Louis Theroux back on TV here tonight
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10:53 am, February 4th, 2008 - 10 comments
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I used to love Weird Weekends – a BBC show that aired here late at night several years ago.
It was hosted by Louis Theroux (pictured) and involved him documenting time spent with ‘fringe’ groups – UFO hunters, professional wrestlers, female bodybuilders and so on.
I watched a more recent show of his a couple of weeks ago “Louis goes under the kinfe” where he interviews the practitioners and consumers of cosmetic surgery before getting a little liposuction himself. Clearly committed to his art, Louis is also genuine and engaging and you get the feeling that people confide in him in a rather unique way.
I was delighted to see that Louis’ latest installment “The most hated family in America” is screening on TV One at 9:30 tonight.
From Wikipedia:
At the heart of the documentary is the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), a U.S. church group headed by Fred Phelps and based in Topeka, Kansas. It runs the website GodHatesFags.com,[1] and GodHatesAmerica.com, and other websites expressing condemnation of homosexuals, Roman Catholics, Muslims, Jews, Sweden, Canada, and other groups.
Louis has apparently commented that they’re among the most extreme people he’s met. High praise indeed.
10 comments on “Louis Theroux back on TV here tonight ”
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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I read about this – the family is famous from protesting at funerals. It will be an interesting programme.
I’m trying to remember if this was the guy who hung out with some Nazis/NeoFascists, and met some ranking members of the KKK and so on. If so, he’s a bit of a wet blanket, but still puts himself into some crazy situations.
Yeah, that’s the one. I have to disagree though, I think it’s just his style and part of the reason that people open up to him like they do. Because he’s not seen as a threat they say candid stuff.
I suppose if he started abusing the fascists (like I really wanted him to, he’s got a sharp wit when needed) they’d probably not be keen on having him over for dinner too often!
“… expressing condemnation of homosexuals, Roman Catholics, Muslims, Jews, Sweden, Canada, and other groups.”
Funnily enough, this also reminds me of a quote from my Accounting teacher at Highschool “I’m not a racist, I just hate everyone”
“I suppose if he started abusing the fascists (like I really wanted him to, he’s got a sharp wit when needed) they’d probably not be keen on having him over for dinner too often”
If he wound up some of the cranks he hangs out with too much he would be in serious risk of being dinner. Seriously.
“If he wound up some of the cranks he hangs out with too much he would be in serious risk of being dinner. Seriously.”
Classic 🙂
Can anyone tell me if it was him who met the Grand Dragon of the KKK, and then found out that he would be able to join because the Jewish part of him was only from his mother’s side, or something like that?
Was either him or some Aussie comedian, but it was funny. He also almost got himself on the menu for taking the piss out of the KKK!
I think that was John Safran.
Captcha; “Then comment”
Think first, then comment – wiser words could not be spoken by a computer if it tried
Yeah, it was Safran.
Taped Theroux and just finished watching it.
He is very good at this type of thing 🙂
Almot hard to beleive there are people out there like that – right off the edge of my radar.
I’m with you, AJ.
Theroux’s genius is that he can be personable and likeable to these weirdos without ever conceding them a thing.