Women are used to icky and invasive medical exams. Men aren’t and freak out about them like big babies, or turn them into war stories and angina monologues. For a lot of guys the freak-out happens at age 50, when the colonoscopy usually kicks in as a routine screening exam for colon cancer.
Of course, a colonoscopy is advised for women of that vintage too. But if you check out the YouTube colonoscopy-video hit parade—yes, there is one, and I’m excluding the genuine medical-education stuff here—you find it dominated by male comedians and would-be comedians making laxative jokes; old men droning on for no reason about their colonoscopy experiences; and even original musical numbers and dramatic shorts in a colonoscopy context—starring mostly men. Most of it is foul and horribly dumb.
|
Colonoscopy stand-up. There’s a Robin Williams bit (“It’s a video camera on the end of a Roto-Rooter, and it’s going up you”), but Scottish comedian Billy Connolly may be better. You judge. Note: Foul-language warning throughout, obviously.
|
 |
 |
Colonoscopy skits. The late Lou Rawls, in a TV or film number of uncertain vintage, administers a colonoscopy to Damon Wayans in a disco-ball setting, while “You’ll Never Find (Another Love Like Mine)” plays over the speakers. Cue the obligatory gay subtext.
|
|
Colonoscopy, the musical. “Colon Is a Mighty Big River” is a musical video set to a spiritual beat by a Canadian duo called Bowser and Blue. I promise you I would rather have a colonoscopy than watch that one again.
|
 |
 |
Colonoscopy, the dramatic short. Meanwhile, a “film by David Kovacs” called “The Colonoscopy” has a physician who looks like a cross between C. Everett Koop and Colonel Sanders administering the procedure while telling his young patient that he had an affair with his wife. “Stiff” does not begin to describe the acting here.
|
|
Colonoscopy, the anecdote. A YouTube member named Octogenarian posted a 4-minute, 40-second video—it feels like 4 hours—called “Colonoscopy: What’s It All About?” When you’re finished with that, you can watch Octo’s other hits, including “1927 A Year To Celebrate” and “Track and Field At Mid Century.”
|
 |
Of course, we may have Katie Couric to thank for a lot of this. While still the beloved Today show cohost, Couric broadcast her own colonoscopy in 2000 in a bid to raise public awareness. It was a dignified broadcast that she later called her “proudest moment.” The so-called “Couric effect” probably saved lives as viewers rushed out to get their own tests. But guess what happens when you search for “Katie Couric colonoscopy” on YouTube? The top result is a recut of the Couric broadcast set to Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.” YouTube is a mighty big river.
Recent posts by Scott Mowbray:
Comments (1)
The exam isn’t bad, but the sedation drug Versed is awful. It causes severe and long-term emory loss