NBC – the story of Michael J. Fox who ran across Canada to raise money for cancer research
Mathieu | Saturday, February 13th, 2010 | 47 Comments »This is from NBC’s Web site. Yesterday afternoon they were hypothesizing who might light the Olympic torch and the first guess was Betty Fox, the mother of Michael Fox who ran across Canada to raise money for cancer research. They even show a picture of Alex P. Keaton to boot.
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Try Terry Fox!
That is such a FAIL!
Way to insult the memory of a Great Canadian by substituting him with another Great Canadian.
Guess we all look alike.
Come on folks it’s just that to Americans all Canadians are “Foxy”
Not Michael Fox, but Terry Fox!
Research is a good idea. Just a suggestion.
It is Terry Fox…my goodness.
It was TERRY FOX who ran across Canada…Michael is an actor???? Geez!
Micheal J Fox? Lololol
Canadians would never get this wrong – it’s Terry Fox! Micheal J Fox is the actor… Lololol
Another NBC foible.
Americans showing their true colour again. It’s a NEW colour named “stupid”.
Soooooo. NBC screws up a particular piece of information. Therefore all Americans are stupid. Yeah, Barb, that sounds like your own particular colour of stupid.
This leaves no doubt as to where your talent actually comes from.
Ummm…Matt, Meridith? Ever heard of Google? Might wanna try it next time before you embarrass yourself so badly. Talk about Olympic reporting FAIL.
This is hugely disrespectful and I would be embarassed to be an american
embarrassed to be an american? um, NO. embarrassed to work for NBC, now that would be appropriate.
Oh yes, because a major news organization that happens to exist in my country got a piece of information wrong, I should be embarrassed. You’re absolutely right.
Sigh. People like you ruin your own country’s image…
This is just another EPIC failure for NBC…good going guys!
I can see your education system hasn’t changed since the last time I lived there. Maybe if your school system focused more than a day on learning about Canada (verses 2 weeks about Mexico) this wouldn’t have happened!
Terry Fox = Cross Canada Run for Cancer Research
Michael J Fox = Parkinson’s Research and is a VERY well known actor
The next time you get Jay Leno to talk to stupid Americans tell him he doesn’t have to leave the studio!!!! Terry Fox was a wonderful human being, taken too early from this world, what an insult to his memory. Hint…TV sit-coms aren’t real.
I actually don’t find it disrespectful – it was clearly a mistake and sooooo freaking funny.
So
so
so
funny.
As a Canada-loving American, I apologize! I know many Americans are quite ignorant of the richness of Canadian culture.
That being said, I’d blame this on NBC and its cost-cutting measures. This is what happens when NBC fires all of its talented writers and researchers and replaces them with university interns who can’t spell, couldn’t pick out Canada on a map, and think any news story is incomplete without a mention of Lady Gaga or a reality show (pick one).
Leave it ti the dumb Yankees who don’t know their ass from a hole in the wall, eh?
Ha ha HAAAA! That is SO Fox News of them. Did the AV guy not LOOK at the photo of TERRY Fox running while he was pasting in a picture of MICHAEL J Fox? Aside from Terry’s much larger build, curly hair, and different facial characteristics, there is the subtle hint of………
an artificial leg !!!
Samantha Fox and Redd Foxx are more alike!
Goodness looks like we need Rick Mercer to do another “Talking to Americans” special!
Hey, am I the only person who remembers a time when journalists did a little thing called RESEARCH as part of their assignments? Look, it’s really not that much to check out wikipedia or just run a search on Google.
this is unbelievable
If that can’t get that story straight, imagine the same clowns putting on a serious face and talk about world politics. Another sad mistake by mainstream media – once again…
U.S.A.!!!! U.S.A.!!!!!!!
Yeah, I don’t think there’s anything disrespectful about this. It’s just funny. Disrespect is something that’s intentional, and I don’t think that slip was intentional.
NBC is America’s lowest-rated network, losing millions on its Olympics coverage, famously screwed up Jay/Conan….NBC News was its last redeeming quality and now that has gone away too.
Hallelujah!
YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING!
I don’t think it is fair that people are bashing all Americans for the the mistake a handful of people at NBC made… I’m a Canadian but I don’t look down on Americans for a simple mistake… the people here who are bashing the U.S. for this are making the rest of us look bad… People makes mistakes you ignoramuses…. deal with it and move on… and stop making Canadians look bad!
I tend to agree with @Melanie, it was a simple mistake. A very funny, funny mistake and we’re all getting a good chuckle out of it. I’m sure the people on NBC’s Today have also, now that it’s passed, smiling a bit too.
We are humans and everyone makes mistakes. Albeit this is the funniest thing I’ve seen all year.
Terry Fox
Even after his death, communities across Canada, still stage the annual Terry Fox Run, for Cancer research.
His t-shirt even says Terry Fox on the front… oh my…
For 100 Dollars
Who attempted to run across Canada but was halted due to the severity of the cancer in his leg and eventually died becoming a martyr for Cancer and a Canadian hero?
A) Guy Fox
B) Michael Fox
C)Terry Fox
D) Fantastic Mr.Fox
B) Michael Fox Final Answer
well looks like Meredith would have walked away without a penny on her own show. Good thing she is the host. Do not insult the legacy of an incredible Canadian.
Come on Michael J. Fox!!?? Doesn’t anyone remember Family Ties??
Sha La La La
I don’t know who does the research for the reporters of the Today Show, but shouldn’t these pieces be proof read before going to air. Apparently this mistake got by several people before Meredith and Ann chimed in with this sparkling insight on the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron. There is a commemorative Terry Fox Run for Cancer research done every year on the second weekend in September.This is to remember his Marathon of Hope for Cancer Research, and I am sure this makes his mother, Betty, very proud.
The other Fox you mentioned is also a fine Canadian who has his own battles in life with Parkinson’s disease, and would have been a very worthy individual to light the Olympic flame.However, I don’t think his mother’s name is Betty. Her name is Phyllis, and I think she, too, would have been proud to light the Cauldron.
As it turned out most Canadians had already speculated that Wayne Gretzky or his father Walter would do the honours of lighting the official flame. After all, he is a Canadian hockey icon, even though he has live in California for several years, and he deserves the honour of lighting the Olympic Cauldron in his native country
It’s really just a shame that Americans do not know what a remarkable hero Terry Fox was and how in his memory, money continues to be raised for cancer research in many countries today. The pride of Canada and a role model for humanity…that’s all!
I’m am so appalled at the ignorance of the American media.I hope the Terry Fox Foundation has caught wind of this, as a matter of fact, I’m going to see that they do, as well as Micheal J Fox’s organization for Parkinson’s research. I’m sure both will be happy to know what great attention and support they have gained from the american media.
This should not be a shame on Americans…why should they know who Terry Fox is…he is OUR hero. Yes it is true that Canadians know much more about America than they do Canada but they can’t be blamed for the educational content in school. It should be shame on the Today Show for not doing research on a topic they are going to speak on.
Kelly you are very right, the research team screwed up and should be told. There should also be a public apology on the Today Show for their error.
1) It’s not a big deal: one person made a simple mistake and, thus, this does not reflect on our good friends and southern neighbours. We Canadians make mistakes, too, you know.
2) Meredith Vieira corrected herself right after the next commercial break.
3) I watched this and don’t recall the photo of Michael J. Fox being used, so I suspect, but don’t know for sure, this was added by someone after the fact.
@Ron,
1. I agree with you – we all make mistakes
2. I only saw this on NBC’s Web site, so I didn’t see the next segment
3. This screen grab was taken from NBC’s Web site, hence the link. If was added later, it was added by whoever puts video on NBC’s Web site. Again, you can follow the link in the post to see for yourself.
Totally DISAGREE…. we all do make mistakes, yes… but our mistakes are not generally seen and heard by a few million people who live under a haze of misrepresentation, misunderstandings and overall lack of knowledge or concern regarding their lack of knowledge about their “neighbours to the North*”(home of Winter)
AND ..you are on a NEWS show! Are ye not supposed to look up (or have looked up for you) information BEFORE you go on the air to MAKE SURE IT’S RIGHT, ACCURATE, CORRECT, FACTUAL????
As usual…We’re too nice to say anything about it… just like having our flag shown upside down at a World Series game, or not be acknowledged after 9-11 or having our ground troops killed by some air force cowboy who got a slap on the wrist. Time just to laugh it off again… hahahha those goofy ‘mericans. They’re so silly.
Someone in the research department for NBC needs to do his or her job. I’ll bet you a Canadian dollar Michael J. Fox was chosen as the hero who ran across Canada to raise money for cancer research on an assumption not on a fact that was researched. Shame, shame-NBC.
I think the NBC researchers should have added that he also started the FOX TV network after starring as Fred Sanford on TV’s Sanford and Son.
Jimmychoosale