Glass: ‘Car Talk’ reruns will stifle innovation at NPR | Poynter.

Glass: ‘Car Talk’ reruns will stifle innovation at NPR | Poynter.

There's a debate going on between Ira Glass and Eric Nuzum, NPR's VP of programming.
For program directors who are paying attention, this issue will resolve itself. I'm assuming that, in time, sagging ratings will mean that programmers will move CarTalk to other, less valuable time slots.

When Garrison Keillor "retired" about 20 years ago, the replacement show and repeats (I think there were repeats) did not fare as well. Neither did the new show Garrison created. Ratings sagged. When the audience numbers diminish, so do the fundraising numbers. Something needed to be done. Something was done. Garrison brought back A Prairie Home Companion.

That is not likely to happen this time.

Programmers and content creators have some time to find (or create) a replacement. Just don't wait forever.

Fact Checking David Sedaris

After the Mike Daisey controversy, some in the media are questioning if it is appropriate for NPR and This American Life to air segments by humorist David Sedaris. An article in the Washington Post's Lifestyle section wonders if the segments by Sedaris are appropriate for news programming? You can read the article  here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/david-sedariss-exaggerations-in-memoirs-npr-nonfiction-program-raise-questions/2012/05/13/gIQAm9QONU_story_1.html

I've always understood that Sedaris was telling stories based on events in his life embellished to add humor but, the issue is being seriously considered.

This American Host Ira Glass says there are three courses of action being considered. "Fact-checking each of Sedaris’ stories to ensure their accuracy, labeling them to alert the audience that the stories contain “exaggerations” or doing nothing."


Is this examination taking this issue too far? 

Ira Glass Film at Sundance

Sleepwalk With Me was produced by Ira Glass (This American Life) and based on writer-director-star Mike Birbiglia’s harrowing tale of life as a not-so-good, but-getting-better comedian. 


Entertainment Weekly is calling "Sleepwalk with Me" bright spot of the Sundance Festival.


Variety says, "Appealing enough to launch Birbiglia in a big way, this warm, perceptive debut should win over auds, but loses some of the specificity that made his one-man show so personal."


And, according to a Sundance Exclusive clip shared by the Boise Weekly, Glass is a little befuddled by the whole process. Glass asks at the end of the video is anybody is going to see it. So far...6,822 views. It was added to YouTube January 18th.


Does this mean Ira Glass is going to have 'People?'