I really want to read that. TAL has lost favor lately with me because they've developed certain story-telling techniques and then proceeded to drill them into the ground. Plus it really seems to

What's white kuto precious, what's a white kuto.

And on another note, does anyone else. Detest the. Halting way Ira. Speaks?

It seems to me that they patch together mostly repeats of former stories, in different groupings, anymore. Maybe something to do with putting their energy into the TV show (which I can't get).

I agree with drezdn; after listening to the show for yen years or so, the methods really start to sound stale.

I've only heard TAL a couple of times, but I tell you one NPR show that I've reached the breaking point with, and that's "Fresh Air."

I've never thought Terry Gross was a great interviewer, but she drove me NUTS yesterday during her interview with Wes Anderson and Jason Schwartzman. She's gotten where she doesn't ask questions, she just directs the guest to "talk about" the next subject on her list.

"Talk a little bit about what it was like working on a train." "Talk about what it was like starring in Rushmore at the age of 17." "Talk about your relationship with Owen Wilson."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know why, but that drives me up the freakin' WALL. If I was the guest, I'd say, "Well, what do you want to know?" every time she did that, and force her to come up with an actual question. It's lazy, lazy interviewing.

An interview is supposed to be a conversation, not directing your guest to perform a list of tricks. She's always done that to some extent, but it seems like she's gotten MUCH worse lately.

That guy who fills in for her sometimes (damn, I forget his name) is actually a much better interviewer than she is.

TAL might be past their golden period, but they can still put out good radio. They had an apologia on their web site about having made fewer radio programs recently due to the TV show, and promising that next 'season' they'll better manage resources. It is what it is, and it's good at what it is, and I'm glad it's not the only radio program.

Terry Gross has annoyed me for a long time - she seems to be able to suck the joy out of anything put in front of her. I've actually enjoyed the show more in the last year or so, I wonder if that's due to the change in questioning you noted, or the prevalence of the guest host (Dave Davies?).

Finally, Radio Lab is a great new program, although since it was plugged on TAL maybe that's old news.

I have always hated This American Life. I think I'm one of three people in the NPR-listening world that do. MonkeyButter: part of my hate for the show is the way Ira Glass talks.

Ack, I forgot to finish my comment. I really think TAL has started to develop a narrower view of what life in America is like, reflecting everything through an upper-middle class lens.

Finally, the other problem is Glass's need to turn everything into something with deeper meaning.

Obligatory onion link.

Monkeybutter:

Thank you for your input. We have noted your concerns, and will be making some staffing changes at This American Life. Beginning next week, This American Life will be hosted by William Shatner. We value our listners and look forward to continuing this relationship.

Thank you,
The Managment
National Public Radio

The Atlantic hates TAL.

Terry Gross has always gotten on my nerves, most recently when she interviewed David Lynch and Viggo Mortensen and went on, and on, and on about Viggo's nakedness in Lynch's film.

In fact when they were announcing Fresh Air yesterday with Wes Anderson my boyfriend joked that she was going to ask "But how do you feel about Viggo Mortensen's recent nudity? Do you wish he'd be naked in your film? Isn't it so daring?"

But then, I always forgive her because of what that asshole Gene Simmons did to her however many years ago. I'd never know what a truly utterly disgusting...just ugh that man is if I'd not heard that.

What'd he do? I thought he just said something to her.

Terry Gross and Charlie Rose drive me crazy, because they're both absolutely dreadful interviewers who somehow get the most amazing guests. It's very conflicting: "Oh boy! An hour long conversation with Ken Finkleman! Oh no! It's Charlie Rose on the other end!"

Does anyone have an mp3 of the Gene Simmons Fresh Air interview? I've heard about it for years but I've never actually heard it.

Gene Simmons transcript.

(On some horrible level, he reminds me of jonmc).

Kuto is Tagalog for louse(LB is 1/4 Filipina)....my copy of OHD is packed away, but the story is something one the order of how she spent time with her relatives in the Philippines as a kid; they asked her if white people had white lice and asked her to send one or a picture if she ever found it. Years later she's involved with IG, who is horrible to her (emotionally abusive). At the time she's teaching at a school which has an outbreak of lice and passes it on to him. When they break up, she sends a letter to her relatives along with a picture of IG. "Remember how you wanted to see a white kuto?" (sic).

I don't listen to NPR as much as I did when I had a car (still do when I travel), but I loathe Ruth Seymour's whiny begging on KCRW during pledge drives.

Finally, vindication for never liking KISS...except for maybe strutter (just because it's fun to play on guitar hero.)