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Wednesday, June 6, 2007

The Least Comfortable Television Interview in History

posted by on June 6 at 12:58 PM

The kid’s the new national spelling bee champion, the lady’s a CNN anchor, and they both deserve some sort of medal.

RSS icon Comments

1

Hahahahhaha! I feel so awkward right now. I love how she had a Subway sandwich on hand as a visual aid.

Posted by Carollani | June 6, 2007 12:58 PM
2

That kid is so fucking high.

Posted by Jonah S | June 6, 2007 1:00 PM
3

It seems like the recent trend in the Scripps National Spelling Bee is that every 2-3 years, maybe 40% of the time, the winner is a homeschooled kid with Asperger's. Last year's winner was this adorable, sporty, class-president-type girl. This kid was due.

Posted by Christin | June 6, 2007 1:08 PM
4

home schooled == complete lack of social skills

Posted by Chris | June 6, 2007 1:16 PM
5

That's totally Asperger's or some type of autism.

Posted by Amy Kate Horn | June 6, 2007 1:24 PM
6

man, that was just RIGHT...seriously, amazing and so revenge of the nerds!

Posted by nipper | June 6, 2007 1:38 PM
7

I bet if Judge Wapner were interviewing him, it would've gone a lot smoother.

Posted by Jason Josephes | June 6, 2007 1:38 PM
8

One of my coworkers has Asperger's and it's tragic. Lots of useless information and absolutely no social skills or relationships in his life.

Posted by Dustin | June 6, 2007 1:48 PM
9

I hate to drag the conversation off-topic, but I believe autism to be more of a spectrum than a given condition; I think most "nerds" tend to have mild cases thereof.

Posted by supergp | June 6, 2007 2:01 PM
10

this is about as awkward as seeing your ex girlfriend featured in the love lab ad next to slog every day.

which is kinda sorta, but not really.

Posted by Bellevue Ave | June 6, 2007 2:04 PM
11

"It's as though we were on the same field, playing different games. He, however, seemed not able to understand that a different game from his own was possible."

—Joe Wenderoth, Letters to Wendy's

Posted by The Man Who Couldn't Blog | June 6, 2007 2:08 PM
12

"Scombrids have two dorsal fins, and a series of finlets between the rear dorsal fin and behind the anal fin. What? Yes, I'm home-schooled. Why?"

Posted by local mf | June 6, 2007 2:41 PM
13

I got up to "did you say my name wrong?" and had to stop.

Posted by Maggie | June 6, 2007 2:48 PM
14

My first thought is that is what home school does to you. My 2nd thought: there is no way that kid should go to regular school now! He would be tortured.

Posted by D. | June 6, 2007 2:49 PM
15

Holy crap, that was painful to watch!

Posted by SDA in SEA | June 6, 2007 2:57 PM
16

He's got the classic "I'm a huge dork and I have no social skillz, but I also have an attitude to sweeten the pot" thing going.

Posted by local mf | June 6, 2007 3:02 PM
17

DING-DING-DING

Posted by Lindy | June 6, 2007 3:17 PM
18

This kid is a candidate for a "Where are they now?" feature segment in 20 years. Even money that he lives alone in a secluded cabin where he rewrites his manifesto when not playing with plastic explosives.

Posted by Steve F | June 6, 2007 3:25 PM
19

Hello, ladies!

Posted by local mf | June 6, 2007 3:27 PM
20
Posted by JC | June 6, 2007 3:37 PM
21

hahaha YAY!!!!

Posted by local mf | June 6, 2007 3:54 PM
22

Imagine that spread out to the length of a blind date.

Posted by Lloyd Clydesdale | June 6, 2007 4:20 PM
23

That video makes this post by Michelle Malkin even more ridiculous.

Posted by spencer | June 6, 2007 4:49 PM
24

I think this kid interviews like the young Bob Dylan did!

Posted by Jude Fawley | June 6, 2007 4:51 PM
25

Holy Sweet GHEEZUZ, I hope he never has to face the real world, he won't be able to spell himself out of a bucket of water.

Posted by Sargon Bighorn | June 6, 2007 5:17 PM
26

"If you're not saying it right I probably won't spell it right," haha. I'm glad kid won the spelling bee, because it's probably going to be the highlight of his life.

Posted by Matthew | June 6, 2007 6:26 PM
27

I'm glad to hear that you were all super suave and sophisticated when you were THIRTEEN. Jeez. Being awkward is not a disability. There's nothing wrong with the kid.

Posted by Fnarf | June 6, 2007 7:16 PM
28

I love him. He cut through that interviewer's well-adjusted bullshit and was like, "Don't you play me. I'm not cute. I'm SERIOUS. SAY IT CORRECTLY. Do not make me look like a fool." She ended up looking worse than he did -- he's obviously the smarter of the two!

Fuck social graces, I'll take the annoying thirteen yr old... he's easier to love than the oh-so-pretty reporter.

Posted by Katelyn | June 6, 2007 7:51 PM
29

@28 - that's what I meant by the Dylan thing: he was just not giving the interviewer what she asked for. We're so used to seeing people playing the right roles for eachother that when this kid doesn't do it he'd diagnosed. When Dylan did it he was cool.

Not to say that the comparison works too well on all levels, but I seriously thought of those old interviews of Dylan when the kid said, "Well, I don't remember, you'd have to ask my mom what she said" and when he gave a totally banal answer to the patronizing sandwich question.

Posted by Jude Fawley | June 6, 2007 8:29 PM
30

In case it wasn't clear, the "mistake" he made was based on her mispronunciation of the word. What a bimbo that "newscaster" is. I'm glad he called her on it.

Posted by Speller | June 7, 2007 12:18 AM
31

He's like part Bill from Freaks & Geeks, part Dudley from Royal Tennenbaums. I love him. I would take aspergers over newscaster any day.

Posted by Eric Grandy | June 7, 2007 2:14 AM
32

the kid just needs to loosen up.... someone please get this kid two shots of patron!

Posted by hai | June 7, 2007 10:39 AM
33

the kid just needs to loosen up.... someone please get this kid two shots of patron!

Posted by hai | June 7, 2007 10:39 AM
34

the kid just needs to loosen up.... someone please get this kid two shots of patron!

Posted by hai | June 7, 2007 10:39 AM
35

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | June 12, 2007 1:53 PM
36

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | June 12, 2007 1:54 PM
37

MSN I NIIPET
MSN

Posted by Bill | June 12, 2007 1:54 PM

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