Christoph Waltz On The Difference Between Germans & Austrians | CONAN on TBS

Summary

In this engaging and humorous interview, the host expresses admiration for Christoph Waltz's performance in 'Inglorious Bastards,' humorously attributing it to marital strife. Waltz's charismatic presence and his ability to switch between charm and chilling intensity are highlighted. The conversation takes a light-hearted turn when discussing cultural differences between Austrians and Germans, with Waltz humorously comparing them to a 'battleship and a waltz,' suggesting Austrians are more polite but insincere, and Germans are straightforward to a fault. The exchange is filled with wit and laughter, showcasing Waltz's personality and the host's Irish charm.

Takeaways

• 🎬 The host expresses great admiration for the guest's performance in 'Inglorious Bastards', attributing it to a humorous marital distraction.
• 👏 The audience's applause and laughter indicate a warm reception for the guest, Christoph Waltz.
• 🤣 The interaction between the host and guest is playful, with the host jokingly blaming the movie for his marriage issues and the guest humorously interrupting with 'blue, blue'.
• 🎭 The host highlights Waltz's acting skills, mentioning his ability to switch from charming to chilling with a 'dead-eyed stare'.
• 🇦🇹 The guest, Christoph Waltz, confirms he is from Austria and is asked to differentiate Austrian culture from German culture.
• 🚢 Waltz humorously describes the cultural difference between Austrians and Germans as 'like the difference between a battleship and a waltz'.
• 😂 The guest playfully stereotypes Germans as lacking a sense of humor and being direct to the point of lacking grace and melody.
• 🍻 Austrians, according to Waltz, are polite but insincere, using humor as a mode of communication and enjoying life's lighter moments.
• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁮󠁧󠁿 The host relates Austrian humor to Irish humor, suggesting a shared appreciation for the absurd and the silly.
• 📚 The host mentions Ireland's impressive nine literature Nobel prize winners, highlighting the significance of communication in Irish culture.
• 🏴󠁧󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 In a serious note, the guest compares the cultural differences between Austrians and Germans to that between English and Irish, suggesting a shared sense of humor and absurdity.

Q & A

What is the reason the host mentions for their marriage being 'ruined' by the movie 'Inglorious Bastards'?

The host jokes that their marriage is 'ruined' because they can't stop watching the movie whenever it comes on, captivated by Christoph Waltz's performance.

How does the host describe Christoph Waltz's acting in 'Inglorious Bastards'?

The host describes Christoph Waltz's acting as intense, charming, and capable of delivering a chilling dead-eyed stare.

What is the humorous interruption made by the audience that the host refers to as 'blue, blue'?

The audience's interruption of 'blue, blue' is a humorous reference to a possible misheard or playful repetition of something said by the host or Christoph Waltz.

What is the host's nationality and how does it relate to the conversation about cultural differences?

The host is Irish, which is used as a point of comparison when discussing the cultural differences between Austrians and Germans.

What is the cultural comparison made by Christoph Waltz between Austrians and Germans?

Christoph Waltz humorously compares Austrians to a waltz and Germans to a battleship, suggesting that Austrians are more about grace and rhythm, while Germans are more direct and lacking in irony.

How does the host react to Christoph Waltz's comment about Germans having no sense of humor?

The host laughs and acknowledges the stereotype, showing that they are not offended and are in on the joke.

What is the difference Christoph Waltz suggests between Austrians and Germans in terms of communication?

Christoph Waltz suggests that Austrians are polite and use humor as a mode of communication, implying that their politeness may not always be genuine.

How does the host respond to the comparison of Austrians to Irish in terms of humor?

The host agrees with the comparison, stating that both the Irish and Austrians may appear nice but don't always mean it, highlighting a shared sense of humor.

What is the significance of the mention of Ireland having nine literature Nobel prize winners?

The mention of Ireland's nine literature Nobel prize winners is used to highlight the cultural importance of communication and the arts in Irish society.

How does the host handle the potential for offense in the conversation about national stereotypes?

The host handles the potential for offense by laughing along with the jokes, ensuring that the conversation remains light-hearted and not taken too seriously.

What is the final comparison made by the host regarding the cultural differences between Austrians, Germans, English, and Irish?

The host compares the cultural differences to that between English and Irish, suggesting that Austrians, like the Irish, have a greater sense of the silly and the absurd.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Warm Welcome and Comedic Exchange

The host begins by warmly welcoming the audience and expressing admiration for the guest, Christoph Waltz, highlighting his captivating performance in 'Inglorious Bastards.' The host humorously admits the film has impacted his marriage due to its irresistible draw. The audience is treated to a playful banter between the host and Waltz, with the host jokingly blaming Waltz for his inability to stop watching the movie. The host's attempt to speak is humorously interrupted by the phrase 'blue, blue,' which incites laughter and applause from the audience. Waltz's acting skills are praised, especially his ability to switch from charm to a chilling dead-eyed stare, which he playfully demonstrates during the interaction.

Keywords

💡Inglorious Bastards

Inglorious Bastards is a film title mentioned in the script, where the actor Christoph Waltz is praised for his performance. The film is known for its intense and dramatic scenes, which is a theme that resonates with the audience's appreciation of Waltz's acting skills. In the script, the host jokes about how watching the movie has affected his personal life, highlighting the impact of Waltz's performance.

💡Performance

Performance in this context refers to the acting skills displayed by an actor, specifically Christoph Waltz in the film Inglorious Bastards. The host expresses admiration for Waltz's ability to captivate the audience through his portrayal of a character that is both charming and chilling. The term is central to the discussion as it encapsulates the essence of Waltz's talent and the reason for his popularity.

💡Austria

Austria is the country of origin for the actor Christoph Waltz. The script discusses cultural differences between Austria and Germany, highlighting the unique characteristics of Austrians. The host's curiosity about the cultural distinctions underscores the importance of understanding the background of artists and how it might influence their work.

💡Cultural Differences

Cultural differences are the distinctions in customs, behaviors, and attitudes that exist between different groups of people. In the script, the discussion centers around the differences between Austrians and Germans, with Waltz humorously describing them as being akin to the difference between a battleship and a waltz. This concept is crucial in understanding the humor and the underlying message about national stereotypes.

💡Battleship

A battleship is a large, heavily armed warship mentioned in the script as a metaphor for the German culture, in contrast to the Austrian culture, which is likened to a waltz. The term is used to illustrate the perceived rigidity and directness of the German people, as opposed to the more graceful and rhythmic nature of the Austrians.

💡Waltz

A waltz is a type of dance characterized by its graceful, flowing movements. In the script, it is used metaphorically to represent the Austrian culture, suggesting that they are more elegant and less rigid than the Germans. This comparison is part of the humor in the conversation and helps to convey the cultural contrast between the two nations.

💡Humor

Humor is a quality that makes something funny or amusing. In the script, humor is evident in the way the cultural differences between Austria and Germany are discussed. Waltz's witty remarks about the lack of humor in Germans and the polite insincerity of Austrians add a light-hearted tone to the conversation and engage the audience.

💡Irish

Irish refers to the people or culture of Ireland. The script includes a comparison between the Irish and the Austrians, suggesting a shared trait of politeness that may not be entirely genuine. This comparison serves to draw a parallel between the two cultures and adds a layer of relatability for the audience.

💡Literature Nobel Prize

The Literature Nobel Prize is an award given to individuals for outstanding contributions in the field of literature. The script mentions that Ireland has nine Nobel laureates in literature, which is used to emphasize the rich cultural heritage and communication skills of the Irish people. This point is made to contrast the cultural achievements of different nations.

💡Absurd

Absurd refers to something that is illogical or unreasonable. In the script, the term is used to describe the perceived silliness and absurdity in the cultural differences between Austrians and Germans. It is part of the humorous discourse that characterizes the conversation and adds to the entertainment value.

💡Suspicious

Suspicious is a term that describes a feeling of doubt or mistrust. In the script, it is used to characterize the German people, suggesting that they are wary or distrustful. This characterization is part of the broader discussion on cultural stereotypes and contributes to the humorous tone of the conversation.

Highlights

Christoph Waltz's performance in 'Inglorious Bastards' captivated the audience and has humorously been said to affect the host's marriage due to its compelling watch.

Waltz's ability to switch from charming to a chilling dead-eyed stare is highly praised for its intensity.

Christoph Waltz hails from Austria, a fact that prompts a discussion about cultural differences between Austrians and Germans.

Waltz humorously distinguishes Austrians and Germans by comparing them to a battleship and a waltz, respectively.

Austrians are portrayed as polite but insincere in their politeness, adding a layer of humor to their communication style.

The host playfully suggests that both the Irish and Austrians share a similar communication style that is nice but not necessarily genuine.

Ireland's cultural communication is highlighted by its impressive nine literature Nobel prize winners.

A serious attempt to draw a parallel between the Austrian and Irish cultures in terms of their sense of the absurd and humor.

The host's self-deprecating humor about the Irish being nice but insincere is met with audience laughter.

Christoph Waltz's light-hearted roast of the German culture as lacking a sense of humor is taken in stride by the audience.

The host's playful banter with Waltz about Germans being straightforward to a fault is a humorous moment in the conversation.

Waltz's depiction of Germans as lacking irony and being suspicious adds to the cultural comparison humor.

The audience's laughter at the host's and Waltz's exchange about the German and Austrian stereotypes creates a lively atmosphere.

The host's humorous admission of being unable to speak due to 'glug glug' is a candid moment that garners audience laughter.

Christoph Waltz's interruption with 'blue, blue' adds an unexpected and comical twist to the conversation.

The host's acknowledgment of Waltz's unique ability to command attention, even when interrupting, is a testament to his charisma.

Transcripts

(audience applauding)

First off, thank you so much for being here.

Thank you.

I told you backstage, I am in a huge fan of yours,

and your performance in Inglorious Bastards,

I think has ruined my marriage because every time

that movie comes on, I can't stop watching it

and I'm always watching you.

I loved your performance as did everybody.

Thank you, blue, blue.

What's that? Blue, blue.

Blue, blue, you interrupted me for blue, blue?

(audience laughing and clapping)

No one gets away with that, but you Christoph Waltz.

Quiet: blue, blue. (audience laughing)

Thank you for being here though, very exciting.

You know what, I love me, but I love me, slip there.

I can't speak tonight because of the glug glug.

(audience laughing)

You are such an amazing actor.

You're in so intense in that movie, in Inglorious Bastards,

you're so charming, and then suddenly this dead-eyed stare

that you can give that I find so chilling

that you're giving me right now.

(audience laughing) Yeah.

You're so good at that.

I know that you are, you're from Austria, is that correct?

That's right.

And there are, like many Americans, unfortunately,

I don't know enough about the rest of the world

and I'm familiar with Germany, but I don't know

the difference in the culture between say

Austrians and Germans, can you enlighten us?

Oh, the difference between Austrians and Germans is

like the difference between a battleship and a waltz.

A battleship and a waltz?

That's about the difference between-

Really, so there's really not a lot

of similarities is what you're saying.

How are the Austrians different?

I mean, I know there's the Germans, there's the cliche

which is they have no sense of humor.

That's not a cliche. (audience laughing)

It's just a hundred percent true.

Well, it's sort of, you know Germans, I hope

I'm not hurting anybody's feelings.

(laughing) No, this does go out on television.

The Germans might hear about this.

Well, you know-

They won't. They won't hear about this.

Please speak freely, it's just us and a fake moon.

Exactly, yeah, thank you.

I think Germans always go for head on collision,

you know, and, it never, it doesn't, it rarely has

sort of grace and melody and rhythm.

It's just the- (audience laughing)

There's no irony, there's no sense of it.

They just say exactly what they mean.

Exactly, everything else is dubious and slimy and-

(audience laughing) They're suspicious.

Yeah, I'm highly dubious and slimy.

I love it when a guest just comes out and says that.

But you Austrians then have a sense of humor, they're-

Well, Austrians tend to make their lives easier.

So first of all they are very polite

and second, they don't mean it.

(audience laughing)

And, it's just, you know, a mode of communication

and exchange and in between you have a sip,

so you know what could go wrong?

Very nice, well I'm Irish, I understand.

Exactly. Well, it's the same way.

We are very nice, but we don't mean it.

No, absolutely, but Ireland has

nine literature Nobel prize winners, nine.

I mean, that's says something for communication

in a culture.

And the difference between, in all seriousness,

if that's appropriate at all.

No, we'll cut this part out.

(audience laughing)

In the difference between the Austrians

and Germans is very much like English and Irish, very much.

Right, there's more of the sense

of the silly and the absurd, probably.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.