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By Conan O'Brien; Rebecca Myers -- Time International (South Pacific Edition) -- February 16, 2004 Canada is used to exporting its comedians, but now it's in the import business too. To help a SARS-battered Toronto, Peter Soumalias, co-founder of Canada's Walk of Fame, invited Late Night host Conan O'Brien to film north of the border at the Elgin Theater this week. O'Brien talked to TIME's Rebecca Myers about Zen and the art of Canadian comedy. WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR VIEWERS BACK IN THE U.S. WILL LEARN ABOUT CANADA? We're having a lot of Canadians on the show--people like Mike Myers, Michael J. Fox, Eric McCormack, plus the Barenaked Ladies and Nickelback, so they'll see the tip of the iceberg for a lot of the talent in Canada. If nothing else, they'll see that [Toronto is] a beautiful city and that we're freezing our asses off. HOW HAVE YOU BEEN TREATED UP HERE? The people have been very nice. So far. The Toronto Maple Leafs knocked me around a little bit, but that's what they do. I'm missing a few teeth now, but they're back teeth. You can't really see it on camera, so it wasn't too bad. LAST YEAR YOU HAD A SEGMENT CALLED "NATIONAL ACT-LIKE-CANADA-MATTERS WEEK," IN WHICH YOU MOCKED SUCH HALLOWED INSTITUTIONS AS AIR CANADA AND MOLSON BEER. DO YOU REGRET THAT NOW? No. That's what we do. The point of my show is that we make fun of things. I make fun of myself more than anybody. The most ridiculed person on Late Night with Conan O'Brien is Conan O'Brien. SELF-DEPRECATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED A VERY CANADIAN TRAIT. I think I have a lot of Canadian attributes. I'm very self-deprecating. I wear thermal underwear. I love bacon. And I'm an investor in Tim Hortons. DID YOU KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE COUNTRY BEFORE THIS TRIP? My main experience has been enjoying the great comedians that have come out of Canada. For years, people asked me what was my major comedic influence growing up, and I used to say, "SCTV." I always wondered, What is it about that place? Why are all these people coming out of Canada? I'm up here to find out. We suspect--we're not sure--but we suspect that it's something in the pancake batter. ARE YOU ALTERING YOUR MATERIAL AT ALL? We had to make several adjustments. I think our show has less handgun violence and more health care. IN WHAT WAYS WOULD YOU SAY CANADIANS AND AMERICANS DIFFER? Canadians seem calmer to me. There's an inner peace that I see in Canadians, an inner calm. It's as if everybody does two hours of yoga in the morning. That's what I'm sensing. Maybe it has something to do with decriminalizing marijuana. HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED ANY OF THAT CHILLY ANTI-AMERICAN SENTIMENT THAT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT? I'm hoping to provoke more of it. I think that's one of the reasons I came. My idea was to walk around the streets of Canada dressed like Uncle Sam, yelling, "We'll invade who we want to invade!" over and over again, and ringing a church bell. How do you think that'll go over? NOT VERY WELL. ARE YOU TAKING HOME ANY SOUVENIRS? I want a Canadian Girls Gone Wild videotape. I saw one in a store. They had maple leaves strategically placed so that they could sell it over the counter. All the women have health care--that's the big difference. YOU CELEBRATED LATE NIGHT'S 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY RECENTLY. WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO BE 10 YEARS FROM NOW? I think, Toronto. I'll have a job with the government, I'll be married to a wonderful man, and I'll be smoking pot 24/7. COPYRIGHT 2004 Time, Inc. |