once would up talking to a young American guy on a train - he could tell me who the (then) President of Mexico was, considered himself well-informed & educated but had no idea what a Parliamentary system of government is . . .
Too funny cause that's when us Canadians realized that our neighbours are mostly geographically ignorant. We also laugh cause it's quite innocent and Americans laugh at us also. Happy Canadian Day tomorrow and a great video to rewatch with an American's reaction...btw all our igloos have melted with these forest fires😂🎉😂
Hey! Great content! You better get your a$$ to BC - Vancouver and Kelowna! You’ll f’n LOVE it! I lived in Ontario, Alberta, Quebec and Nova Scotia - now BC! It’s “super-natural”! From an Irish born, Canadian raised father of 3 girls and 1 boy (8 grandkids and 2 great-grandkids! I’m 65) Keep the content coming - people will “get it”. Peace
I met 2 ladies from Texas at the American Airlines first class lounge at Toronto airport. They complained that as their plane was landing in Toronto they were disappointed that they couldn't see the Rocky Mts. I explained the Rockies are over 2,000 miles from Toronto & they replied: "Wow, Canada is that big? So it's bigger then Texas?" So, I told them that Ontario is twice as big as Texas & they said: "Where is Ontario?' I said: Here, you're in Ont. & they said "Oh it's a State then".
Banting, Best and MacLeod discovered insulin in 1921 at University of Toronto just a few decades prior to this video. If you want to fly to Toronto Island from Newark, that is a prop plane using Porter but personally my favourite Canadian airline. Definitely the best service I had ever experienced and you land right downtown. As far as the ice floes go, Regina and Calgary are far flung from the waters of the Arctic where the ice floes are found. I live in between the two of them and while winter does get frigid, ice floes are non existent here. I do remember when Mel Lastman was mayor of Toronto, that was a few years ago though! There is a Toronto Polar Bear Plunge on New Year's Day though polar bears are far from TO. Jean Cretien was known as Jean the Cretin in many parts of Canada.
Yup! I think the Prime Minister Tim Horton getting a double-double is also my favorite one of all. I must have watched this show at least 5 times since it first came out. Lots of times French Canadians and Irish Canadians got along pretty well; both Catholic people who for a very long time were living in a place where English Anglicans were in charge. (But that's kinda over simplifying it.)
1:50 (Surprised at the no-transition continuation?) Keep in mind this was originally an hour-long comedy special, aired on, and produced for, TV (So you are seeing the short clips of things like planning their jokes that mark the commercial breaks). Someone else cut the vid up for RU-vid, years later.
