Snippets of America

I sometimes wonder if you Americans aren't fooled by our accent into detecting a brilliance that may not really be there.

Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry is an actor, writer and comedian who has appeared in countless movies and television programs-- I'm sure you recognize him, or at least his voice. He's famous in England and lives a colorful life with a checkered past which makes for an interesting bio.

We've been watching a 2008 six-episode television series (available from Netflix) called Stephen Fry in America, where he travels in a little black cab through all of the U.S. states. He has a likable, easy-going wit without any British pretensions as he rambles on about people, nature and American customs.

Of course it's just a snippet from each state -- in Colorado he stops long enough to have hot rum at the top of a ski lift in Aspen, and in Tennessee he has a short and unfortunate encounter with a horse. He doesn't "see the point" of skiing or riding. But his dry humor and kindly nature make the most ordinary events entertaining, like having Thanksgiving dinner (deep fried turkey) on a southern plantation. You can tell he really did like those yams with melted marshmallows. We know the Brits make fun of Americans (often for good reason) but Fry is sincerely enjoying himself-- most of the time. He hated Miami.

The series has an rambling feel to it, but the entire trip was meticulously planned in advance by the BBC because he meets with American heavy-hitters like Morgan Freeman, Ted Turner and Mitt Romney. He also visits some bizarre places most Americans will never see, like a hippie family living in an old underground missile silo in Kansas. Anyway, it's light entertainment good for weeknight TV watching. And best of all, with Netflix DVD there's no commercials or PBS begging.