Television may be a vast wasteland, but a few people, like Bill Moyers, believe TV should tackle big ideas. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, Television that matters. Also, life without TV: what it was like to grow up in South Africa, which banned television until the mid-'70s. And the game-show craze.
Robert Thompson teaches at Syracuse and is a fan of TV game shows. He tells Jim Fleming what makes "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" and its ilk different from the game shows of the 1950's, and why the new crop of game shows is so popular. He says they're democratic and family-friendly.SEGMENT 2:
Bill Moyers tells Steve Paulson why television can and should tackle big ideas. He says some of his hits were great radio, but that he finds human faces to be exciting when they reflect someone communicating an important idea. Moyers has won more than 30 Emmy Awards and has produced spin-off books including "Genesis" and "Healing the Mind." Also, Wisconsin Public Television producer Carol Larson tells Judith Strasser about her six month stint teaching journalists in the former Soviet Union. She says broadcasters there have no experience of reporting with fairness, accuracy and balance because asking too many questions can get them killed.SEGMENT 3:
Glenn Bubenheimer tells Jim Fleming about the vintage television sets in his basement. There are more than 200 of them! Also, Rob Nixon talks with Steve Paulson about growing up without television in his native South Africa, and how he bridged the communication gap with his students when he first came to the United States.Cassette copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 00-01-30-A.
flemingj@wpr.org
Page Design and Management by Jim Fleming at Wisconsin Public Radio.
© Copyright 2000 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.