Weekend Radio

Regardless of the plans for the weekend, which are ALWAYS varied and hectic, the radio is tuned to our local NPR affilitate.

Saturday we simply cannot miss Car Talk. Tom and Ray Magliozzi are a hoot, and surprisingly, or at least, contrary to their self-deprecatory delivery, we always learn something. We never don't laugh!!! If you don't listen yet, give it a try. It's well worth it.

The other gem on Saturdays is The Michael Feldman Show. Regional miscellanea, random trivia, Wisconsin references; it's like radio from before FM hit the big time. Very personable and mellow and family-friendly.

There's some other stuff on Saturday afternoon that kinda blends into the background of the clatter of daily chores and occassionally warrants a "Hey! Turn off the vaccuum cleaner, I was listening to that!". No entire show elicits the devotion of the two previously mentioned.

Sunday morning and afternoon, I curl up with very quiet projects as close to the radio as I can. There is a series of cleverly outstanding programming that, if other plans come up, I am gently disappointed to miss.

First is Studio 360, wonderful overview of arts -- full spectrum arts. Including comic books. I have been made aware lately of one series and one tpb (trade paperback, or "graphic novel" to those who aren't regular haunts of their local comic book shop), thanks to this fantastic show.

Following that is This American Life. Great storytelling. Iconic radio voices. Just go listen. They podcast EVERYTHING.

Then, in one hour there are two half-hour game shows. The first is the American-produced Says You! which is lively and full of punny banter. You will groan in pain, you will laugh til it hurts, you will learn a new word you never knew you needed desperately to know. Contrasting perfectly is a different temperature of banter, the British game show My Word. As the title reveals, it's another word game, and your brain will grow with each puzzle. The end of the game pits two contestants against each other in a story telling contest, each endeavoring to explain (intentionally hillariously WRONGLY) the origins of a well-known phrase. Fun.

The next hour is Le Show, one of Harry Shearer's latest vehicles. I love it. My favorite segment is The Apologies of the Week, apparently copyrighted, so don't copy it! It's usually quite lengthy, and full of good examples of how NOT to apologize. Oh, and what not to do, too, but that's not as entertaining.

But my favorite radio thing on Sunday comes at 2:00. Wait Wait Don't Tell Me is a news recap sent through a very thick humor filter. It's another game show, featuring a panel of comedians and humor writers and other very clever folk, and if you've been keeping up with the news the previous week, the answers are generally easy. -Ish. Easy-ish. Contestants win Carl Kassel's voice on their answering machine. What news junkie wouldn't covet that??

This is what my ears do every weekend, or what they wish to do while we're doing other things. I'm an NPR geek. There's no cure.