I was surprised to come across a story on Maine Web Report talking about a controversy between MPBN (Maine Public Broadcasting Network) and a long-running DJ called The humble Farmer. The humble Farmer is a quirky show with 30s and 40s jazz and big band music with occasional dry-witted humorous stories that comment on the state of affairs of our times in a classic “Mainah” style.

Well, it seems MPBN is setting an ultimatum with the humble Farmer after some more objectionable political opines went out on the air. The problem with stating your opinion, I guess, is that it may be misconstrued as the station’s opinion despite the fact that the opinion is wrapped in humor. And as we all know, MPBN, and all of public radio, is entirely politically neutral.

I don’t want to get too much into the specifics, as I’m not a journalist and have to take this story at face value, but I’ve long been lukewarm as to the operation of so-called “public” radio as it’s mostly a pipeline for national programming, classical music, and a whole lot of literati banter. The network does anything but reflect the diversity and local culture, and this attack, however well-warranted, against one of their few shows that features true local flavor, is unfortunate.

I guess we shouldn’t expect a station that takes government bucks to welcome lively political opinions, though the other question raised is why the national political programming from NPR seems to be subjected to a different set of standards (as they have plenty of political humor, much of it at Bush’s expense). I also wonder why an organization that receives over 75% of its revenue from local listeners has such a small amount of local programming. Does all of Maine really donate to MPBN so they can listen to another edition of Car Talk?

With on-demand programming growing in versatility, radio remaining and increasingly becoming expensive, and an increase in the number of NPR products available on satellite radio, I begin to wonder what the future of our rather sad public media is.

Hey, it’s a super long shot, but check it out — several public radio stations have gotten together to search for a host for a prospective public radio show.  It sounds a little too “American Idol” for me, but why not give it a shot?  Who knows, maybe someone will be inspired to hear some stories…

It’s very rare that you have anything resembling stardom in radio, and Ira Glass from This American Life is one of that select number. His nationally syndicated, genre-busting series of edgy stories from the ranks of ordinary Americans has transcended the definition of public radio, and the following is strong enough for there to be a kids movie based on one story premise and a new Showtime series adapting the show into television. The promotional tour, “What I Learned from Television,” came as close as Boston and this audio enthusiast was not going to miss it.

So how do you add video to an audio endeavor without destroying it? This was pretty much at the heart of the live show and an issue Ira still obviously struggles with, though his clear enthuasism for his work and this experiment is contagious. The event itself took place in Boston’s Opera House, a beautiful, ornately adorned building with echoes of European cathedrals and classical theaters — a setting more “high art” than edgy. Boston’s literati was in full force, with a collegiate crowd sporting Harvard blazers, gray-haired poetry professors, 20-something socialites, and a stunning variety of well dressed people in between.

The format of the live show was the same as any of Ira’s regular shows, with a special “act” exclusively for us at the live show. The theme of the night, “What I Learned from Television,” was supported by a cast of TAL regulars, including Sarah Vowell, Jonathan Goldstein, and Dan Savage.

Sarah Vowell started by deconstructing the use of pilgrims and Thanksgiving in television. While her nasally voice might turn off some, it’s unique hers and she delivers her writing with a bone dry wit that is electrifying, grim and terrible. Who knew that there was a short-lived series that made fun of the whole premise of Thanksgiving? We’ve all seen the Indians and turkeys, but maybe not thought too hard about this societal construct. There followed a gut-laughing treatise of the awkward friendship of Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble, and a closing narrative of the portrayals of homo and heterosexual relationships on the boob tube.  All readers were solid, though not the back-and-forth explorational interviews that make the radio show so compelling.
Between acts Ira stopped in for some editorializing and commentary on the television program. He was neither embarassed to admit his love for the OC or his esteem for modern television writing. Quite honestly, this is what we came for, and Ira delivered with class, wit, and measured levels of self-deprecating humor. The Showtime show looks great, and the candid conversation between Glass and director Chris Wilcha revealed some interesting perspectives on one of my favorite subjects, the artistic difference of audio and video+audio. I don’t really want to give anything away, but the show has a slight surrealist edge that lends itself well to the unbearably real stories This American Life is so famous for (check out the trailer for a taste).

Tied together with a live band (Mates of State) that fit the mood appropriately, “What I Learned from Television” was a great way to spend an evening with ample parts humor, artistic discussion, and social commentary. Though I still don’t own a TV, nor would I ever pay for cable, I’m excited for the Showtime efforts and hope the show makes it onto YouTube!

Well, it’s come down to this — Coke has finally bought out Pepsi.  That is, two major players with virtually the same product have decided that consolidation is really best for everyone! (Sirius and XM to Merge).  While I feel somewhat bad about the fact that they can’t make any money, maybe they should think about offering more diverse and user-driven programming choices rather than a semi-less annoying version of FM.

I was actually just sitting on the fence about buying an XM radio — solely for Sonic Theater.  Now I’m not so sure.  Our fate, as media listeners, falls now in the hands of the FCC.  May God have mercy on all of us.