I watch Horizon, so that should tell you that I have a high tolerance for dry, long-form, informational programming. I'm not C-SPANny; that's a bit much. But I get into local news and public affairs. Just short of going to city council meetings and zoning hearings and crap like that. Again, a bit much.
Despite my interest in these issues, I've always found public affairs programming unlistenable and unwatchable. Really. It sucks. It's old ladies talking about cat neutering and city functionaries droning on about green pools. Crank that up to 11, that'll bring Noriega out.
Lately though, I've been up at the Godless hour that Bonneville airs its PA stuff, and I've got to hand it to Mary Reilly. I've heard her in on some of those shows, and she's somehow able to make it less grueling a listen; you don't go finger-stabbing your presets, scrambling away (I mean, what other talk is there at that hour, anyhow). Some (not all) of those city/county types are really humorless cabbageheads. Making that stuff and those people remotely interesting...that's alchemy. That's talent. Props, Mary.
Despite my interest in these issues, I've always found public affairs programming unlistenable and unwatchable. Really. It sucks. It's old ladies talking about cat neutering and city functionaries droning on about green pools. Crank that up to 11, that'll bring Noriega out.
Lately though, I've been up at the Godless hour that Bonneville airs its PA stuff, and I've got to hand it to Mary Reilly. I've heard her in on some of those shows, and she's somehow able to make it less grueling a listen; you don't go finger-stabbing your presets, scrambling away (I mean, what other talk is there at that hour, anyhow). Some (not all) of those city/county types are really humorless cabbageheads. Making that stuff and those people remotely interesting...that's alchemy. That's talent. Props, Mary.