Talk:Louis Theroux

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[edit] please cite sources

Theroux is noted for his ability to get people to reveal things about themselves by asking questions in a seemingly naïve and innocent way (see Socratic irony). His style is seen as controversial by some, who accuse Theroux of being manipulative and mocking. In interviews about his time with UK entertainer Jimmy Savile, Theroux stated his ultimate wish was to have recorded Savile bursting into tears. In his interviews with eccentric and unusual people, it has been argued Theroux takes advantage of naivety and eagerness to get attention - his subjects failing to realise Theroux is actually dismissive or hostile. Some of his subjects are clearly powerful, confident people (such as the media stars he followed in later series) although others are obviously vulnerable and damaged, and in this sense, Theroux's approach is controversial.

Who? Please cite your sources! Joe D (t) 17:43, 4 January 2006 (UTC)

Well there are some people here who say that stuff (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/reviews/1703633.stm) - HM July 06

Damn POV nazis

[edit] Criticisms

I had to delete the entry that cited "Widlend" as having published under MX in Brisbane. I check with MX, a free commuter newspaper and they have no such record of "The problem with Theroux" ever being published. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.61.57.115 (talk) 20:31, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

  • I noticed that section was added last week. Two problems with it. First an entire section based on one journalist's opinion is excessive. Second, W.P.Widlend, the "journalist" who made these criticisms isn't a reliable source as I can find no existence of such a journalist, his name gets zero Google hits. Even if he was writing for a free commuter newspaper there would be at least one Ghit. I've removed the rest of the unsourced criticisms in line with WP:BLP. 92.1.216.71 (talk) 00:01, 29 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Mostly

I added the word "mostly" to the description of the subcutures of Wierd Weekends, as there was one about South african white supremacists, not americans. Epeeist smudge 15:41, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] New series

This article doesn't seem to mention his new series (he meets the family of Fred Phelps in the upcoming episode (Sunday, April 1). Forbear 20:52, 27 March 2007 (UTC)

wow... User:Dfrd has just transcribed loads of the last night's programme (or the guardian article). can someone revise this edit, cut it down? or just remove it. It hasn't even got a proper sub-heading. this information is totally out of place on Louis Theroux's page. there should possibly be a quote section with some of this in, but a full transcription is just crazy. Chillymail 08:00, 2 April 2007 (UTC)

Now tagged for cleanup.

I'm going to go ahead and remove it all and replace it with a link to the Westboro Baptist Church page, since it's not adding anything to the wiki. Tbone762 09:16, 2 April 2007 (UTC)
Wouldn't a link to the BBC News page here be more useful than a link to the Westboro Baptist Church's page? After all, this is more directly relevant to the new series, the second episode and Louis' thoughts on the Westboro Baptist Church than the wiki on it. --84.67.205.64 22:39, 2 April 2007 (UTC)
P.S Nevermind that, someone has already been sensible enough to do it. Although tbh, the new series section needs a lot of work, not a clean up. Start from scratch even as it possesses little detail and fails to inform people. Which is what we are here to do, no? Perhaps some of what was in the BBC News Magazine article can be incorporated? --84.67.205.64 22:41, 2 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Pronunciation

How do I pronounce his surname? Can someone add the phonetic spelling? -Nathan Baulch 14:38, 17 April 2007 (UTC)


In French you would say Teh-Roo (equal emphasis on each syllable). I suppose the best anglo version would be to soften the T, as in Thuh-Roo (emphasis on the Roo).

I don't know how Mr. Theroux pronounces it, but that's my best guess. 69.159.237.206 16:58, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

In a documentation (Louis Theroux and the Nazis [1]) he was pronouncing his name as [lu:ɪ θərɔʊ]. --80.140.122.121 14:08, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Jewish

Is Louis Theroux jewish? --80.140.122.121 14:11, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

Why does it matter? I dont believe he is actually. Chrisp7 11:13, 22 May 2007 (UTC)

No he isn't, although he did refuse to answer that question on principle when asked it by a NeoNazi skinhead during one of his documentaries. (on the voice-over he said he wasn't Jewish IIRC) Tomgreeny 22:29, 31 May 2007 (UTC)

He did say, I think in "Call of the Wierd", that he is often taken as being Jewish, but he is not. Epeeist smudge 10:40, 1 June 2007 (UTC)

Thanks. Yeah, I watched his documentation about neo-nazis in the States and was wondering if he were Jewish or not. Stupid nazis, lol! If he said no he were a friend and if he said yes they had blow him up. Oo --77.182.77.64 01:29, 6 July 2007 (UTC) (same as --80.140.122.121 14:11, 10 May 2007 (UTC))
In the Documentary "Young, Nazi and Proud" about the British National Party featuring Mark Collett. He asks Mark what he thinks of Jews. Mark says that Jews are visibly different. Louis in a voiceover 16:58 into the film, "I am Jewish by racial descent. But Mark hadn't realized." —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.204.252.191 (talk) 04:49, 14 October 2007 (UTC)

actually, the journalist in Young, Nazi and Proud is David Modell, you can cooberate this at http://www.channel4.com/news/2003/special_reports/young_nazi_proud.html —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.108.158.7 (talk) 03:23, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Fhm/loaded

he used to write for one of them didnt he?

[edit] Place of birth?

According to http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2179988,00.html Theroux was born in Singapore. Which is right: Singapore or Uganda? --jbmurray (talk|contribs) 16:30, 30 September 2007 (UTC)

Actually, googling I discover more references to his being born in Singapore: [2], [3], [4], [5]. Though it seems clear that his brother, Marcel, was born in Uganda. I'm going to make the change. --jbmurray (talk|contribs) 16:39, 30 September 2007 (UTC)
I see it was, until a few minutes ago, shown as Uganda. I have now changed it to Singapore because (a) the quantity and quality of refs. to Singapore are more convincing, and (b) if you look at his bio on IMDb you can see that someone who quickly skims through that bio can misread his brother Marcel's birthplace as being Louis' birthplace. (I do wonder if the IMDb bio is the original source of the confusion.)--86.146.241.252 (talk) 12:45, 12 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] 10 BBC 2 specials

I propose we create a page similiar to the Weird Weekends and the When Louis met.. so that information on these specials does not clutter Louis page. Any suggestions on what to name it ? Bencey 00:03, 7 October 2007 (UTC)

- Louis Theroux Specials? -Pete —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.20.71.234 (talk) 16:10, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Trivia

Removed the 'trivia' section, as I can't think of anything notable about Louis Theroux being a 'big fan of Keanu Reeves'; seems remarkably unencyclopedic. Blackmetalbaz 19:23, 28 October 2007 (UTC)


Anyone have the Series 3 recorded, I would love to see them. FreakCitySF@Gmail.com thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.164.65.21 (talk) 19:01, 3 April 2008 (UTC)