Americans: Dumb & Dumber

Yet another poll confirms that Americans are more interested in contemporary culture than in classical literature or current events. In other words, we're a bunch of dumb bunnies.

The producers behind Gold Rush, an upcoming interactive, pop culture-themed reality TV competition, commissioned the Zogby poll to gauge the U.S. public's knowledge of pop culture.

The poll found that:

77 per cent of Americans can name at least two of the dwarfs from the fairy tale Snow White, but only about 24 per cent can name two U.S. Supreme Court justices.

57 per cent know that English writer J.K. Rowling's fictional boy wizard is named Harry Potter, while only 50 per cent can name U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair.

73 per cent can name the Three Stooges (Larry, Curly and Moe), but only 42 per cent could name the three branches of the U.S. government (judicial, executive and legislative).

And my favorite:

60 per cent of respondents knew Homer Simpson's son is named Bart, but only 21 per cent could name one of the ancient Greek poet Homer's epics (The Iliad and The Odyssey).

For more on the poll, click here.