Stephen Fry in America - part 2: Review

Stephen Fry in America 2/6 - Deep South
(Sunday 19 October 9:00pm - 10:00pm BBC1)

This series is about Stephen Fry visiting all fifty states of the USA, via his black London taxi.

Last night's episode - Part Two of "Stephen Fry in America" was another entertaining and educational show. This second part of the series is set in the Deep South.

First he visited Arlington, Virginia to watch a ceremony and parade on Veteran's Day.

In West Virginia, he joined a shift of coal miners on a trip deep underground. On the way to the elevator that would take him and the others down to the mine entrance, they walked past a sign on the wall that said: Good Morning...Let the Stress Begin. Once down inside the mines, Stephen said, "It's hot, dark and for a man of my height, incredibly uncomfortable."

He sampled bourbon in a bourbon distillery (the smallest and oldest) in Kentucky and it was quite funny after a few too many of the "samples" when he said (speaking in the third person), "I think Stevie should have a little lie down." Oh, and on the way to the distillery, there was a very heavy downpour and while Stephen was driving through the rain, he said it gets him when the weather is like that and people invariably say, "This must make you feel right at home." Stephen shook his head and exclaimed, "Preposterous! Give me a nice, steady English drizzle."

Next he visited a barber shop in London, Kentucky and had an amusing conversation with the barber.

He listened to a jam session of Bluegrass musicians in Tennessee., which he obviously enjoyed.

He visited a body farm in Tennessee - where bodies (human cadavers) are left to decompose and studied by forensic anthropologists to study human decomposition and learn about time of death methods - which was gruesome but very interesting. Stephen admitted he has never seen a dead body so he wasn't sure how he would respond. He was obviously very interested and moved by the experience, and said he might even leave his body to something like that.

He went up in a hot air balloon (for the first time) over the Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. I loved it when Stephen (looking very nervous) asked the balloon operator if he had noticed the power lines nearby. I'm sure I would ask the same question if I was ever in a hot balloon! The operator politely replied, "Yes, I see those but thanks for warning me."

Next, Georgia. Stephen was invited to a family gathering on Thanksgiving Day in an old plantation house in southern Georgia. The toast Stephen made at the dinner was quite touching.

In Georgia, he was also persuaded to ride on a Tennessee Walking horse (he doesn't like horses or rather horses don't like Stephen!) and his experience was funny to see, as was listening to his comments afterwards.

He sure didn't like Miami or Miami Beach, Florida! I've never been to Miami or Miami Beach but after watching last night's show with Stephen Fry's disparaging views (“I’d rather be curled up in a snowy cabin with a hot whisky or, quite frankly, a Horlicks than I would spend half an hour in this rotting place.”) I don't think I will be making any plans to visit the place! I was thinking how people from Florida (especially from Miami) will be upset if they ever see the series and then he admitted how much he enjoyed the trip to "the glorious Everglades." At least he hasn't written off the whole state!

In Montgomery, the capital of Alabama, he observed the Board of Pardons and Paroles department in action.

He finished up this part of the series by watching a college football game in Alabama.

I really like the way Stephen Fry is giving his honest views of each place he visits. His very candid comments are like a breath of fresh air instead of the way most travel shows are presented. He makes me giggle and he makes me think. He also makes me proud to be an American. I can't wait for the rest of the series!

What are your thoughts about the series so far? Are you enjoying it? Has the series encouraged you to consider visiting the USA? If you had a bad opinion of Americans, has watching the series helped to change your mind?

related links from my blog:
Stephen Fry in America - part 1:Review New World
Stephen Fry in America - part 3: Review Mississippi
Stephen Fry in America - part 4: Review Mountains and Plains
Stephen Fry in America - part 5: Review True West
Stephen Fry in America - part 6: Review Pacific

Stephen Fry on the road in the USA