How could I have lived my life without seeing this? It’s maybe one of the funniest characters I’ve ever seen, and I just stumbled on it yesterday… OH MY GOSH. Maybe its because I’m a fan of SNL, not MADtv, but gheesh, I think I need to tune in. The best, Jerry, the best!
I’ve been watching YouTube videos, and this is one of the funniest I’ve found yet…
If you’re not familiar with Ms. Swan, check out this, from Wikipedia:
Ms. Bunny Swan
Bunny Swan, more commonly known as “Ms. Swan,” is one of the most well known and most prominent characters on MADtv. She is portrayed by actress Alex Borstein and appeared on the show until Borstein’s departure (and one last time when Borstein made a guest star appearance). She was born on November 25, 1966 (as revealed on her driver’s license when she goes to the DMV) making her 41 years old. It was also revealed that she has brown eyes, is 5’2″, and weighs 145 pounds.
She began as little more than a character based on stereotype. She is portrayed as an Asian woman who works as a manicurist at the Gorgeous Pretty Beauty Nail Salon (which she mispronounces as “Goja Pitty Booty Nay Salon” every time she says it). She has been a controversial character and had been at odds with many Asian-American groups, who found the character as nothing more than a demeaning character created to stereotype Asians. In one sketch it is revealed that Miss Swan is from the fictional country of Kuvaria, near the North Pole, and home of Santa Claus. It was said that her home country was created to brush off criticism from Asian groups. MADtv creators have also insisted that character was based on singer Björk. (She was compared to Bjork in one sketch, was referred to as Icelandic by the Vancome Lady in another, and wore Bjork’s infamous swan dress in another.) One sketch with an automated teller machine shows her being fluent in the Spanish language.
Eventually the other character in the scene would become fed up with her and storm off in a rage. Early on, she gained her catch phrase “Okee, I tell you eh-we-ting: he look-a like a man!”, stemming from a sketch in which she was unable to identify a thief because of her inability to describe him. In all but a few episodes, Miss Swan would purse her lips precociously which has, henceforth, been known as another symbol for the famous character.
As the sketches progressed, Miss Swan would be put into more absurd situations and locations (such as singing Dancing Queen in a gay club) and it became increasingly established that she was intentionally agitating those with whom she interacted. It was revealed that she spoke perfect English and simply found it entertaining to pretend to be a cultural illiterate, which was a new source of comedy for the bits. Miss Swan would also make a cameo appearance on an episode of Family Guy, on which Alex Borstein is also a cast member. She is also one of four characters that performed in “Lady Mad Tv” a parody of the world hit Lady Marmalade. She was a parody of Christina Aguilera where she portrayed Christina’s infamous cotton candy wig, she was casted along with Melina, Loraine Swanson, and Dot.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
ana vallejo 07.16.10 at 12:26 pm
She is the funniest character ever!!!! I can watch each episode over and over again, and still laugh nonstop`. Awesome!!!!!!!
david 08.07.10 at 5:24 pm
I have worked both at UoP and Grand Canyon as an Enrollment Counselor. The bottom line “most” online programs will let anyone register. However, while it seems that there is 100% access, I can tell you that both of these schools have 100% accountability!
Meaning if you do not to put forth the effort… you will simply not get a degree. No one yells at you to get the work done. The instructors assume that you want to be here. They do not lose their pay, if you choose to be stupid about your responsibilities.
Say what you want, but the bottom line, the nation’s top schools in America have never given the majority of student’s access to their schools, yet the majority of them would be bankrupt without Uncle Sam giving them funds. This hypocrisy has bothered me for a long time. Those folks that are now corporate raiders, high income individuals that got to go to the schools they wanted regardless of cost, parents that are now sending their kids to the schools they always wanted to go to school… well… the dirty little secret is the majority of them used Financial to succeed.
If you want to really understand the Wealth shift in America, read the history and the fight that occurred in America to ensure all Americans had access to funds to go to school. Yet certain News channels are convinced this is another government waste. Indeed, It is sooo unfortunate that thousands of students abuse this right that we call Financial Aid. But those same pundits that sit all pretty and pious on the news pointing out the ill of America … I guarantee you had their hands in the COOKIE JAR!!!!!!
Just know this, until the 60s you either had to be very rich or very smart to have a chance to go to college. Now everyone has access! For those of us that had children early or went on to serve our country, it means that we still have a chance to get a college education. Again, this was not the case just even 20 years ago. There are some very exciting things happening in the world of online education. Indeed, college is no longer based on money and being born into a nuclear family where everything is just simply perfect.
Now more than ever… in America if you want to get an honest college education YOU CAN DO IT!!!! For those who choose to continue to abide by the old school rules that if it is not a school with a major sports program or have a snob appeal, then it must be worthless… then you have already lost your way in this new world.
The only ones that complain about how they were wronged with their online efforts are those that choose not to look at themselves in the mirror!!! While I understand that Chris was trying to be funny, in a weird way he actually highlighted how UoP was sticking to their promise to help the student! Hmmm but it seems that most in this blog want choose to ignore this. Do not get me wrong, I did not like my experience at UoP. However, I can tell you the culture to want to see people succeed in life is very real… it is as real as the student will take it! Chris, if you do not make it at UoP, call me and I will talk to you about Grand Canyon… but like I tell all my students that I enroll, “Don’t expect me take you serious, if you cannot do the same for yourself.
Stay thirsty my friend!!