Don't Laugh...

It's the red, horizontal progress bar that likely provokes the laughter for the audience. As it pings back and forth over the first syllable of "Venice," only the stout of heart (or humorless, or those lacking a sufficiently wide cruel streak) suppress chortles. As for the others (the contestants), I can relate. I watched hillbillies mangle Russian for three freakin' years, and although ridicule was discouraged, it nonetheless occurred...