I have to wonder if you have to be not just an anthropologist but a brown-skinned (or black, or anything off-white) one to see this as less-than-funny and in fact downright offensive?

You don’t have to be an anthropologist at all to see essentializing as downright Schutzstaffel.

The fact that Oliver is the only ‘reporter’ I have seen in a shebeen speaks volumes despite the production.

I quite liked the shot of him ducking in through the fence. But I would guess that South African bureaucracy and business interests have to be pretty pleased with the world media up to this point. So far the country has come across as possessing a modern, well-administered infrastructure and security forces capable of ensuring the safety of visiting foreigners. That has to look pretty nice to potential investors overseas. And isn’t that the through line of this and the next World Cup as well as the previous Summer Olympics?

(It is not my intention to come across as a complete cynic about the event. As someone who really enjoys sports—and just finished watching a wonderful match between the ROK and Uruguay!—I appreciated Oliver’s piece in every way. He managed to point out both the hilarity that is the notion that the Saints winning the Super Bowl somehow makes up for Katrina as well as the fact that there is authentic joy in sport. You so rarely see someone able to articulate an honest critique and a sincere appreciation in the same breath.)