Comments on: The Best New Program on Public Radio?

By: daisy

daisy — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:24:57 +0000

That is true Noel, I recently listened to an older TAL and the music was painfully overwrought, hitting the listener over the head. I caught this on Saturday, though I didn’t know what I was listening to. I love story shows, and there are plenty of stories to tell out there. I was really gripped by the story by Mohammed Baghdadi, found myself laughing out loud and gripping the wheel tensely alternating (I was driving).
Anyways, my two cents, give it some time.

By: Noel Black

Noel Black — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:32:13 +0000

One thing that should be pointed out, in all fairness, is how terrible This American Life was when it started out. Shows like this often evolve as they refine their focus, get attention, get better pitches from producers, etc. So, from my perspective, it’s a pretty great show out of the gates. And, of course, radio (like TV) has all kinds of tropes and cliches that are, to some extent, unavoidable. The leading questions, like any other elements that seem forced or fabricated, well… that’s just show business, even if it is public radio. And yeah, the show’s theme is pretty broad and loose. Don’t want to paint yourself into a corner too soon.

Keep in mind that this is the pilot. That’s my opinion.

By: Mary H

Mary H — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:58:26 +0000

Interesting opening song. Too long get on with the story, or tell me why it fits. Why play another one after it? Is this a music show? The music between pieces was ok.
Great stories. Good to have one long one with shorts in between.
Good concept. Probably could make more of a point in the stories or interviews how this one qualifies as a snap judgement.
I like story shows. Story Corps, TAL, this one. I’ll definitely tune in, and recommend to others.

By: andrew

andrew — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:19:48 +0000

Quite far from it.

“[i]t focuses more on stories about the moments when people are forced to make decisions (or not) that will change their lives irrevocably.” OK, does it focus “more” on this, or exclusively on this? In either case, the phrasing is overly verbose and confusing to the listening, especially when they have to repeat it five times an hour to remind the listener what exactly it is that distinguishes them from TAL. Moreover, my guess is that they’ll run out of content that fits this narrow scope sooner than they’re imagining. TAL has a huge scope, and they’ve still been in repeats for three shows in the last month…

These facts aside, the show was OK. The music was really good, but in the course of dude’s awkward interviews I couldn’t help but be reminded of the Kasper Hauser TAL parodies from a few years ago. Leading question after leading question, as if they didn’t expect the guests to go anywhere interesting on their own.

So yeah, it was OK, and very well might deserve a spot in your lineup. But “the best new program on public radio?” Give us a break…