Natasha Henstridge, the Newfoundland-born actor, decided to do what she called a Screech-In during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien the other night. You can see the clip below.[UPDATE: I've been informed this is a six-year-old clip, which makes sense; Henstridge is promoting a show that went off the air in 2004. See the comments below.]
I groan whenever I encounter a Screech-In, and actively avoid them. I have to say I was caught off guard by Henstridge's explanations.
In the clip, you'll see her define Screech first as "moonshine," although she later calls it rum. (If you look closely, it looks like the dark rum she describes has been replaced by something clear. Like water. Especially when you see O'Brien ham it up and reach for the bottle.)
Then there's explanation of when Screech-Ins occur.
"In Newfoundland, we celebrate a little differently," she said, adding that Screech-Ins happen "when you have babies, or you get married."
Um ... what??
Here's a thought. A Screech-in, in which unsuspecting tourists are told this is a fine tradition (but aren't told that it was invented as a marketing ploy, dates back only to the Seventies, and is as widely loathed as it is admired), might just as well adopt Natasha Henstridge's proposed new definitions. They are, after all, just as authentic as what the NLC once came up with, and as genuine as the codswallop that the downtown bars get on with to this day.
"the other night"? this happened in 2003..the youtube clip is a recording of a rerun of Conan's old show.
Posted by: chuckler | Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 16:27
Good catch. A faulty assumption on my part- and I should have looked up the show that Henstridge was promoting. She Spies went off the air in 2004.
Will update the post above.
Posted by: John Gushue | Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 16:39
I agree, it has to be water. And as much as I abhor this contrived "tradition," I couldn't help laughing at Conan.
Posted by: Geoff Meeker | Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 19:42
Saw this for the first time the other night, and blogged about it as well. I questioned her backstory for the Screech In as well.
Besides having confirmation that no one has heard of NFLDers using the screech in on each or for celebration, I was really surprised to see how many of us dislike the tradition to begin with.
It is has never really bothered me to be honest, I usually have a pretty good laugh watching people get done. Of course, there is usually a fair amount of liquor involved...
Posted by: Nadine | Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 20:12
I'm surprised she considers herself a Newfoundlander where she moved away at a young age. Glad she keeps true to her roots and heritage and since when do you screech someone in off the island? I couldn't see the label to see if the bottle at least was a screech bottle. We screeched in my brother in law as his parents as my nephew was baptized in Newfoundland and he and his folks are from Nova Scotia. Only reason it was done was they were visiting Newfoundland nothing to do with celebrating a baptism.
Posted by: Josh | Sunday, February 13, 2011 at 13:11
Were he still on The Tonight Show, I’d say all HG101 readers should bombard NBC with emails to get this featured on there.
Posted by: conan ios | Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 23:33