I was trying to think of someone who had a reputation for always tripping up, getting things wrong, etc, and the only name that popped into my head was Gerald Ford. Over here, at least, I seem to remember there was a running joke that he was always making mistakes - both verbally and physically.

Does this mean anything at all to the Americans in our audience? There's not much point in using the reference if it doesn't have any resonance over there across the pond.

Anyone got any alternatives if I'm wrong?

Yvonne

Actually, President Ford was an able athlete (still is). He took a single well-publicized trip and that became the basis for Chevy Chase's Saturday Night Live schtick in '75. It was Dan Quayle who, as Vice President, issued regular malapropisms (and they were hysterical).

So, you might equate tripping and physical comedy of that sort with Chevy Chase. But speaking the wrong thing at the right time is Dan Quayle.

Dare I hope that you're back to Kidnapped?
:p
Sherry

Hi,

Sherry is right every joke was about Dan Quayle. He got that habit of open his mouth and there it was. :rolleyes:

I don't remember that about President Ford.

MAF

Yup, Dan Quayle was who immediately sprang to my mind, too.

LabRat

Some of the better Quayle-isms can be found here , among some 4000! or so web pages devoted to his mistakes.

Hi rivka,

Wow! That was funny. I remember a lot of them.



I didn't see potatu there.

MAF

funny you should mention chevy chase... he's the actor who did a lot of prat falls and such while doing his gerald ford impression on saturday night live (which is why i think of gerald, who was president before i was old enough to be aware of presidents, as a clumsy guy). probably also why yvonne is thinking of him as falling down a lot.

leslie nielson also does a lot of pratfalls, but i get the feeling you're looking for someone who is actually clumsy, not someone who fakes it.

dan quayle was known for saying a lot of very strange/stupid/silly things, but he wasn't really known for falling down a lot.

can't think of too many other people, really.

there's inspector cluseau (sp?) from the pink panther, but i'm not sure if he'd work for you.

there's clark kent from the chris reeve movies, but somehow i doubt you want to use him.

leslie nielson played lt frank drevin on the tv show "police squad" (which later became the "naked gun" movies), but i'm not sure how well the character would be recognized.

sorry i can't be of more help. chevy chase's gerald ford is the best i can think of.

oh.. one more -- homer simpson. again, not a real person, but he is known for impressive levels of clumsiness, stupidity, and general ineptitude.

Paul, doing a quick fly-by while on vacation, and trying to make do with 28.8.

does it have to be a real life person?

'cause all these Quaylisms made me think of a certain Ally Mc beal character, reknowned worldwide for his Fish-isms. The good part here is that the use of fish-ism is free of charges

Carole (jk, well...)

The best gaffs the ex-President Ford was known for was tripping down the stairs of Air Force One and accidently hitting someone in the head with a golf ball during a game of golf.

James, who's first President of memory was Richard M. Nixon.

He must have tripped at least twice, 'cause I remember an episode of Quantum Leap where Sam, since he knew the future, made a bet that President Ford would trip down the stairs coming out of Air Force One and the other person said that he couldn't do that again...

I'm not certain, Anne, but I don't think so. What I believe is that Chevy Chase's comedy routine was soooooooo successful that the fall took on a life of its own. And if you ever have an opportunity to watch the 1975 SNL originals....do it!

Best,
Sherry