When Global TV news reporter Mark McAllister suffered through an attack of on-air verbal gobbledygook in March 2011, most observers just assumed it was some kind of screwup rather than anything more serious.
ABC late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel played the clip on his show the next evening, commenting that it seemed as if McAllister was reading “from a melted teleprompter.” Kimmel played the clip both backward and forward, to show that there wasn’t much difference. Kimmel then concluded, “Does anyone here speak Canadian?”
In all fairness to Kimmel, he couldn’t have known there was something medically amiss with McAllister. Heck, McAllister didn’t know. But subsequently, McAllister was diagnosed with epilepsy, a disease that affects one in every 100 Canadians.
This Saturday, March 9, Global is airing a half-hour feature titled Focus Ontario: Inside Epilepsy. McAllister speaks openly about his on-air seizure and the fallout, which eventually led to his diagnosis.
Produced to coincide with Epilepsy Awareness Month, Focus Ontario: Inside Epilepsy provides an in-depth look at the medical efforts to understand, treat and explain the disorder. The special will share personal stories of those living with epilepsy and analyze the stigma of the condition, which often frustrates efforts to raise awareness.
Focus Ontario: Inside Epilepsy airs Saturday at 5:30 p.m. (Eastern time), on Global.
bill.harris@sunmedia.ca
@billharris_tv
Categories: Television
Kimmel at the time didn’t know it was a seizure, but now that it’s out there, I think he should address this issue and have McAllister and/or an epilepsy expert on his show.
Doesn’t matter that Kimmel didn’t ‘know’ it was a seizure…. it was clear to anyone after the first two mistakes that there was something clearly wrong with McAllister. And Kimmel should have killed the joke before he went to air – he’s a professional – he should know better…. Having said that – good point about addressing this issue now.
i agree …..kimmel should have him onnwith an expert andnhelp bring awareness to this.
Yes, Jimmy didn’t know, but he should and take the time to have Mark on show to help with eliminating the stigmas attached to epilepsy. Mark showed his courage. Hopefully Jimmy can as well.
Jimmy kimmel owes Mark McAllister an apology. Mark is an amazing announcer and I’m sure he has been through enough. Jimmy K needs to have Mark on his show to talk about Epilepsy. God bless you Mark.
Oh yes, we should all hug and sing kumbaya and never ever tell anymore jokes! As George Takei put it in his book Oh Myyy:
“Good grief. If we can’t laugh at ourselves, and at one another, in good spirit and without malice, then what fun can be left? If we must withhold all ribbing in the name of protecting everyone’s feelings, then we truly are a toothless society.”
Ron, what an incredibly insensitive thing to write. I agree, a bit of levity from time to time is important and tolerable. However, to mock someone because of their disability, especially one enshrouded by misinformation and stigma, that precludes individuals from full and equal participation in society, is just plain stupid. Would it still be funny if because of this public disclosure of his disability, Mark lost his job as so often happens with epilepsy when you are in the public eye or if his friends shunned him for fear of catching his “fits”? Time to take a disability awareness/sensitivity training program bucko!