The French chime in...

[The Mirrorball Man]

From what I understand, France hasn't always been friendly towards Star Trek, nor has it been very popular, am I correct?

That's true. In France, Star Trek is generally seen as a cheap, old-fashioned and slightly ridiculous series by the general public. Most people have never heard of the spinoff series.

As for Jerry Lewis, he's not and has never been popular in France.

 

[Borgminister]

Back in the 60's he was--and in 2006 he got some kind of French honor...

Anyway, "never" is not accurate.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Back in the 60's he was--and in 2006 he got some kind of French honor...

Anyway, "never" is not accurate.

You're right. Actually, "never" is never accurate.

It's just an irritating myth, you know what I mean? For some reason, Americans like to make fun of the French because they like Jerry Lewis, a man who's actually been far more popular in the United States than he's ever been in France.

If we really insist on using stereotypes to mock other cultures, let us at least use accurate stereotypes.

 

[Roshi]

Back in the 60's he was--and in 2006 he got some kind of French honor...

Anyway, "never" is not accurate.

Back in the late 50s, I would say. So he got "honored" by those who were "fans" back then at a time when those guys were in power... Baby boomers, y'know.

 

[Franklin]

As for Jerry Lewis, he's not and has never been popular in France.

Well, he was very popular in France in the 1960s, and while his popularity waned over the years, in 2006 he was given the Legion of Honor by the French Culture Minister. Wonder what they would've given him if he had ever been popular?

Edited to add: Oh, and way back in 1984 is was given the Order of Arts and Letters, France's highest cultural honor.

They just saw something most Americans didn't.

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-ean! I saw it but... I could do without it.

 

[perigee]

It was OK, but it wasn't French Classic Trek...

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

in 2006 he was given the Legion of Honor by the French Culture Minister. Wonder what they would've given him if he had ever been popular?

What would have happened if he had been more popular is that the general French audience would have actually known who he is! Come on now, more than 100,000 people around the world have been awarded the Legion of Honor, including 10'000 American citizens. Quincy Jones has one. CNN's Jim Bittermann has one. The reason why they gave it to Jerry Lewis is because he created the MDA Telethon, which has had a very popular French equivalent for more than twenty years.

They just saw something most Americans didn't.

Well, the guy does have two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.