Watching PBS, which these days apparently stands for “Pander Broadcasting System.” These “specials” they run during begging week now are about as public-television-worthy as the Star Wars Holiday Special.? I’d better not say that too loudly:? they’ll be running that one next time if I’m not careful!
Right now it’s Sarah Brightman singing (what else?) music of Andrew Lloyd-Webber.? I used to think he was the greatest thing since sliced bread.? Like about 20 years ago I thought that.? Evita was actually quite good.? So was Cats (BTW since it was a lavish Broadway musical, why wasn’t it called Cats! ?).?? After that he just started recycling.
Now I’m wondering why I’m watching this.? Remember back when PBS had Seiji Ozawa and the Boston Symphony?? The other night they had the Osmonds.? 1978:? Seiji Ozawa.? 2008:? Osmonds.? That is not progress.
This is the way the world ends, not with a bang, but a whimper.
12 responses so far ↓
1 TimmyRalph // Mar 18, 2008 at 2:32
Rev, Your post gives me an idea for a PBS show…TS Eliott beat poetry style. That would certainly be better than the Osmonds!
2 RevJATB // Mar 18, 2008 at 7:35
Now I’d watch that! I might even phone in a pledge for that. As long as they let me play the bongos.
3 GuessWho // Mar 18, 2008 at 13:30
EVERY time I pass over PBS with the clicker, they’re running Little Anthony and the Imperials on that doo whop special. Little Anthony is wearing the same color of orange I had for a suit from Parisian in the mid 1970s!
Oh well, Little Anthony is better than Gerard Schwarz has been since about 1990!
4 RevJATB // Mar 18, 2008 at 14:13
OK Guess Who, I think I know who you are now.
Were you a student of Uncle Don at SU?
And had you been a student of Mrs. Ranelli before that?
5 cancerman // Mar 18, 2008 at 14:45
How about Andrew Lloyd Weber presents the Osmonds singing TS Eliott?
6 Mark Carpenter // Mar 18, 2008 at 14:57
I remember that Alabama PBS would always show LIVE from the Grand Ole Opry when they were trying to grab some cash.
7 RevJATB // Mar 18, 2008 at 16:32
Cancerman, only if they sent out PBS Barf Bags as premiums with every pledge.
8 cancerman // Mar 18, 2008 at 16:45
Would they be black and white with our local staion’s logo, or would they come in cool colors perhaps with Karl Kassel’s picture on it?
9 GuessWho // Mar 18, 2008 at 18:39
RevJATB, yes, I think you’ve got it. You win both showcases!
I was Googling a musical topic lately and came upon your church music writings, then stumbled on to your blog thinking, “I know that guy!”
We’ll have to catch up properly (I’ll email you privately sometime). In the meantime, I’ll continue to make the choice snarky comment with guaranteed typos and missspelings.
Is it “doo wop” or “doo whop”? Whop me over the head with a dictionary.
10 RevJATB // Mar 18, 2008 at 18:42
I’ve seen “doo wop” and even occasionally “doo wopp,” but I guess it depends what sounds you actually make when you sing that type of thing.
Oh and aren’t those doo wop specials embarrassing for all concerned?
11 GuessWho // Mar 18, 2008 at 19:05
Those doo wop groups are like grandfather’s hammer (that’s had five heads and seven handles, but is still the same hammer).
I cringe when a group’s intro on PBS includes the phrase, “and the surviving members of the _____.”
12 RevJATB // Mar 18, 2008 at 20:16
LOL! “We’ve revived the Platters just long enough for them to sing ‘Twilight Time’ for you once more. But please don’t applaud too loudly. We don’t want to shock them.”
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