Saturday, May 09, 2009

Calling Colbert

So by now most people in Nunavut know that Nunatsiaq News got a shout out on the Colbert Report on Thursday night. If not, then you can head over here and take a look at it.

Apparently never one to pass up an opportunity, Iqaluit Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik invited Stephen Colbert to come up to Iqaluit to learn more about the arctic. And let's be honest, it's a much better idea than that time the mayor invited representatives from PETA to come to Iqaluit to learn more about the place.

But here's the thing...there is literally zero chance of Colbert coming to Nunavut. He rarely travels for the show. This isn't like the Mercer Report, which travels all over Canada. So it's a fun little story, but ultimately you'd figure nothing more would come out of this other than everyone gets some amusement that Nunavut and Nunatsiaq News get a little shout out on a cool program.

Here's the thing, though. If Mohammad won't come to the mountain, there's no reason why the mountain can't come to him. Seriously, if I'm the mayor or the premier, I'm calling Colbert's people and offering to come on his show and talk about Nunavut and its issues. I promise you, 90 per cent of Americans have never heard of Nunavut before. (Fun experiment for all Nunavummiut. Next time you're in the US, tell them you live in Northern Canada. I promise you, most of them will answer "Oh, you live in Toronto?")

So if I'm in the mayor's office or the premier's office, I'm absolutely calling Colbert's people and trying to get on the show. The worst they can say is no. The best they can say is "sure, we'd love to have you" and for about five minutes you get to be on one of the most popular cable shows in the US talking about Nunavut and arctic issues. You can't buy that kind of exposure. Well, you can, but it costs a lot and this is mostly free.

So I hope somebody is making some calls. You don't get gifts like this handed to you very often.

Last Five
1. Not one of us (live) - Peter Gabriel*
2. The sweetest thing - US
3. Honour, riches/Breakwater boys breakdown - Figgy Duff
4. Have you no pride? - The Donnas
5. The good life - Tony Bennett and Billy Joel

2 comments:

KOTN said...

Colbert often brings out a guest in the first segment while still bringing out a full on guest in the third segment. The Mayor or the Premier would be ideal first segnent guests.

Jackie S. Quire said...

I like the way you think, TB. How great would that be?