You would think I would tire of telling you about David Tracy and his weird, giant pop-culture blind spots. You would think that I would be merely grateful for the fact that David let me come to this wonderful oasis to work and that would stop me from writing about them. You might assume, incorrectly, that the fact that David allows me to have a job where I’m not traveling all the time might compel me to stop pointing this out.
In my defense, David is in Hong Kong now for a wedding and almost certainly sleeping so he cannot possibly defend himself for, like, at least another six hours.
Today’s Slack Tales is a little different because it’s not from the general channel but, rather, from my own personal direct messaging with David. Specifically, David left me a couple of notes on today’s The Morning Dump. I had a subhead that was “Blame Can… California” initially.
This whole “reference” thing is tough. The general rule is: if it’s a reference that most people will get, it’s fine. No action is required. If an author thinks most people will not get the reference, in general, we require the writer to either call it out or provide a link to it. If I say “A real thug is a thug that’s hush” I don’t assume most of you know who KRS-One is, so I need to link to it. If I say “Show me the money” it would be almost insulting to you, my dear readers, if I link to a clip from the film.
So why have a reference at all? It can easily become a game of “look how smart and cool I am” if I start dropping increasingly obscure references. Doing so doesn’t make anyone smarter or enhance the piece, it’s basically just onanism. Or it’s the “Dennis Miller doing Monday Night Football” thing.
I try not to do it too often and, in doing so, I’m often hoping to make a specific point. Or I’m trying to reference something so obscure but so on-point that, even if only one person gets it, it’s gonna make that one person’s day. These are the tradeoffs.
In David’s defense, since he cannot defend himself, just saying “Blame Can…” isn’t perhaps clear enough, so I did amend it to “Blame Canad …” for clarity’s sake.
Here’s another danger. I can make references all day, but my reference set is clearly age-restricted. If I only make Millennial-aged references then I’m necessarily excluding younger readers. I like to think of myself as “young-ish” but there’s a limit to that thinking.
All that being said, I think many people will get this reference. Here’s my guess, by age demographic:
- Boomer – 60%
- Gen Z – 90%
- Millennial – 90%
- Gen Z – 30%
The reference is to “Blame Canada” from The South Park Movie and, while not everyone saw that film, the song was ubiquitous in 1999 and 2000.
BTW, that Oscar thing is real. Here’s “Blame Canada” as performed by Robin Williams at the 72nd Academy Awards, where it lost to the song that Phil Collins wrote for Tarzan. 
He persisted! Can you imagine?
Also, this is an excellent reference because in the story Stellantis is blaming California for having to lay people off when, at the same time, the company has the most inventory and the worst sales of any of the large manufacturers in the United States. In the film, the parents of South Park decide to Blame Canada for their inability to raise their own children.
I did a quick test in our Discord and:
Seems scientific to me.
Also, this makes me miss Jason more, because Jason is always the tie-breaker.
Wait? What’s happening?
Blame Canada?
Tales from the slack?
Where’s my onion?
I usually wear it on my belt.
Confound it!
Is this all pertaining to a Matlock reference I missed?
Where is my other sock?
Oh, it’s caught up in my suspenders.
When did I start wearing suspenders?
Confound it!
Who would Brian Boitano blame?
Matt Damon
I got a Splunk T-shirt that says you can’t always Blame Canda on the front of it.
I don’t watch South Park and I understand the joke.
I’m of the age that I have never watched a full episode of South Park. My exposure is when I tune in too soon for the show I do watch. Well, rather the DVR starts the recording early by my choice.
Don’t kick the baby!
I saw the South Park movie in a theater, but I was just young enough that Dad had to accompany me. (He really enjoyed the movie too.)
I get the joke and I’m in Australia
I could see an argument for “Blame Cana…”, purely because someone might otherwise think, “Why are we blaming Canola Oil?”, but anything more, let alone the full monty “Blame Canada”, is just too much.
Any Jeep Grand Cherokee from the 90s would get that reference no problem, and should have told him. Has there been a communications breakdown? Maybe their memories are rusty.
I have more than once uttered the words, “South Park is one of the best shows of all time.” I’ll die on that hill. I understand it may not be for everyone, but I think it’s brilliant and one of the funniest shows ever made. The only time I ever laughed as hard as I did for Scott Tenorman Must Die was for Blazing Saddles or Something About Mary.
The tears of unfathomable sadness. Yum.
Shit sandwich _—:(
Turd taco. ):—_
what, What, WHAT ?
“Blame Can…” not enough
but, But, BUT
Everyone knows “Blame Canada”
Of course blame Canada has a totally different connotation in Western Pa.
Big South Park fan back in the day. I
saw the movie but needed Robin Williams to remind me of the reference. So maybe somewhere in between. Also Gen Z listed twice.
Typical GenX erasure. Maybe That’s The Joke?
Boomer here. South Park. Is that in Springfield?
Gen X. Absolutely got the reference.
Maybe Mecha-Streisand is more in DT’s wheelhouse.
Late millennial who never saw the South Park movie but watched it on TV all the time here. I got it immediately
I’m a Gen Xer from the early edge of the Gen X years, and I recognize it. Sorry David.
I JUST WANT TO FART AND CURSE!
Gosh, they read us all for filth ~24 years ago.
Related: Tori’s Cybertruck piece on R&T referenced Bowie’s “I’m Afraid of Americans” in a subheading today and that made me really happy. Deeply underrated song and perfect for the point she made. (Nine Inch Nails even did several remixes of it, so given the “KN” discussion on the podcast the other day, this reference might also go over David’s head.)
He also covers it pretty regularly. Saw NIN in Boston last year and they played it, it was unexpected but fantastic.
Matt,
you’ve got gen Z in there twice: obviously the first mention was meant to be X.
Gen X here: did watch South Park, but dropped cable about 25 years ago. So I didn’t get it. ‘S ok, tho: I never fit comfortably in any target demographic
It’s from the movie anyways, which makes it far more likely to land as a reference
‘Blame Canada’ is one of those pop culture references that you can laugh along with even if don’t know the origin.
And Kyle’s mom is a bitch.
Screw u guyz I’m going home.
Let us celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
Yeah, ham!
No! Not ham you fat….
Thanks that brightened my morning
Millennial and yeah got the reference instantly. I think 90% is a low estimate tbh.
So I guess any sort of Lemmiwinks reference is right out.
Someone tell DT about Mr. Hankey.
Gen Z is in there twice. As usual Gen X being ignored, but they like it that way.
Hey!
Gen X, completely understood the headline, forgot it was South Park, must have heard somewhere, as I’m not a fan of foul mouthed 8 year olds.
Yeeeeeah…that’s a song that had a wider reach than just “South Park.”
Really? I am not a swearing I’m not a fan of any 8 year Olds, or kids, okay maybe Otto (Auto)? But no other kidz.