Jacques Chirac fooled by prank phone call from LA radio

E! Online ^ | Mar 24, 2003 | Josh Grossberg

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Sure, Congress might be wolfing down Freedom Fries these days. But legendary comic and card-carrying French icon Jerry Lewis doesn't want to jeopardize his status with the Eiffel Tower set.

The onetime Nutty Professor and proud owner of France's highest civilian honor, the Legion of Honor, is reportedly seething over a radio hoax involving a Lewis impersonator and French President Jacques Chirac and is even considering a lawsuit against the perpetrators, his lawyer says.

Alan Isaacman, Lewis' legal rep, tells EW.com that the funnyman was less than amused when he heard Los Angeles radio station KROQ's top-rated "Kevin & Bean" morning show phoned up Chirac's office back on March 12, posing as Lewis.

The show's Ralph Garman did such a dead-on Lewis, that, to everyone's astonishment, Chirac apparently picked up. At least a man identifying himself as Chirac spent eight minutes in a convesation about current events, ranging from France's antiwar stance, American backlash at the French position and the conflict's affect on the United Nations.

"The resolution [Bush] wanted to send [to the United Nations] a few days ago says [Iraq] has one week before the attack, and that is not reasonable, you know," the purported Chirac said during the interview.

Then in a gesture of détente, the French prez extended a cordial invitation for the comic legend to visit him the next time he's in Paris.

"Understand one thing: France and I will always be friends with America, even if we have two different views of this problem," Chirac added.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

I didn't hear of this til yesterday, the French government is completely denying everything, (but they do alot of denying lately) and because of the lawsuit-no one involved is talking about it, but this reads too detailed, and strange to be anything BUT true.

Just when I think its impossible for my opinion to be lowered of this nation...they surprise me with something more pathetic and shocking now averaging about once a week.

What an idiot. I don't care how unpopular you are, talking to Lewis is like a US President 30 years from now consulting on foreign policy with Carrot Top.

[Mister Baredog]

talking to Lewis

He's the MOST popular American throughout France, that should tell us something, eh?LOL

[aristeides]

Remember when those Cuban guys at that Spanish-language radio station in Miami did this to Chavez in Venezuela?

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Remember when those Cuban guys at that Spanish-language radio station in Miami did this to Chavez in Venezuela?

Yeah, just heard about that too. I'd love to hear the audio of these. Chirac here schmoozing this bloated Hollywood has-been would be absolutely priceless.

[Dog Gone]

Unfortunately, if Benny Hill were still alive, I could see Clinton consulting with him frequently.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Chirac prank

[101st-Eagle]

Or Judy Tenudo with Hillary

[John123]

He's the MOST popular American throughout France, that should tell us something, eh?LOL

I thought it was Woody Allen?

FNC reported last night that the French hired Woody Allen to encourage the Americans to buy French products and tourism. They showed a clip of Woody's new commercial. Woody actually said something like this, "I don't want to freedom kiss my wife when I really want to french kiss her." Ughhh!!! This is the same woman that was Woody's step daughter that he had an affair with.

Are the French that stupid or do they think we are that stupid?

I am not kidding you. This commercial really happened.

[Extremist]

What a pair of TOOLS!!

[Post Toasties]

The facts that high French government operatives, not to mention Jacques Chirac himself were fooled by an amateur Jerry Lewis impersonator, that Chirac had both the time and inclination to spend several minutes talking about French foreign policy on a moment's notice with who he imagined was a very retired semi-celebrity half way around the world who was, personally, a stranger to him, that Jerry Lewis ever received a supposedly prestigious award like the Legion of Honor for a career of basically emulating a total lunatic and naif makes me ask: 'What is it with these French?'.

[Post Toasties]

Maybe France can hire Pee Wee Herman (Paul Rubens) to flak for them, too.

[JRandomFreeper]

'What is it with these French?'.

They are a strange race.
They fight with their feet,
and #### with their face.

/john

[AmishDude]

• The British play tennis on a lawn in a suburb.
• The Americans play tennis in the middle of their biggest city on a modern, low-maintenance court.
• The French play tennis in the mud.

Says it all.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

You said it exactly. Next time I talk with some Franophile allured by their superior culture I think I'm going to grab them and shake them very hard for about a half hour ranting madly.

[Post Toasties]

Borrowing a hackneyed phrase, if the US is the 'world's policeman', then France is Inspector Clouseau.

[John123]

Maybe France can hire Pee Wee Herman (Paul Rubens) to flak for them, too.

Ya think Pee Wee weird enough? :)

[Mister Baredog]

Are the French that stupid or do they think we are that stupid?

I am not kidding you. This commercial really happened.

LOL, I saw it. Hiring the "dirty old man" Woody, just shows how little they know or understand about Americans(the majority at least).

They're starting to look at their sales volume with the US, sacre blue, que pasa?

[Paleo Conservative]

Maybe France can hire Pee Wee Herman (Paul Rubens) to flak for them, too.

Or Roman Polanski.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

My favorite was the Miami DJs who got through on a prank call to Castro. THAT was funny.

[e_engineer]

Jerry Lewis is popular in France because he acts like an idiot, and that reinforces the French view of Americans. In other words, he helps them to feel superior.