From Nanook Of The North through Roger And Me, documentaries have helpfully unveiled corners of the world and moments in time previously unseen by the general public. The 1979 documentary Carrott Gets Rowdie!, starring British TV personality Jasper Carrott (not his real name), immediately announces itself as a valuable conduit of information in this tradition. "Okay, who's ever heard of Tampa Bay?," Carrott asks at the film's outset. "Well, it's been described as 'Liverpool with Palm Trees,' because, like Liverpool, this town is bonkers about soccer." To prove his point, Carrott, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Eric Idle after a few too many nights at the pub, hits the streets and shopping malls of Tampa, encountering fans who range from indifferent to moderately enthusiastic. After taking in the craziness of an American fast-food drive-through, Carrott decides to get a closer look at the operation of the Tampa Bay Rowdies. A session spent horsing around with the team is soon followed by a side trip to a rehearsal of the Wowdies, the Rowdies' scantily clad cheerleading squad. Never one to overlook an opportunity to leer suggestively, Carrott agrees to perform a routine with the Wowdies at a match pitting the Rowdies against their hated rivals, the Strikers of Boston, better known in some circles as "Sheffield With Crab Cakes." In the intervening time, Carrott brings his trademark can-you-believe-this approach to other aspects of Rowdies-style soccer, displaying astonishment over such outrageous marketing ideas as commercials promoting the team at the local McDonald's. His routine performed and the Strikers defeated, Carrott ultimately leaves behind the crazy wonderland of Tampa Bay, presumably to prepare such future documentaries as Carrott Gets Metric!
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