I like PBS. I've never given any money, but I often watch it. We watch our local channel - WTTW - for a variety of things, particularly children's programs. They also have a really cool local news show called Chicago Tonight, which has some great in-depth interviews and features and is of more use than the "Eyewitness/Action/Weather on the 9s" local stuff. And I really liked Colonial House, not just because I think Charles Hambrick-Stowe is the bomb.
But I also wonder if we really need PBS. Ideally, they would provide cultural and news programming that is valuable, but that the market otherwise won't provide. Often this works - I think Chicago Tonight and probably Colonial House are good examples. The kids stuff isn't anymore, not with the amount of advertising, I mean 'sponsorships,' and the existence of Noggin. The History Channel, A & E, and Home and Garden, to name a few, are largely filling in the space once dominated by PBS.
This brings me to my recent questioning of tax funded television - its gone low brow. On Thursday night, I turned on the television while folding some clothes and PBS came on. It's pledge week (a reason to watch less), when they often show videos of various concerts. Thursday it was PHIL COLLINS. Don't get me wrong, this isn't about criticizing Phil Collins - on what grounds would I do that?? I love Sussudio as much (or more??) as the next guy. I am, after all, a child of the 1980s. And so I left it on to enjoy the concert, at least until the played "In the Air Tonight," which mercifully was the next song. And yes, Phil got behind the drums at the crucial point. And no, he didn't discuss the songs purported origins - you can get that here. But the concert was from 1997 - a seven year old concert during pledge week? Can't they do better than that?
So the question - it seems like Phil Collins, despite his considerable talents, fills a cultural niche that has already been filled - for like twenty-five years, by the likes of MTV and VH-1, or perhaps more appropriately VH-1 Classic.
A tax supported Behind the Music. Alas, the clothes were finished, he had played my favorite song, and I left my credit card in my wallet.
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