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I Am Canadian

Living close to the United States, Canadians are bombarded daily by American cultural and social influences.  Even their politics and financial policies affect us.  But we don't really mind.  We actually like Americans...most of them...and are often able to laugh at the relationship and at ourselves.




It is this self-deprecating sense of humour that came into play in 2000 when Canadian brewery Molson devised a television commercial for one of its beers, Canadian.  It was perhaps one of the most popular ads ever run on Canadian television.  Created by the ad agency Bensimon Byrne, "The Rant" ran for 5 years.



The ad was so popular it spawned regional parodies.  One of the funniest of these was "I Am Not Canadian" from Quebec.  If Canadians as a whole think they're distinct from Americans, then I Am Not Canadian simply explains how different les Quebecois are from the rest of us.



On one of his appearances at the world-famous Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Canadian-born William Shatner put his own hilarious spin on the routine...as only William Shatner could.



The ad campaign came to a halt when Molson was bought by American brewer Coors in 2005.  While "Joe" in the ad is really a Canadian actor, Jeff Douglas,  the spot was directed by Kevin Donovan, an American.  The beer continues to be sold as "Canadian".

Comments

Me-Me King said…
Take off to the great white North
Take off it's a beauty way to go....

As I was reading, this song popped into my head. Remember when Bob and Doug McKenzie sang with RUSH? I believe Canadian beer was the key element.

How's it going, eh?

Coo-loo-coo-coo-coo-loo-coo-coo
nonamedufus said…
Me-Me: I have that album, you hoser! Take off, eh.
Donnie said…
Aah, Shatner and his exclusively sardonic sense of humor. How great was that?! He's always had that sly wit about him, and with that he shows why. Salute! Molson! Er, Coors!
nonamedufus said…
Don: I appreciate the fact he can make a little fun of himself.
Anonymous said…
Shatner is Canadian?

I guess it's time to get out from under the rock I've been living in.

Yeesh.

Michael J. Fox, I knew was Canadian, but Shatner?

But that does explain why he is such a hoser!

Hoser! Ha! I love the McKenzie Bros!

word veri: dingla
nonamedufus said…
Quirks: We've taken over, didn't ya know?
Joel Klebanoff said…
We need to state very clearly that our beer, despite being American owned now, is still much better than American beer, eh? It's not much to boast about in the grand scheme of things, but it is what it is.
nonamedufus said…
Joel: I'd have to agree with you there. In many cases (no pun intended) so are our comedians.
Anonymous said…
Some of my favorite bloggers are Canadian...

...Jeez, no, not you. ;) Okay, you and Joel and a few others. You Canuckians evidently have a lot of time to blog in the winter, and that's okay with me.
nonamedufus said…
UR: You're very kind. Almost as kind as a Canadian.
Deb said…
That's the first time I've seen the I'm Canadian ad - pretty funny. Couldn't understand the guy in the 2nd ad, but Shatner was hilarious! Isn't Maine part of Canada?
nonamedufus said…
Deb: I think you have to be Canadian to fully appreciate the 2nd one. Maine should be part of Canada. It'd be easier crossing the border!

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