The true story of a dinner conversation in which several Americans came to realize how many iconic Americans are, in fact, Canadian. "If William Shatner's Canadian," one insists, "then I could be Canadian." Another opines that there should be a law against Peter Jennings, a Canadian, from hosting a network news program. (6-1/4 minutes)


Song: " Who Loves the Sun," Velvet Underground


Act One. White Like Me.

David Rakoff on how he tried to pass as a local once he moved from Toronto to New York. He claims that there must be a chip in his head — or something like it — that automatically tells him when someone or something famous is Canadian. Lorne Greene? Canadian. The American space shuttle? It has a Canadian-built arm. (10 minutes)


Song: " Taking Care of Business," Bachman Turner Overdrive


Act Two. The World's Most Perfect Pneumatic Vacuum.

Canadians not getting any respect in two locales: a town called Little Canada, Minnesota; and in Canada, where a guy doing a Canadian-heritage art project gets ribbed by his neighbors, who joke that there is no Canadian culture to celebrate. Then, TAL contributing editor Sarah Vowell speaks with Ian Brown, formerly the host of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's long-running program Sunday Morning. They arm wrestle over what it means to be a Canadian, what it means to be an American, and whether the two are the same. (18-1/2 minutes)
Song "Rockin' in the Free World," Neil Young

Act Three. Outing.

Or is that "Ooting?" 90210 expert Danny Drennan on the pro-Canadian bias in the hit TV show Beverly Hills 90210, now that Canadian Jason Priestly is not just a star of the show, but a producer and director as well. (3-1/2 minutes) Then TAL contributing editor Jack Hitt dissects the pro-Canadian bias in ABC's World News Tonight. (7-1/2 minutes)

Act Four. Who's Canadian?

A tale of two siblings, separated, but not at birth. TAL Senior Producer Paul Tough and his sister grew up in Toronto, the most American of Canadian cities. Then she moved to more remote parts of Canada. He moved to Manhattan. He talks to her about whether she even considers him Canadian anymore, and about what it means to be Canadian. (7 minutes)

Assorted Canadian music throughout the hour.

Song: " Journey Through the Past," Neil Young


Act Four. Who's Canadian?

A tale of two siblings, separated, but not at birth. TAL Senior Producer Paul Tough and his sister grew up in Toronto, the most American of Canadian cities. Then she moved to more remote parts of Canada. He moved to Manhattan. He talks to her about whether she even considers him Canadian anymore, and about what it means to be Canadian. (7 minutes)

Assorted Canadian music throughout the hour.

Song: " Journey Through the Past," Neil Young