ABSTRACT
In an installm ent of the 1994 summ er series TV Nation, Michael Moore sent
twentysomething and form er MTV icon Karen Duffy to investigate “North
Dakota: The Least Visited State.” The segment ironically defends the state’s
tourist industry by uncovering its significance for fellow Americans. At the
state capitol, Duffy is told that the first person inducted into the N orth
Dakota Hall o f Fame was Lawrence Welk, although the tour guide cannot
think of a single reason why he was chosen. In rural Strasburg, Duffy sees the
Welk Homestead, where its director cannot recall the name of any tune made
famous by the bandleader’s orchestra.
