Billy Bob Thornton was on CBC Radio this morning – Q TV with Jian Ghomeshi, who apparently raised BBT’s ire by mentioning in the introduction to the interview that Mr. Thornton was an Oscar winning screen writer, actor and director. According to Billy Bob, there had been an agreement in place that the interview would be strictly about his musical endeavours whereas Jian said no such deal had been struck. From the beginning of the interview however, all of Jian’s questions are music related, Billy Bob simply refused to participate from that point until about half way through the piece when Ghomeshi confronts him and things seem to get worked out to a certain extent. It’s still an uncomfortable interview and I think handled well by Jian (and BBT’s visibly uncomfortable band mates).

At one point in the interview though, Billy Bob comments on the reticence of Canadian audiences by comparing them to “mashed potatoes without the gravy”, which has a lot of people in a dander. Certainly unnecessary and (I think) not accurate but whether or not he meant it as an insult to all Canadians is debatable. Plus, in Canada, it should be “poutine without the gravy” – a true wit would not have wasted a chance to work in a cultural reference when being snide and pissy.

Fun and good times regardless – Canadians love being slighted by Americans as it allows us to get all self righteous and patriotic, something that normally only happens during World Cup and Olympic hockey games.

I can’t hate on Billy Bob though, I’m still a fan and kind of dig that whole “cantankerous” thing.