Prairie Home Companion Returns

[Mikey Radio]

He's in complete denial yet willingly admits to all sorts of stuff that goes far beyond "mutual flirting" in an office, and the only lesson he's learned is never to talk to a female work colleague.

I'm not trying to make excuses for Keillor, and I've seen other instances where he's written things even to female staff at a book shop that definitely crossed the line. That said, in hearing him being interviewed it seems he may have found himself (at nearly 80 years old) in the same situation as a handful of other guys from that era who've been in the news for similar reasons - The types of jokes and humor and comments and even suggestive flirtations that may have once been commonplace in workplaces or on movie sets in "their" day, are no longer considered OK and in many cases simply aren't tolerated. It seems some of the guys from that era who've been caught up in the whole "me too" thing aren't only taken a bit by surprise, but are also sometimes outspoken about their lack of understanding of how/why things changed, and even a bit rebellious as Garrison seems to be.

In my case, I usually always get along well with nearly everyone I work with and I enjoy joking around (never in a flirtatious or sexually suggestive way) and I've definitely changed my outlook in the past 5 years or so. Funny posters I may have hung in my office at one time to get a chuckle from others would never see the light of day now as what was "funny" a decade ago may not be appropriate now. I find myself re-thinking quick comebacks or sarcastic comments now, when I used to let them fly, usually to lots of laughter from co-workers. Before making an honest compliment to a co-worker, I now find myself asking if it could be taken the wrong way or produce an awkward moment. I'm not saying having those types of reflections is a bad thing, but it's definitely "different" than it once was. For younger folks, it's more commonplace. For those of us in the middle, we have an easier time adjusting as I've described above. For some in Keillor's age bracket, they seem to have more difficulty understanding that things have changed, they don't "get" what the problem or the big deal is, and they have difficulty acting accordingly.

 

[Kelly A]

He was convicted in the court of public opinion

Keillor an ugly old scum bucket. Watched an interview with him on CBS Sunday morning just this morning. Completely unapologetic for his actions over the years, calling them "harmless flirtations". And yet, the E-mails to staff who worked under him, were highly inappropriate, crossing the line of a classic case of sexual harassment by any standard.

 

[Deleted User]

I read the transcript of the interview, he comes off as less than credible.

My comment about being tried in the court of public opinion was in response to a previous poster saying he was never charged or put on trial on any charges.

I will agree with him on one thing, don't get too friendly with people of the opposite sex at work

 

[DavidEduardo]

Keillor an ugly old scum bucket. Watched an interview with him on CBS Sunday morning just this morning. Completely unapologetic for his actions over the years, calling them "harmless flirtations". And yet, the E-mails to staff who worked under him, were highly inappropriate, crossing the line of a classic case of sexual harassment by any standard.

Probably due to my cultural background, I never found Keillor's shows to be engaging, interesting or entertaining. As you indicate, he came across as an aging, nasty man.

His communications filled with innuendo and inappropriate comments were way overboard. The standard for business communication should be whether the same remark would be appropriate in a letter to your bank about a home loan.

 

[Mikey Radio]

Probably due to my cultural background, I never found Keillor's shows to be engaging, interesting or entertaining.

You're most likely right. If you consider your background, your life experiences and the places you've lived, there was probably little that might make his show immediately relatable or enjoyable to you. But what can't be denied is that he did have millions that tuned in each week, appreciated the product he offered for 2 hours each Saturday evening, and most every live show he did was packed, regardless of whether it was at a large theater, auditorium or a county fair. I even heard him broadcast from Miami, FL once. That city probably didn't constitute what some would think of as his "core audience" but he still packed the place (I recall hearing that show specifically because when talking about the local area, he mentioned Calle Ocho and Little Havana. Being a gringo, he pronounced that street "Calie" rather than "kye-yay" to great laughter from the live audience). The other thing that can't be denied is that, for better or worse, once Garrison left the show, so did the audience and lots of NPR stations felt it.

As you indicate, he came across as an aging, nasty man.

So do at least a handful on this very website! Lol. Even when I first joined RD, the term "Old Curmudgeon" was tossed around, partially to rib those with the "get off my lawn" attitude, but others accepted it as a badge of honor!

 

[Doctor_Technical]

My take -- as a multi-decade PHC fan -- was that Thile was "thisclose" to pulling off a successful re-formatting/modernizing of the original PHC show into an A-grade music showcase, but still with humor and of course a similar live-performance feel. Covid's killing off the ability to have live music or even live audiences was the main factor in its death, but another little-known factor was that the show producers were asking for draconian Morning Edition and/or All Things Considered-level rights feeds from member stations, and as we say down here in Alabama, "that ain't right".

 

[Mikey Radio]

I'm not trying to make excuses for Keillor, and I've seen other instances where he's written things even to female staff at a book shop that definitely crossed the line. That said, in hearing him being interviewed it seems he may have found himself (at nearly 80 years old) in the same situation as a handful of other guys from that era who've been in the news for similar reasons - The types of jokes and humor and comments and even suggestive flirtations that may have once been commonplace in workplaces or on movie sets in "their" day, are no longer considered OK and in many cases simply aren't tolerated. It seems some of the guys from that era who've been caught up in the whole "me too" thing aren't only taken a bit by surprise, but are also sometimes outspoken about their lack of understanding of how/why things changed, and even a bit rebellious as Garrison seems to be.

I read a few articles over the weekend about this situation where Frank Langella was dismissed from the Netflix series where he was a lead actor:
https://deadline.com/2022/05/frank-...e-of-usher-netflix-series-details-1235029281/

His situation seems at least a bit like Garrison Keillor's. Langella, who's 84, feels he was just telling some jokes on the set to keep things lighthearted and jovial. He doesn't seem to understand what the big problem is and feels he was "cancelled". He himself posted articles refuting all the complaints from his time working on the series and is considering legal action to get his job back. Meanwhile, the cast tell of crass jokes he repeatedly told, and outbursts of unwritten lines he'd blurt out during rehearsals and read-throughs that may have been seen as humorous years back (though decidedly a bit crass) but in 2022 just seem out of place and caused numerous folks to complain about him. The executives tried to speak with him and tell him no more "jokes" no more outbursts, no more using sexual terminology in an attempt to be "funny" and no more innuendo with others at work, but he still didn't seem to understand or "get it". In the end, he was tossed from the series. The cast and crew claim there was a feeling of relief and a bit of stress was lifted.

 

[TheBigA]

His situation seems at least a bit like Garrison Keillor's. Langella, who's 84, feels he was just telling some jokes on the set to keep things lighthearted and jovial. He doesn't seem to understand what the big problem is and feels he was "cancelled".

I'm getting to a point where it's obviously a generational thing. Some people may have had that crazy uncle who said things just a little off color, and people would laugh and say, 'Oh there's Uncle Fred again.' In today's world, some people take offense and complain. But it hasn't passed my notice that almost all of these people are boomers over the age of 65. They grew up in a very different world. Just like poor old uncle Fred.

 

[Kelly A]

I'm getting to a point where it's obviously a generational thing. Some people may have had that crazy uncle who said things just a little off color, and people would laugh and say, 'Oh there's Uncle Fred again.' In today's world, some people take offense and complain. But it hasn't passed my notice that almost all of these people are boomers over the age of 65. They grew up in a very different world. Just like poor old uncle Fred.

Totally agree. But the one's in media or entertainment as a career, should realize by now not to expect the public, let alone people who work under them, to tolerate inappropriate behavior or comments just because they come from a different generation. 'I can't understand why they fired me, even after countless warnings. Cancel culture..cancel culture!'