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May 16th, 2008
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Show looks for 'greatest Czech'

But fictional character tops polls in TV popularity contest

Candidates for the 'greatest' Czech include writers, rulers -- even fictional characters.
By Matt Reynolds
 Staff Writer, The Prague Post
Jan. 27, 2005


Jara Cimrman helped design the Eiffel Tower and rewrite a Chekhov novel — but only in the world of make-believe.

Nevertheless, the Vienna-born traveler and musician may win a Czech Television (CT) contest called the "Greatest Czech of All Time."

Two weeks into the voting, which began Jan. 1, Cimrman was leading the pack — which includes historical worthies such as St. Wenceslas and Franz Kafka.

"We'd like to stress that although viewers can vote for anyone," CT spokesman Martin Krafl said, "Cimrman can't win because he's not real."

Votes are cast by mail, Internet, and mobile- phone text messages. Eligible is "anyone who was born, lived or worked in the Czech Republic who made a significant contribution to society."

The contest is based on a British reality show that's been duplicated in five other countries. Whereas controversy arose in the Netherlands and South Africa — over Anne Frank's citizenship and the eligibility of Apartheid-era figures — Czechs have used the show to have a laugh.

"This wouldn't be happening if not for our history," said Marie Posmurova, a psychologist at Charles University's faculty of medicine. "We had communism, and before that, rule by the Germans. People are not happy with politicians and history, so they pick a fictitious character."

Cimrman first appeared in 1967, in the satirical play Act. His exploits in science, art and sports were chronicled in 11 other plays and three films (see related story, this page).

Posmurova said he embodied "the main quality of Czech humor, which is to make a joke out of a stressful situation, so it's easier to bear."

Also a front-runner, and also disqualified for being imaginary, is Svejk, the dimwitted World War I soldier who confounds his superiors with good intentions and painfully simple logic.

Balloting ends at the end of January. Each of the top 10 finalists will be the subject of a 40-minute documentary, to be shown in May. Czech TV promised to include Cimrman in its final show, June 11, when viewers choose the final pecking order.

Producers didn't get that far in South Africa, where apartheid-era leaders cracked the top 100 and the show was cancelled. In the Netherlands, the contest sparked debate over the citizenship of Anne Frank, who spoke and wrote in Dutch, but who officially was German.

Few entrepreneurs, soldiers

Here, 1950s Communist strongman Klement Gottwald is getting votes, CT's Web site says. Less controversial, but also polarizing vote-getters are President Vaclav Klaus, seen by many as arrogant, and Edvard Benes, who expelled ethnic Germans after World War II.
GREATEST CZECHS EVER

The top 10 greatest Czechs ever, according to a 2004 Mlada fronta Dnes poll:

• Charles IV
• Jan Amos Komensky
• Tomas Garrigue Masaryk
• Vaclav Havel
• Jan Hus
• Karel Capek
• Antonin Dvorak
• Premysl Otakar II
• Jan Zizka
• Jiri z Podebrad

Benes was named the 23rd "greatest personality of Czech history" in a poll last year by Mlada fronta Dnes. The paper asked readers to choose from a list of artists, politicians, kings and scientists. CT asks viewers to write their own nominees, which could mean more contemporary figures and musicians.

CT predicts pop stars and athletes will make up 20 percent of the top 100.

"We don't expect big success for entrepreneurs or soldiers, because that's not our national character," one of the show's creators said.

The station's directors are prepared to film documentaries on about 40 Czechs, ranging from singer Karel Gott to king Charles IV and tennis star Martina Navratilova.

In a surprise, hockey great Jaromir Jagr has not only failed to make the top 10, he isn't even leading among athletes.

In Canada, hockey player Wayne Gretzky placed 10th. No entertainers or athletes cracked Germany's top 10. Beatle John Lennon finished eighth in Britain.

Whoever wins, CT is expecting big ratings. In Britain, the show drew an average of 3 million viewers.

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Matt Reynolds can be reached at mreynolds@praguepost.com




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