Video: Miss Teen South Carolina gets a do-over
posted at 8:50 am on August 28, 2007 by Allahpundit
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Nine of the top 20 vids on YouTube right now are either of her, about her, or goofing on her. The original clip? 3.3 million views and counting.
“Today” decided to leverage the buzz by giving her a second shot at the very, very difficult map question she fumbled so famously. So her she is, Caitlin Upton, in the big A’s transparent barrel-scraping traffic-ploy clip o’ the day, getting a new lease on life at 30 Rock. Enjoy.
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OMG, A. How do you watch that? I simply can’t watch it past the words “South Africa”. It hurts too much.
Btw, Ann Curry has crossed that magical line that tv chicks all eventually cross, going from “hey, that chick’s kinda hot” to “damn, she’s stupid”. Again, it’s a fine line, but AC has fully crossed over. She’s an idiot.
Jaibones on August 28, 2007 at 8:56 AM
She does that thing where everything she says is a question. Always inflecting the last syllable in a sentnce. I’m totally nervous?
Cute.
VolMagic on August 28, 2007 at 8:57 AM
Jailbones, Allah, good morning, good morning. In the news this morning, good morning.
chrisro on August 28, 2007 at 8:59 AM
Being the magnanimous type, I’m willing to forgive and forget.
But I’m never pulling that clip.
Bonus points if she knows what magnanimous means.
JammieWearingFool on August 28, 2007 at 8:59 AM
If only they had given her 3 days to come up with an answer in the first place, we could have avoided this whole mess.
Wingo on August 28, 2007 at 9:00 AM
It should be noted that as my last post was done in the spirit of Ann Curry, I probably intended to misspell your name, Jaibones.
chrisro on August 28, 2007 at 9:00 AM
I like turtles!
saint kansas on August 28, 2007 at 9:01 AM
So she’s on The Today Show and the pageant winner is… ???
The focus is once again on the stupid…
TexasRainmaker on August 28, 2007 at 9:02 AM
She looks good in a bikini, so it doesn’t matter.
jediwebdude on August 28, 2007 at 9:03 AM
Nice girl.
Halley on August 28, 2007 at 9:03 AM
At first I thought she was blaming Osama (”Sama”) for the ignorance, but then I realized that she had converted a one syllable word into two syllables. But then this morning…
“Personally my friends and I believe…”
Argh.
drjohn on August 28, 2007 at 9:03 AM
Saint Kansas wins!!!!!!!!!!
Talon on August 28, 2007 at 9:03 AM
Oh, she’s going to SFX school in L.A.?
Maher’s Mexicans are forming a bucket brigade having to empty his “drool cup” this morning!
Stephen M on August 28, 2007 at 9:06 AM
Good for her…. She has the courage to face up to the mistake she made. More than I can say for most the leaders of this country.
Wade on August 28, 2007 at 9:08 AM
She did pretty well on the question this time considering that she only had two days to rehearse.
Next question: 65% say the war in Iraq is going badly. Why do you think this is?
Answer: I personally believe the war in the Iraq is bad because US Americans lack education in geography to help them in South Africa and the Iraq such as places like that and that US American like my friends have maps to help South Africa people to build up their future in Iraq.
jihadwatcher on August 28, 2007 at 9:08 AM
Nobody has asked why she brought up South Africa. Me thinks she was coached to mention that country, and to mention Iraq, in any question that sounded as if it might be about geo-politics. So as soon as she heard the question mention Americans and map, she went into a half-assed rehash of what she had been coached to say.
Why? Who knows. But that was transparent.
jihadwatcher on August 28, 2007 at 9:12 AM
Bet if she marries an old billionaire geezer who croaks, you’ll give here a little more respect– even her own tv show.
JiangxiDad on August 28, 2007 at 9:16 AM
I’m wondering if SHE could identify the US on a map (let alone South Africa or “Asian countries”). Just one U.S. American’s curiousity! ;0
highhopes on August 28, 2007 at 9:28 AM
Can we please just lose the political correctness here?
The bottom line: the girl is stupid. Stoopid. Probably tests as borderline semi-retarded. No joke.
That clip is so painfully funny that I made my lady come in my office and watch it. You know, as a fellow “U.S. American” who is also interested in helping South Africa address our map problem. Or something.
Sigh. Chuckle. Sigh again. This girl needs parents. We need an education system.
And maps. Lots of maps. Dear God, the map crisis is reaching epic proportions.
Professor Blather on August 28, 2007 at 9:38 AM
Oh, no. I’m pretty sure you were right the first time - I’m pretty sure that in the middle of rambling about Iraq and South Africa, she almost blamed Osama bin Laden for the Great Missing Map Crisis of 2007.
Professor Blather on August 28, 2007 at 9:40 AM
JammieWearingFool-
Obviously she knows that “magnanimous” is what you call a really large “bananamous”.
I’d hire her for a non-speaking part.
I see a future in “SCREAM IV- the silent”.
profitsbeard on August 28, 2007 at 9:41 AM
A lot of these gals who were raised to be beauty queens–you just open your mouth. What ever comes out, comes out. Whatever goes in, goes in.
smellthecoffee on August 28, 2007 at 9:42 AM
The turtles kid is an intellectual giant compared to this girl. At least his non sequitur was articulate and comprehensible.
Plus, zombies are cool.
Professor Blather on August 28, 2007 at 9:42 AM
It worked. I clicked.
Pretty girl. She gave a bad answer on national television. That’s actually cute in comparison to the hard news stories we read about constantly here at HotAir, MichelleMalkin, JihadWatch, LGF, etc..
She wasn’t trying to blow herself up in Israel, killing dogs in her spare time, defending illegal aliens, wishing destruction on America or caught on tape beheading infidels. Thanks for a brief, pleasant distraction Caitlin (and AllahPundit).
Canadian Infidel on August 28, 2007 at 9:43 AM
Bingo.
She was programmed like a robot. And her wires got crossed.
No one considered actually, you know, educating her. They just taught her to be a trained parrot.
Except parrots are smarter.
Professor Blather on August 28, 2007 at 9:45 AM
Professor Blather-
That’s unjust, Prof.
Parrots have a built-in GPS so they don’t need maps.
Ask a mynah where Iraq is and all they say is:
“Pretty boy. I want a peanut.”
(Although I can actually hear Miss Teen S.C. saying that, too.)
profitsbeard on August 28, 2007 at 9:50 AM
Except she’d say it more like this:
I personally believe, as a U.S. American, that some, uh, in South Africa, and such as the Iraq, would help the children of the future, if in the Iraq, and the peanut, was given to, uh, myself as a U.S. American, for the future of the children, the peanut, such as. Like.
Professor Blather on August 28, 2007 at 9:55 AM
Professor Blather-
Okay, okay, the parrot it is.
profitsbeard on August 28, 2007 at 9:58 AM
Why is it always the case that teens that are observed displaying functionally illiterate speaking skills are individually condemned, yet their teachers and schools are never held to task? This person presumably was graduated from an accredited school by accredited teachers. Look there for the blame.
IntheNet on August 28, 2007 at 10:01 AM
A typical result of our educational system & the pageant system,beauty is valued over brains.
Frantic Freddie on August 28, 2007 at 10:06 AM
Never? Are you sure?
And while your point is valid, at some point personal responsibility has to become the major factor. (Remember personal responsibility?) Unless this girl really is intellectually challenged, she has to take the lion’s share of the blame for this degree of vapidity. The worst teachers on Earth - or no teachers at all - can’t make an individual that stupid … unless the individual willfully works to avoid learning anything.
Her teachers don’t rate higher than third place here. After her parents … and after Ms. Maps of South Africa herself.
Professor Blather on August 28, 2007 at 10:07 AM
Oh, please! From the comments I read on this blog and aoshq, most value beauty and porn over everything.
Blake on August 28, 2007 at 10:10 AM
Aside from the personal accountability angle most of us are fond of, you’re right…but until they start showing clips of the people responsible for her upbringing and education, we’re left with ridiculing her.
James on August 28, 2007 at 10:12 AM
“All my friends and I know where the US is on a map…”
and other things that one should not gloat about. It’s like saying, “I don’t pee on the seat, and neither do my friends.”
congsan on August 28, 2007 at 10:13 AM
Did everyone hear her future plans? Appallachian State, she’s heading your way.
I like parrots!
Bigfoot on August 28, 2007 at 10:15 AM
The future* Mrs. Allahpundit acquitted herself well.
(* - Their honeymoon begins tonight … in Allah’s dreams.)
Ali-Bubba on August 28, 2007 at 10:30 AM
Locating the US on a map should be one of 5 questions on the first page of every voting ballot. If you’re too stupid to know this, you’re too stupid to vote.
This should also apply to welfare eligability.
Privatestock on August 28, 2007 at 10:32 AM
Today has this, yet, last night, Jay Leno was beating this into the ground.
Sensei Ern on August 28, 2007 at 10:38 AM
“…and, like, duh…we’re standing on it right now…”
Captain Scarlet on August 28, 2007 at 10:40 AM
The hypocrisy of the Today Show.
So the airhead blond gets a do-over for her stupid off-the-cuff answer.
So forgiving, so understanding, Matt and Ann go the extra mile to give her a chance to redeem herself. After all, she was really nervous in front of that crowd, with a beauty pageant title on the line. Now that’s pressure.
Blonde cutie goes incoherent in beauty contest …. poor baby deserves a second chance.
President Bush has a guffaw during a press conference about our national security ….. take the gloves off and pummel that uneducated chimp for a week.
The Today Show, unfair and unbalanced.
fogw on August 28, 2007 at 10:43 AM
Bigfoot-
I was once bitten by a parrot.
No Miss Teen S.C. has ever bitten me.
I rest my case.
profitsbeard on August 28, 2007 at 10:45 AM
Your priorities are established an I salute you!
:D
Yakko77 on August 28, 2007 at 10:46 AM
A girl who looks like that, and talks like that (content excepted), named Caitlin.
She will go far in modern-day America!
rockbend on August 28, 2007 at 10:49 AM
Hey, fogw, the job descriptions, responsibilities and requirements are vastly unequivocal.
But other than that, yes, it’s no secret that journalists are 85%+ liberal.
That’s not breaking news.
The fact that this beautiful woman probably can’t tie her shoes or remember her middle name, apparently is news. Funny news, at least.
Hoodlumman on August 28, 2007 at 10:53 AM
It looks like she’s getting a very “liberal” education.
jaime on August 28, 2007 at 10:57 AM
You got that right. And then of course here’s the line the Today Show crossed (at some point) into complete irrelevance.
As for Miss Upton, you can almost see the IQ points leaking out of her brain when she opens her mouth.
infidel4life on August 28, 2007 at 11:08 AM
I’m not buying the stage fright defense. By the time you get to a national level, she’s been on stage dozens of times.
And after three days, and presumably consultation with “experts,” she finally decided that the problem was not enough emphasis on geography in American schools!
Oh yeah, that’ll fix the problem. Over a quarter of American high school graduates don’t understand what a fraction IS, let alone how to work with them. But once we replace a few more math classes with “America recognizing 101,” all our kids will finally be able to function as useful members of a technological society.
The Socialist indoctrination schools preach now largely pre-empts coverage of what normal people consider to be useful information. As George Will once said, kids attend school for the same number of hours they always have and they still study the “Three R’s.”
The only difference is that today those Three R’s are: Recycling, Reproduction and Racism.
If they’d asked a question about Global Warming, I’m sure the pretty little airhead could have recited a college level seminar on the subject.
logis on August 28, 2007 at 11:19 AM
“Spelling counts” does not end at five syllables.
MrC_5150 on August 28, 2007 at 11:27 AM
The next Mrs. Donald Trump.
Brat on August 28, 2007 at 11:36 AM
You’re getting a bit nasal now.
I didn’t care that much for the answer she gave on Today either, she discounted the question and went on the defensive.
She could have said something intelligent like, well, the government should buy us all maps and like show us where the US America iiss?
Speakup on August 28, 2007 at 11:37 AM
Maps? MAPS?
My friends and I don’ need no stinkin’ maps.
My collie says:
CyberCipher on August 28, 2007 at 11:39 AM
I read that on Ann Coulter’s main page. It was a link to the original youtube video. Coffee almost went out my nose.
jjjen on August 28, 2007 at 11:40 AM
I don’t know whether Ann Curry is stupid, but I still think she’s remarkably sexy, especially for a woman of 51. My friend’s girlfriend works in a clothing store in Manhattan and says that Ann Curry drops in from time to time and is absolute stunning in person.
Again, she’s 51 people! Va va voom!
Kensington on August 28, 2007 at 11:53 AM
Actually, that should read “she’s 51, people!”
She’s really only one person, not fifty-one people.
But she’s 51, people!
Kensington on August 28, 2007 at 11:54 AM
I think Matt thinks he might be able to get laid if he sweet talks her. After all, she is 18….
Tim Burton on August 28, 2007 at 12:08 PM
I don’t care how sexy she is, I couldn’t wake up every morning to listening to that.
Tim Burton on August 28, 2007 at 12:13 PM
Right after she releases a sex tape….
Tim Burton on August 28, 2007 at 12:15 PM
I think this illustrates why I like KP. Even if I frequently disagree with her, at least she’s tries. Hot chicks really don’t have to.
Blacklake on August 28, 2007 at 12:16 PM
Well, duh! A magnanimous is like one of those pieces of metal that sticks to stuff!
“I Like Turtles” Kid/Caitlin ‘08!
ReubenJCogburn on August 28, 2007 at 12:27 PM
So many here are sounding so superior and more intelligent than the young lady. I guess if snark is your first impulse, snark wins.
A few months ago I took an online geography quiz where I had to point out all the countries in the Middle East. No problem, I thought-I’ve been keeping up, as the world has been focused on the Middle East for years now. I was humbled. As our friend Jeff Foxworthy says, I don’t know more than a fifth grader.
But I’m not alone, friends: Who among you snarkers can name, off the top of your head,without checking, the Baltic States?
Consider yourselves challenged.
Doug on August 28, 2007 at 12:28 PM
Good grief, this silly twit is going to my alma mater. At least she’s hot.
Frank Nitti on August 28, 2007 at 12:40 PM
I still haven’t watched the original clip. I simply cannot watch clips of people being publicly humiliated. I cringe so much i dislocate my shoulder.
madne0 on August 28, 2007 at 1:16 PM
Easy. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Took me less then 3 seconds.
But then again, i’m something of a geography geek.
madne0 on August 28, 2007 at 1:18 PM
Worst Interview Ever
Kini on August 28, 2007 at 1:19 PM
I think it’s funny how peeved Matt Lauer became when Meredith Vieira, upon their finishing a segment about “Meerkat Manor” burst into gales of laughter because she thought Lauer looked like a Meerkat.
If anyone has this one video, I’d love to see it again.
for the record: Lauer and Meerkat. You be the judge.
wordwarp on August 28, 2007 at 1:27 PM
Wow…some of you folks are down right mean.
The girl is 18, 1st appearance on national t.v…who of you wouldn’t be nervous? Rehearsed or not on GMA I have to give her credit for coming out and being willing to show herself. She’s obviously not the air head she appeared to be on the you tube vid. And as some of you seem to be implying how she’s been coached for GMA, maybe her future is acting, uh. Came across quite polished to me. Cute girl with warm friendly personality.
I wish her the best.
oldernslower on August 28, 2007 at 1:32 PM
Very many years ago on a Miss USA pageant the contestant from California was asked the question ” Of what about the US are you most proud?”
There are so many things she could have said (obviously!!)…. Her answer? I have never forgotten this one since it was so hysterical…… “I am proud of the beaches of America.”
Too bad; up to that point she was way ahead of the other contestants. It was all downhill for her after that.
dbdiva on August 28, 2007 at 1:34 PM
While I don’t wish to appear the typical drooling male, I will say that she deserves some slack. I’ve been in situations where my noggin just locked up completely. This despite complete command over the material at the time … having literally wrote the program.
and well just look at her!
atadOFF on August 28, 2007 at 1:42 PM
The correct answer to the question was:
20%!? You’ve got to be joking! If the public schools are doing that bad of a job we need to cut funding. Immediately! If anyone but the government performed that poorly they’d be out of business.
For example, let’s say you’re a law firm and you take any kind of case that comes along, civil, criminal, it doesn’t matter. And let’s say one of every five of your clients winds up with the needle in their arm. How long would you be in business? That’s exactly the kind of service that public schools give to kids today.
jaime on August 28, 2007 at 1:51 PM
I like totally think that everybody like makes mistakes and stuff. I totally think that.
nottakingsides on August 28, 2007 at 2:08 PM
Whooops…my mistake on earlier post…she was on TTS, not GMA I never watch that crap so i don’t know…shoot me.
oldernslower on August 28, 2007 at 2:12 PM
Ok, lets all be glad that she will spend her life in Hollywood doing Graphic Design for TV and movies. At leaat she won’t be in Washington D.C. making spur of the moment decisions.
Helloyawl on August 28, 2007 at 2:23 PM
Sorry, chief. Since I’ve been to both Latvia and Lithuania I’m not likely to forget them (or neighboring Estonia) - and I’d ace your Middle Eastern countries quiz.
Now get me in sub-Saharan Africa or some of the island nations off southern Asia … and I’ll be confused, too.
But, see, while your snark of the snarkers is amusing in its hypocrisy, you completely miss the point: The Great Einstein of South Carolina didn’t confuse Uzbekistan with the Ukraine or Moldavia with Mozambique … instead she seems patently confused about her own country. And she’s apparently not alone.
I don’t expect the average Lithuanian to be able to point to Fargo or Sioux City on a map; I don’t even think they necessarily should be able find Canada (after all, who cares about Canada?)
But I’d think they could find their own damn country.
If that’s really to much to ask as a minimal level of geographic knowledge - finding your own homeland on a map - well, call me a snarker. I’m guilty.
Shorter version: the world is full of idiots. Most of whom apparently live in Estonia.
Professor Blather on August 28, 2007 at 2:50 PM
Is it just me or did her improved response sound about as dumb as the original?
Well my friends and I can use a map, so like, whatever
This girl is the poster child for why public education is a disaster.
drmanyee on August 28, 2007 at 2:52 PM
The best (only) answer!
But you’ll never be Miss America with that answer. Or even “The Miss U.S. America of the Iraq, as such, like …”
Professor Blather on August 28, 2007 at 2:53 PM
I can’t believe most of these comments. Your template (various angles) is shattered yet you guys keep running with it. What a disgrace.
Patriot33 on August 28, 2007 at 2:56 PM
Ugh, I feel bad for this girl… but I’m sorry, I believe she really is dumb. There no doubt was nervousness involved in the answer during the competition, but you can tell from this interview that she’s not a bright girl, and she’s always been hot so she never had to be.
Lol, You beat me to it, I’m not sure everyone is familiar with that, I’m going to find the vid and email AP and link to it here as well. Screw you Ann Curry!
RightWinged on August 28, 2007 at 3:20 PM
Let’s see how Ann Curry likes it!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=89aQ_F64NPs
RightWinged on August 28, 2007 at 3:23 PM
I like turtles! too.
Masscon on August 28, 2007 at 3:29 PM
The host should have just stopped her and said.. Wait! Listen to the question again. If she started rambling on again, they should have just taken out a map and said, why can’t YOU find it on the map. Nevermind everyone else, what exactly is your excuse?
Masscon on August 28, 2007 at 3:31 PM
Well, the real problem here is clearly: “the Iraq”.
whatthecrap on August 28, 2007 at 4:22 PM
With your eyes closed you’d be committing a felony.
Think about it: if the picture had gone out and we just heard her talking, we’d think we were listening to an imbecile. And we’d be right.
People judge women based on their looks. If a man looks like he spends four hours a day on hair care and defoliation, most people (with good reason) ASSUME that he’s an idiot unless he conclusively proves otherwise. With women, it’s the opposite way around.
logis on August 28, 2007 at 4:35 PM
She has a good explanation and seems perfectly normal to me. She got stage fright. Would happen to me too.
pat on August 28, 2007 at 6:50 PM
It would be nice if some contestant would stand up there and tell the truth. The reason most kids can’t find anything on maps anymore is because Geography is not a required class in school. Most are only exposed to “some” geography through social studies, but very little. My daughter is a junior and Geography has not been offered in her curriculum at all.
serpentineshel on August 28, 2007 at 7:09 PM
You’re kidding. She’s functionally retarded.
Jaibones on August 28, 2007 at 9:35 PM
She’s still a f**king airhead. GMA you are as f**ked up as she is. the Lefties glorifing stupidity. Oh yeah.
auspatriotman on August 29, 2007 at 12:43 AM
I like the beaches!
JNC1991 on August 29, 2007 at 1:27 AM
Not sure where you’re from serpentine, but all students here in TX are required to take a semester of geography in high school. It was that way over 20 years ago when I took it, and it’s still that way today.
I am apalled that so many people are unfamiliar with maps. All 4 of my children could point to the US on a map or globe by the time they began 1st grade. Not only that, but they could find our state and point to the general vicinity of our town.
SunnyBrook on August 29, 2007 at 3:33 AM