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The Observer
May 23, 1999
SECTION: The Observer Life Page; Pg. 70
LENGTH: 1547 words
HEADLINE: Life support;
Louis Theroux, the host of television's 'Weird Weekends', and his brother, novelist Marcel, share a passion for kick boxing and a need to distinguish themselves from their controversial father, Paul
BYLINE: INTERVIEW STEPHANIE DENNISON
BODY:
Louis Theroux I lived in New York until a year ago and, since I've moved back to London, Marcel and I spend a lot of time together. We go to see movies, hang out with friends, go out drinking and do kick boxing at the All Stars Gym on the Harrow Road. There is a good mix of classes, races and physical types at the gym, and I represent the lower end of the spectrum. I am about the puniest guy there.
Marcel and I were always close in that we could feel different together. I think our parents were both quite strict, and we were aware that our family was slightly different from others. We started off in the state-school system, but we used to go on holidays abroad, which was a little different. Our mum (Anne) is a socialist, but we changed to a private school where all the other parents voted Tory. Our dad would be away for three months, or six months, and then he would be back for six months, so we'd see him a lot because he'd be working at home.
Marcel and I are quite similar in many ways there is a cross -fertilisation of ideas. I know I have to say I love his novels, but I honestly do. It's very hard to find your audience and judge things objectively, so when I am too close to a project, Marcel is an excellent pair of eyes. If I show him some tapes for Weird Weekend, or if he reacts to something that's aired, then I listen. Having been a television reporter and cameraman, he has a television-maker's perspective as well. People often misunderstand the show as America-bashing, whereas to me it's not bashing anything, let alone America. Like me, Marcel is half-American and he's lived there, so he has that sensitivity, too. He's the ideal viewer. My dad's never written a travel book about America, and I think that's why I was attracted to those subjects for my programme. I like doing things that don't overlap with Dad's so I have my own territory. Dad can colonise your project if you're not careful.
I would make a show about Britain but I don't know if people would watch it.
I think the British are much more comfortable laughing at Americans than they are at themselves. We'll probably try a few British themes for the specials and see how they go. We have talked about making a television show together, maybe Marcel behind the camera. I think it's all a double-edged sword, though. When a series is on, people recognise me in the street. The loss of privacy is something to be endured.
Marcel Theroux We have a virtual family, where we e-mail each other all the time a cyber version of the family that gets together for a roast on Sunday. We see Mum all the time, as she's in London. I see Dad in the States about once a year, but am in touch with him often. We are the only children, so Louis and I have been quite close. But we did squabble a lot when we were small. I used to be the sergeant major and he was my private, and I would march him around and make him do stuff. But he had the younger brother's advantage of being the court jester. As a family, we moved around a lot. We got uprooted every year and went to see Dad's family near Boston. That was strangely discombobulating.
Our Dad was away a lot. Dad being off in exotic places annoyed me a little. It made London seem a bit unglamorous. We didn't feel neglected, because when he was around, he was tremendous fun. I've gone into the family business in a way, so he can help, but Louis is the reader of most resource, and it's only way down the line that I'll show something to Dad. I'm allergic to advice from him. Louis is perceptive. It's difficult to take criticism from anyone, but I trust his judgment.
I am a big fan of his show. I think it's really funny, and I'm also quite envious. But I find it stressful watching him trying to hold it together on camera and keep his subjects sweet and talking.
Being Paul Theroux's son is just my bag. I've always been slightly aware of it. The thing is not to be crippled by it. Those are his books, these are mine. Travel does interest me, but I think it would be very difficult because he has been such an influence in the history of the genre. Dad knew he would run into controversy with Sir Vidia's Shadow (about his friendship with VS Naipaul), but he really didn't care.
Louis and I have very frank discussions about our parents that's one way you survive growing up in a complicated family. Mum has written a book about the breakdown of their marriage, but she doesn't want to rush into publishing it.
I think she earned the right to this book from making cameo appearances in Dad's books. On the other hand, I have a slight ambivalence about it because it is dirty laundry. Dad has read it. I think he quite liked it. He's a generous critic. But he was upset when he read it