I read his book about his time in America. He was more impressed with the timing of the jets than the jets themselves. He didn't know anything about getting jets, but he knew about timing from his TV work, and getting the jets at the right time in one take blew his mind.
Those jets are from the Alabama Air National Guard . They have an air traffic controller on the ground inside the stadium talking to the pilots on the radio guiding them in by the second
yea, that was a perfect clip to end it...hahah i dnt get how the cheering and all the band choreography is preposterous...its their to provide entertainment during halftime and spark cheer during the game. Id rather be pumped up then bored as hell. but guess he wouldnt understand since his country is use to sitting bored while watching a sports event
I love that part. He goes from teared up at 80K+ people singing the national anthem to covering his ears and whipping back to the camera, completely bewildered and awestruck. Welcome to 'Muricah
He would be like this at an English football match too - because he doesn’t get hyped about anything,.. he doesn’t believe in much beyond himself it seems...
I was with the painted fools group from 2006-2008 while I was attending Auburn and I distinctly remember watching Andrew Jenkins painting that AU on Stephen Fry's hand. We had no idea who he was at the time but watching this now makes me smile from ear to ear. Amazing. WAR EAGLE!
They don't do that sort of thing for even their biggest sporting league, the Premier League. The players just walk out in two straight lines, shake hands, pose for a photo, and get on with it. The only deviations are for their version of Veterans' Day when everyone wears a poppy on their uniforms. Or when someone is memorialized. They don't have marching bands or flyovers in England.
@@almattei88 It's really just an advertisement/recruiting tactic for our crazy overfunded airforce and military in general. Young people go to a game and see these cool ass jets fly overhead and then they sign up and end up greasing the tires on the things.
Thank you, and Roll Tide. There are no top level professional teams in any sport in the state of Alabama. Amateur College football is big in America, but we do it bigger than anybody else.
Stephen wasn't being derogatory, he was being adorable and honest, based on his experiences. He obviously didn't understand the magnitude of the Iron Bowl. Just imagine if he'd been at the 2013 Iron Bowl.
+Joe Smyth You miss the point. She said he doesn't understand the magnitude of the Iron Bowl specifically, not a football game in general. He equates it to "Just a local derby", but it's a bragging rights game for the whole state as they have no pro sports teams.
Not going to instigate an argument on youtube of all places. It was a suggestion of Stephen seeing American football at its finest. I have many UoA colleagues, and even though we were rivals for that game, we treat each other respectfully. Don't get upset because Auburn went and had a great season. Auburn's family isn't some machine that tries to pump out championship wins every year, and it isn't the only thing we're successful at. Auburn and UGA's swimming and equestrian teams are immensely more successful than the football programs, you can bet we're just as proud about those accomplishments bringing the SEC into popularity.
Yeeeaaaaahhhh....I'm just gonna keep on going to sleep peacefully every night instead doing your suggestion. You sound incredibly angry and lacking clear focus in life, whilst zeroing in hate on a country not your own - so please don't be offended that I'm gonna go with another direction.
+Barry Hollywood another insecure Briton hating on a world power. Sad really, the vestiges of a failed empire struggling to maintain a sense of identity.
+afrosheenix Thanks for trying to fuckup other countries by pushing your shitatic TTP bill through, it's not enough you fuck yourself over you have to drag other countries into it. Thanks for trying to give the rest of the world aids.
@@rozi2089 That's probably because it's to the tune of his country's National Anthem EDIT: I'm wrong here as Kyle points out below. America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee) is the same melody of God Save the Queen
For those of you commenting on the fly-over, American fighter jets have a certification process that they have to maintain. They have to be up a certain number of hours every year (possibly broken down by time of day; I'm sure a commenter below will verify that either way) to be certified as combat-ready by the Dept. of Defense. This includes all craft in the arsenal down to the Air National Guard. Since the "birds" have to be up in the air anyway, they coordinate with local events (sport events, public gatherings, etc.) to fly-over and provide a bit of wonder and awe at the event in question. Nearly every home football game I went to in college had one to help out the state's Air National guard and they weren't games nearly as big as the Iron Bowl is/was.
+Exhausted Elox Those are F -16 fighter jets from Maxwell Air Force base which is not far from that stadium in Auburn Alabama They were from the National Guard i think
+rbeck3200tb40 Kinda sorta: Maxwell only has C-130s (Cargo Planes), however you are correct in that they are part of the National Guard, the 187FW to be exact. The F16s operate out of Montgomery Regional Airport, which is about 5 miles, or so, away from Maxwell.
I still consider this my most favorite outsider-looking-in perspective of the US. Stephen's take on this was really charming, and really warmed my heart taking a step back when I looked at it his way too.
As someone who loves college football and follows a Premier League team in England, I've always felt that college football, more than the NFL or MLS or any other pro league, is the closest thing we have to European footy leagues. College football teams represent your town, state, region and sometimes even your religion. And the best teams have die hard fans who aren't even alumni of the school, or even taken a single class on the campus.
I agree with this comparison. The student section is like the American version of the Ultras/Hooligans. There's the marching band to play songs during the game instead of the fans behind goal singing. And unlike NFL teams, the College teams are linked to their town and can come from anywhere and aren't allowed to just move to a different market if they want a new stadium.
Yes - mother of American friend at University of Kansas told me that the big following for college sports (football and basketball) was because people felt 'it's our team' even if they never went there, more than a pro franchise that happens to be in your nearest big city.
I've seen professional basketball players retire and move back to the town they went college in. They may only play college ball for a year or 2, but they still get treated like hometown heroes. Even if they're not originally from there.
It is so perfect that he is already overcome with emotion just from the stadium hoopla and singing and then the perfectly timed fighter jet flyover sends him into complete overload.
best description of college football culture I've ever heard. the excitement, atmosphere and energy of a Europe professional final, but in reality it's nothing more than college students playing a regular season game.
What Fry was missing here is the potential for any great college player to go on to an NFL career. That's the gist of why these games are important for the players.
It's so interesting to see how something that's always been a normal part of my life looks to someone from another country. I never considered any of it unusual. Thanks for helping me see it with fresh eyes, and War Eagle!
Yeah, it's neat getting his outsider's perspective on an event I grew up with and one I share with my family now. Although, I think it would be different because they are professionals, but I'd like to how to a big Premier League soccer match between two of the London teams. Just to be in Stephen's shoes as an outsider witnessing an intense rivalry knowing nothing about it going in. It would be really cool I think
I didn't even go to Bama or Auburn, I'm from California and went to school in New York. But god damn do I love watching the Iron Bowl. Easily the best of what college football can be. Easily.
As someone from Connecticut who did his undergrad at Bama, and now his grad degree at bama, I have to say that there really is nothing like it in the world. You MUST check it out
Chris Davis simply not true. Especially not in this modern age of CFB. The winner of the iron bowl played for the national championship 5 years straight 09 -14. Red river is a mid season it has its own stage and Ohio State Michigan has been frankly irrelevant/boring for quite some time now. Any normal educated CFB fan would much rather sit down and watch a game with actual implications. Pretty simple actually.
I think that Americans can sometimes fail to understand the connection many Britons feel with America. I feel a deep affection and even patriotism for America and I welcome any American to feel the same for Britain. We belong to one another in a deep and important way.
@stuffandnonsense8528 of course we do, like when they brought down the Union Jack and watched fall to the ground and replaced it with the pride flag, It really mad me angry and sad at the same time
At the end of "God Bless America" he looked touched and almost tearful. Stephen, your younger American cousins have done alright. We are loud, boisterous, uncouth, warlike, proud, and often silly. But we stand with our UK ancestors, and are blessed that you came to visit. Come back anytime.
For non-Americans: imagine this at a smaller scale happening at every high school across the country, lol. Nothing like watching your friends play Friday night football in the fall. I'm from a "twin cities" area, and the big rivalry game between the two cities' high schools would be held at the state university's football stadium.
I'm from the UK and have this vague idea in my head of how charming it must be around the Boston area in fall and on a Friday going to watch a football game, preferably around Halloween, must be an experience.
Omg those vibes are amazing. The town is orange yellow and brown, you're in a sweater supporting your team, you and all your friends are cuddled up on the bleachers, maybe a little drunk, just enjoying the vibes and excitement of the game, even if you don't care about the sport. I hope you get to live it one day, falls in the north east are amazing.
@@luvkid17 I've been to Massachusetts for a fall. Didn't catch a game, but I can definitely appreciate the beauty of it. I would recommend a high school game in Texas in the late fall. November, perhaps. Late enough in they ear that you'll get nice weather and a sunset during the half-time show, the chants of the student section rumbling through the bleachers....
As an American watching this I just smiled so big. It made me feel warm to see an "outsiders" perspective of what is very common here. Thank you for that, Stephen. I love your work. *Edit: that moment when the jet flies over is awesome.
American college sports is probably something no other country in the world would understand. Big time college football and basketball trumps even major pro sports in some cases.
Rusty I was born in DC, I grew up in Florida, and now I live in Philly. Wasn't aware one of those places was British. Unless you mean I'm not a so-called "real American" because I hate sports... But that's a different point, and I can't argue on that one, 'cause it's right.
Oh, OK, cool. I wouldn't want to be a "Real American" anyway because so many of them are dicks. (Although most of them are still OK in person, just as long as you don't start talking about religion, race, or foreign policy.)
I love when he teared up while the whole astadium sang in unison "God bless America". He could really feel the love, patriotism and energy. It really is a moving experience to be in an arena and all singing in harmony. Makes the hair stand up on the back of your next and gives you goose bumps. super surreal.
I'm from London but lived in Alabama for four years (Owens Cross Roads and Huntsville). I vividly remember the Auburn vs Alabama game and its thousands of accompanying bumper stickers...
Just catching this great series on Netflix.....8 years late....but an incredible doc nonetheless. And I got a little weepy too after God Bless America. What a great perspective Mr. Fry. This segment reminded me what a spectacle NCAA football really is.......and Roll Tide.
He is such a sweet ,educated and world icon. I'm very honored to have him at the iron bowl , and teach our friends across the pond about how wonderful America can be. It only thing he needed to be on the other side of they field ROLL TIDE !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, Michigan, and Ohio State have bigger stadiums by capacity than these two team's stadiums - and their fans are always selling them out; so it isn't dead in the south. Penn State, Pitt (shares their stadium with an NFL team, Pittsburg), all have rather strong football cultures here up north, comparable to Auburn here for instance [well, maybe not Pitt to Auburn, but those other ones...]. And I could give you plenty of honorable mentions up here north too, that might not be quite as strong in this hoopla, but aren't slouches either.
Most adults that graduated from university in Alabama probably went to either Alabama or Auburn. Also, they are southerners, so their love of gridiron is enormous. And both teams have won national titles.
From a London POV I fully understood his perspective... I always say that America is tacky and cheesy as fuh... But nobody does it like The United States of America maan! So damn Epic! An actual Eagle and fighter Jets... Come on brahh who can top that shit!!!!??
+ninjastah At the NASCAR car race at Talladega Alabama a few hours drive from this stadium they had a B 2 stealth bomber fly over the race track its about 10 times bigger than this stadium .You guys have no idea how big this football game is in Alabama Every year during this game in the towns and cities of Alabama if you go to the malls or anywhere it is desolate with no one around. they are all watchign the game on tv Its really weird.
+rbeck3200tb40 Yeah, this is literally the biggest thing that happens all year in the state. It's a bit out of proportion to compare this to any other game, even among most other state rivalries and even some of the bowl games.
What a vivid expression of heartlander culture; reminds me of my high school. In small towns all throughout the heartland, the local high school football team is one of the most important things in town. Many of the kids on those teams are only able to go to college by getting a sports scholarship to a state university. This makes all the small towns extremely invested in the state's college football teams, and their games are huge events for the locals.
This is the 2007 Iron Bowl, when Auburn beat Alabama 17-10. This was part of a show called Stephen Fry Visits America. Fry is a famous British actor and comedian. His former comedy partner was Hugh Laurie (Dr. House on tv), and he is a friend of JK Rowling and is the reader for the British versions of the Harry Potter books. Fry's father almost took at job at Princeton after WWII, but chose to stay in England. I think Fry was just trying to see what his life might have been like if his father had taken the job.
The producers for this show were on-point with the music selection. The bit at the beginning is the theme to Alien, which is a perfect metaphor for Steve at that game.
Loved watching his America series. Football back East is insane. But watching Rivalry schools, takes it to another level. I'm from Washington State and sad to see that Stephen only could show a tiny, TINY, piece of all the different states.
+zh11147 Number 1 versus Number 4, Auburn rebounding from one of its worst seasons in school history, going into a rivalry game having only lost one game. The opponent, Alabama, hadn't lost a game in two years. Score was tied 28-28 at the end of regulation, but Alabama's coach was able to review the play and get one second put back on. They tried a 56 yard field goal, which missed and an Auburn player ran it back 109 yards to win. It was....glorious
jej3451 he ran the missed field goal back. He ran it back 109 yards they’re not gonna keep them off the field tonight. Holy cow. Oh my God Auburn wins. Auburn has won the iron bowl in the most unbelievable fashion you will ever see. And we thought a miracle in Jordan hare was amazing. Oh my lord in heaven. Chris davis.
I’m an American and this makes me overwhelmed. I went to a college football game just once in my life and was in misery the whole time. Glad y’all have fun though.
The sitting in the stadium part is the worst of it. Going solo, without a tailgate party or dorm/apartment as a home base just makes it a lot of exhaustion and overpriced food.
I love how at the end you can tell he is about to say something about how inspiring and patriotic Americans are, until the flyover when he remembers "wait, this is ridiculous"
As an Auburn alumni and a previous member of the Auburn University Marching Band, I'm glad that my school, my band, my family, brought Stephen Fry to tears.
I watched most of the series that this clip is from, where he traveled across the whole country to learn about us and our culture. He seems like such a gracious visitor. It is easy for us, as Americans, to go to our favorite events and get caught up in the magic of it all because it is our culture and we take it very personally. To see someone from another country get swept up in the same spirit because he enjoys seeing everybody else enjoy themselves - that is something very cool to see.
We do flyovers in the UK as well BTW. It might shock you that Stephen doesn't attend many sporting events. Flyovers are a really good way for pilots to work precision and timing. the RAF always welcome the opportunity as the USAF/USN obviously do.
The University of Nebraska has the longest sellout streak in NCAA history, and I would say college football is pretty damned big in the midwest. But all the travelling sportcasters who see college football all over the country insist it is king in the South. Who am I to argue?
Brian Fantana Come on man, Alabama has the most. Particularly in recent years, the SEC has dominated the national scene. Get ready for an all-SEC final this year.
there’s a special kind of joy i get from english people being impressed by america. being praised by a person from a country who laid so much of the foundation for our own country emulates in abstract the pride of impressing your own father
Oh Stephen, dear Stephen. My sweet, sweet, summer child... One of the most underrated minds of comedy. A Bit of Fry and Laurie and QI reruns are some of the most entertaining tv I've ever watched.
The Merrily We Roll Along Overture had me shook. I did that musical the year this video was posted (11 years ago). My brain was not ready to be taken back to that show, haha! Even more shook that there's a copywrite claim for the song's use on this video. :o
+Olof Persson Watch Steven fry's documentary abotu traveling through America its very very good thats what this video clip was from i think its on youtube
Lol, I know what you mean. :D Ive read a lot of anti-American comments from jealous outsiders raging against us like they're obsessed with us or something. Meanwhile, we're just over here living our lives ;) Anyway, Steven Fry did a good job on this documentary, and it's nice to see him experiencing our country and culture(s) of all our different regions and finding the beauty in it all...
He's such a distinguished gentleman. He sees things so clearly and is always so well spoken when he sums things up. He's the best of britain experiencing the best of america, including the jet fighters. The air force loves to show off.
My God! From Blackadder to the Iron Bowl... I would have had a fit. Stephen certainly had good researchers for this, this is Alabama madness at its best! How lucky, lucky you are, Stephen! And the icing on the cake - your reaction to the flyover! RTR!
LOL! I love the humour in your comment. And it's true, American sporting events really are something else. I was really surprised when I went to St. Louis and watched a Cardinals game against the Cubs how much the entire city essentially shut down.
I think it means something that he went to a college football game particularly an SEC one to introduce football to a foreign audience. This is the purest american football experience you could get
The touching display of unity and love for country in the singing of “God Bless America,” followed immediately by a deafening fly-over by F-16 fighter jets is the most American thing ever.
Do you realize how much it would cost to show game footage.... the NCAA and NFL and other sports groups sale their contracts strictly to channels for millions and billions of dollars... only news organizations are aloud to show game footage because they are not making a profit off of it .... everyone has heard the disclaimers about doing any thing without the express written consent of the NFL etc, etc.... seriously it would never happen and if they did it would cost extreme amounts of money to show game footage, have you ever seen any documentary not made by a major sports channel show game footage, especially of football?
Zachary Smith This isn’t true. Those restrictions only apply to the official broadcast footage. Anyone can record the game (as many do take clips with smartphones). The subject of the documentary is the American people and it’s culture though, not football. So the camera crews were focused on the pageantry and the fans instead. They could have filmed parts of the game if they wanted to.
Within the first few moments of realizing the tone of the clip, I literally kept thinking, "if there's a flyover, this guy is gonna lose it." Did not disappoint
The best thing about the last ten seconds has to be the camera guys high-fiving in the background and the look on their faces. Couples nicely with Stephen's mix of surprise and restrained excitement...
To be fair this is a huge game for both teams. it is called the Iron Bowl and although it's just another regular season game if either team were to lose all other regular season games but beat the other in this indivudual game their fanbases would be happy. It's a huge rivalry game.
