The times, they are a changin'

I had the distinct pleasure a couple months ago to witness my eight-year-old grandson, Ethan, at his first Bob Dylan concert. I know, there must be some of you asking, “What are these people thinking taking an eight-year-old to a Dylan concert?”

First and foremost, you need to know Ethan to understand. He’s the coolest eight-year-old you could ever know, and he’s been a huge Dylan fan since he was four. I’m willing to bet no one out there knows a four-year-old who has or had a Dylan poster in his bedroom, or a six-year-old as transfixed as he was by PBS’ No Direction Home (under the watchful eye of his parents, of course).

Ethan’s birthday was the week of the concert, and his parents decided it was finally ok for him to go to a concert. So off he went with his dad, grandfather and two uncles—a real guys’ night out. His family made certain he had the entire experience including tailgating with his favorite food, a game of football, and, of course, the required purchase of a Dylan t-shirt.

When I met them inside the concert gates, Ethan was leaning on the rail, binoculars up, looking at the opening act and ready to burst from excitement to see “the man” himself. It was a sobering experience for me to see my grandson at a concert, realizing he was old enough to be there. Where has the time gone?

I hear Ethan was somewhat disappointed because he didn’t hear his favorite song, Hurricane, and he couldn’t tell what was being played because Dylan changes his music so dramatically in concert. The favorites are there, just with music that’s not what you’re used to hearing. If you catch the words, you know; if you don’t catch the words, you don’t know. Regardless, it was a night I’m sure Ethan will never forget, nor will I.

Bob, if you see this, know that one of your biggest fans is just a kid and you still have what it takes to enthrall. For my part, there’s truly no direction home after experiencing a Dylan concert. Life just feels a little different and a little better for having been there.

Sue Vanskiver
Senior Administrative Assistant

PBS video extravaganza: online and FREE!

Sit at your computer more than your couch these days? Join the club.

Whether you’re prone to watching on-demand videos at 3 a.m. or just an overcaffeinated multitasker, PBS has got you covered with an online video hub full of favorites. The site (pbs.org/video) features everything from Frontline and the NewsHour to NOVA, classic Julia Child, Wide Angle, History Dectectives and Independent Lens. Definitely worth checking out.

Cheese glorious cheese!

As a wine lover (though my friends prefer to call me a “wine snob”) and former pasta addict, I’m right at home in Lidia’s Italy. Airing on MPT Saturdays at 3 p.m., Lidia Bastianich brings hearty Italian cuisine to the screen with ease.

Why do I love Lidia’s Italy? Let me count the ways. She is real, she is comfortable and she is extremely likeable. Watching her show is like coming home to a warm hug and a plate of love.

So on Saturday afternoons while folding laundry and snacking on another insipid rice cake, I let Lidia take me away to a magical place overflowing with wine, cheese and pasta. As a health nut with food intolerances and celiac disease, my food indulgence is limited, so I let Lidia tantalize (and torment) my taste buds as often as I can.

Back to cheese and pasta! These two ingredients make a command performance in so many of Lidia’s dreamy dishes. Some chefs sprinkle a pinch or two of parmesan over a pasta dish like a well-choreographed ballet, but Lidia conducts an orchestra of cheese, a bursting symphony for your senses. She does not hold back—and why should she? This is living! Sure, she makes plenty of lighter style fish and chicken dishes, but I like to focus on the cheese. Glorious cheese!

A pro at blending ingredients, Lidia also has an instinctive way of blending her family into the show. On any given Saturday you might get to know her adorable granddaughter Olivia who helps her make sweet treats and tortellini, or meet her son, Joseph, the wine connoisseur who comes in at just the right time to share a rich bottle of Barolo or Chianti with his mom. I am hooked! Is it the wine, the cheese or the pasta? Not sure. I think it’s a combination of all three, and a place to call home for a little while.


Leslie Adler
Marketing Manager, Education Projects

Ken Burns on success, failure and perseverance

If you dream of being the next Ken Burns, you're not alone. We recently spoke to the legendary documentary filmmaker and co-founder of Florentine Films about his path to success, what it takes to make it in the business and the three-ring binder of rejection letters he kept way back when.

The interview is the first of MPT's new podcast series, where we talk to inspiring people in public television and find out how they got where they are today.

To listen to the mp3 podcast, click here.

(The file can be listened to on your personal computer, iPod or other portable mp3 player. It may take a moment to load, and can be listened to via Windows Media Player, available for free download here.)

Blue Men, Bert and Ernie?

Now that the WGA writers strike is in full swing, I’m forced to watch TV on DVD whenever I want a helping of some of my favorite TV shows, like the doctor-comedy Scrubs. I had on the previous season of Scrubs while studying for a test last week, and would look up from time to time. At one point, I noticed a rather comedic scene where the main character JD was running away from a group of men, goes through a door in an alley and lands on stage at a Blue Man Group concert. The Blue Men spray JD with blue paint from one of their crazy inventions and then coat him in pink glitter. Naturally, (and to the amusement of the audience at the Blue Man Group show), police officers escort him off stage. (Check out the clip below. It'll have you in stitches.)

When I came in this Tuesday, my first task was to update our myspace page. I read through MPT's December program guide, and tried to find the most interesting shows to display on our page. Low and behold, we have a Blue Man Group special coming up on December 9 at 7:30 p.m. This got me thinking about how popular comedies on other stations often make references to PBS characters or programs.

There’s a famous scene from FOX’s Family Guy where Bert and Ernie have a controversial verbal exchange in one of Peter’s flashbacks. Peter, if you don’t know, is the brazen, yet lethargic main character of the animated comedy. For a brief moment during that scene, viewers may think about favorite PBS childhood characters they hadn’t thought about in years.

Who knows, this free publicity could be great for PBS, especially as the strike continues. People are going to start craving new programming. Maybe they’ll tune in to get a dose of Blue Men, Bert and Ernie?

Melissa Dockman
Communications Intern

The British are coming!!!

MPT is bringing back the “British Invasion” to Baltimore’s Lyric Opera House this Friday at 8 p.m.

In today’s Baltimore Sun, reporter Stephanie Schapiro reminiscences about British bands of the 1960s—Herman’s Hermits, specifically—and finally gets a chance to interview 1960s heartthrob Peter Noone (40 years after she handed him a teddy bear at an Atlantic City concert). Only the interview doesn’t go exactly as planned…

Peter will be one of the many performers at Friday’s concert. Others include Badfinger’s Joey Molland, former Moody Blues and Wings frontman Denny Laine and Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas. There’s still time to get tickets! Click here to find out how.

Tell it from the heart

A few months ago, I was asked to emcee the launch of V-me, MPT’s new Spanish-language digital channel. I remember the first time I read about V-me. I was so excited to know that quality programming specifically designed with a Latino audience in mind would be coming to fruition—and through a network that’s already known for its quality programming, PBS.

The night before the launch, I was in my basement going over what I would say. I could hear our PR director’s voice in the back of my head, “Tell a story that’s from the heart. Make it personal.” I wanted to talk about my struggles trying to learn Spanish, but I wasn’t accustomed to revealing personal tidbits about myself.

I was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, but my family left the island when I was only a year old. Like many others, they came to the States in search of a better life. Somewhere along the way, I lost my proficiency in Spanish. Of course, it’s embarrassing not knowing your native language—but even more embarrassing to be “expected to speak Spanish” because of your surname and not know it either. I get by with my half-sentences and “Spanglish” conversations. And I’ve taken many courses and tried speaking the language with friends. But there’s nothing worse than being corrected by someone for misusing a word. That’s part of the reason why I won’t “put myself out there” and practice the language more. As a broadcast journalist and on-air reporter, I’m not used to people correcting my words…especially how I pronounce them.

I openly announced to the media at our V-me launch that I struggle with my Spanish language deficiencies daily. Just being able to say it freed me of my fears. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. I have plenty of friends (Dominican, Cuban, Columbian, etc.) who are not fluent in Spanish either. Heck, one of my friends finally learned how to speak Spanish fluently while being locked up in federal prison for 10 years! (I hope that’s not what it takes for me to learn my native tongue!) Now that V-me is on the air, I plan on tuning in to practice my Spanish as much as I can.

Your Regal 'Rican,
Yolanda Vazquez
Reporter/Producer

This American Life

The Ira Glass I met in person for this interview was exactly like the Ira Glass I’d listened to on NPR—quirky, witty, smart—and yes, adorable! It’s not easy for an interviewer to be interviewed, but Ira (host of NPR’s celebrated program This American Life) seemed comfortable enough for a person who’s always a bit edgy. I don’t know about him, but I had a great time! It’s going to be interesting to see what he does next.

You can watch our interview on YouTube here. Enjoy!


Rhea Feikin
Host, ArtWorks This Week

Ticket to ride

In the evenings after work I tend to numb my mind with reality shows and a quick stint on the couch. The other night I was furiously flipping through channels when I landed on MPT.

I know what you’re thinking: this red-headed blogger always tunes into MPT, she has to, it’s her job. Ahhhh, my friends, not the case. I tend to tune into MPT mostly on Saturdays to catch the cooking shows because I’m a “foodie.” (I’m too cheap to buy cable. If I did have it, I’d do nothing but watch the Food Network for weeks on end. A girl can dream!)

So after a busy day at work, I was pretty frazzled and just couldn’t seem to chill out. When I clicked onto MPT, we were airing a show about remote lodges and outdoor excursions across the county (it could have been NOVA or Nature, I’m not quite sure). All the sudden, I was riding along with dog sleds and taking sunset camel rides. I quickly became entranced. It usually takes me hours to unwind, (and once I do, I get wound up about something new) so being entranced was a good thing.

About a half hour into the show, I realized that was the first time I had truly relaxed in weeks. Somehow, the sights and sounds, scenery and serenity in this show seeped into the couch with me. Nothing about me screams “adventure girl,”or “let’s go camping.” (Those types of excursions actually seem more like punishment to me!) So when I felt myself really relaxing and taking journeys to faraway places, I basked in the knowledge that MPT was my free ticket to a different place. I didn’t have to hop on a plane or do yoga to get away; I was already there. Who knew that MPT (and my couch!) could be an escape from the everyday hubbub.

Leslie Adler
Marketing Manager, Education Projects

Going to Graceland...

OK, Katrina brought up Elvis, so here goes my story…

I listened to my parents’ 45 rpm Elvis records in my room when I was three, and have been listening ever since. Even now the sound of the music returns me to a place where I don’t have a care in the world—just like when I was three years old.

I saw the Elvis Lives concert on MPT earlier this year and I was amazed by the technology, the musicianship, the production design and the magic. I knew the band was going to play together one last time on August 16 for the 30th anniversary of Elvis’ death. I decided I had to be there, so I jumped in the car to make the long drive down to Memphis.

I liked the drive to Memphis—lots of time for reflection. I made the extra 100- mile journey down to Tupelo, Mississippi, to see the house where Elvis and Jesse (Elvis' stillborn identical twin, Jesse Garon Presley) were born. Tiny, tiny place. Two rooms.

Graceland was smaller than you think, looking old and tacky. I never intended to go there, though my parents went there about 10 years ago and highly recommended it. I probably would not have gone if not for the draw of the concert. But I’m glad I did. It gave me a sense of time and distance. Elvis is with us, and occasionally feels “current” when there is a new, previously unreleased song or video reaching #1 on the Billboard charts (as in 2002). But when you walk through the house and look at the artifacts, it is all very clearly old and long ago in the past. When I stood in the “Jungle Room,” I recalled that the last album recorded in Elvis’ lifetime (Moody Blue) was mostly recorded there because he was in no condition to be in a recording studio. I heard the minor hit from the album, “Way Down,” play in my mind as I stood in that room. It seemed like the light grew dim, and I felt a deep sadness while others around me marveled at the exotic furniture.

At the concert, I looked closely at every original singer and band member on the stage. All are older now. They gave a great performance and had an extraordinarily great time—as good as any of us in the audience. I wondered why there was not one person among them that tried to help Elvis overcome his fears and compulsions that led to his demise, why none them cared enough at the time to stop him from destroying himself.

Lisa Marie was nine years old in 1977; not much she could do beyond what she did, which was write and ask Santa Claus to never let her father die. I guess in the act of divorce one could say that Priscilla made her attempt, her statement and wake-up call—and it wasn’t enough. I loved the whole experience of seeing all those performers— Elvis’ only friends—but there was a part of me that looked askance, wanting even now to hold them to account and ask them, “Why didn’t you do something?”


Joe Krushinsky (as an enterprising college radio DJ)
Vice President, Institutional Advancement

Happy little trees

MPT has been a part of my life in more ways than one, though I never realized it until now. One of the first things I did when I started here as an intern was learn about all of the different programs we air. This was fascinating because I realized there are programs on MPT I’ve watched for years. A longtime favorite of mine is Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting.

For those of you unfamiliar with the late Bob Ross, he’s a painter who gives his audience step-by-step directions on how to produce nature-themed paintings within a half hour. He’s fantastic.

Last summer, my boyfriend Nick and I discovered the phenomenon that is Bob Ross. I believe it aired around noon and on more than one occasion, he would call to wake me up to come over to watch Bob Ross. I only lived about three minutes away, so I would literally roll out of bed—pajamas still on and incredibly unkempt—just to watch this program.

We would always sit on his couch, breakfast in hand, completely fascinated and always trying to figure out what the end result was going to be. If you’ve ever watched Bob Ross, you know that he ALWAYS adds a tree somewhere in the painting. Naturally, Nick and I would anxiously wait to see where that tree or “babbling brook” would be placed.

I never actually tried to make a painting of my own, as I figured Bob Ross had the paintings pretty well covered, but it’s weird to me that this funny little man had an impact on my summer. Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll actually pick up that brush and see if I’ve missed my calling. After all, as Bob always said, there are no mistakes, just “happy little accidents.”


Melissa Dockman
Communications Intern

Havin' a blast!

This is the best time of the year for me. The weather’s not too hot and not too cold, perfect for watching football and spending time with family and friends.

I spend my Friday nights announcing high school football games in Frederick County. Sometimes my six-year-old son Robert sits in the press box with me, other times he plants himself in the stands to witness great prep action. It amazes me how attentive to the games a kid can be….to sit and not make a peep when I’m working. It also makes me smile when after the games he sits in the stands and talks about plays, describing them in great detail.

Saturdays, when the Maryland Terrapins football squad is home, we’re there at the games. The day starts several hours in advance with tailgating. We fire up the grill and cook steak, shrimp, chicken, burgers, ‘dogs, veggies, scrambled eggs or whatever else is on the menu for the day. We play catch football, carefully pin-pointing our passes as to not interrupt anyone else tailgating in the jam-packed parking lot.

After consuming a wonderful pre-game meal, we clean, pack up and head to the stadium for some exciting Terps football. Sundays are reserved for the NFL all day. We don our Dallas Cowboys jerseys early in the morning, and go outside to play football until the pre-game shows begin. These are the types of weekends I look forward to all year.

Something else I’m really looking forward to this season is Baltimore Blast soccer. What makes it even better is that I’ll be able to watch some of the team’s games on MPT. Beginning January 25, Blast games will be televised live on MPT from 1st Mariner Arena in downtown Baltimore. Now my son and I will have some competition for our football viewing! Now if I could only get some of the Cowboys to temporarily join the Blast, things would be perfect…


Jeff Wachter
Master Control Air Operations Supervisor

The humble honeybee

When I was a kid and invited new friends to visit, I’d tell them that we had 25 beehives in our backyard. (They’d usually tell me that it might be better if I came to visit them instead!) The cover of this month’s MPT guide features a beautiful photo of a honeybee working on a lavender flower. I was thrilled to see that photo because I’ve always thought that we don’t recognize the importance of pollinators. My father was a beekeeper, and he taught me about the complex life of the simple honeybee.

This Sunday at 7 p.m., MPT will air Nature: Silence of the Bees. The program addresses the massive honeybee die-offs happening all over the world. The phenomenon— first reported in November 2006 and called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)—is now the subject of international emergency research as scientists race to discover the cause of this ecological disaster.

Because I grew up around honeybees, I was always surprised when friends told me how scared they were of them. Mostly they were just scared of getting stung, but it always seemed to me that they just didn’t understand that honeybees were busy collecting nectar to make honey and really weren’t interested in stinging anyone. In spite of the thousands of bees that lived in my backyard, the only sting I ever got was from a hornet and not my father’s beloved honeybees.

Dad felt that each of his 25 beehives had a different personality and that some of the hives were more aggressive and “touchy” than others. When it was honey harvest time, he would use a device called a smoker to calm the bees down. The smoker had a narcotic effect on the bees and anesthetized them for a short time. He would tell me that the more aggressive hives required more smoke than others.

My dad loved beekeeping and always seemed to find some new thing to tell me about his bees. He could talk for hours about so many aspects of beekeeping: swarms (“A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon, a swarm in July is not worth a fly,” he’d say), how to raise queen bees, how to determine what kind of honey the bees produced, how to prevent disease….the list goes on.

My dad passed away in 1983 and left behind a legacy of stories about his many interests (bees were just one of them). I’ll always be thankful for the respect he instilled in me for the humble honeybee.

Gladys M. Kaplan
Managing Director, Facilities and Human Resources

Sam Miller (Gladys' father & honeybee enthusiast)

Dark Side of the Moon...

When I was 10 years old, I found a record jacket in my parents’ antique record cabinet. At the time, I didn’t know the name of the band, and I certainly was not familiar with their music—but I knew that the album cover was a work of art.

While my brother turned the record cabinet into a fortress for his G.I. Joes, I played with the album cover. That cover was everything from a decorative floor in Barbie’s house to a picture hanging on my bedroom wall. The album was Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd, and it was released three years before I was born.

With the birth of MTV in the 1980s, my fickle adolescence surrendered to every trendy genre of the times: 80s pop, rap, hip-hop, heavy metal, alternative, grunge…but there was a lingering curiosity about a familiar album called Dark Side of the Moon and a band named Pink Floyd. My parents—whose taste and style I respect immensely—spoke about this band and would occasionally watch Pink Floyd concerts on Maryland Public Television. Every time they did, a passion for the band’s music was reignited in my father.

MPT recently aired Australian Pink Floyd: Live at the Royal Albert Hall and, of course, I called my father and told him. (I also told him about the Australian Pink Floyd show MPT is bringing to Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre November 4th.) That night—August 31, the eve of my wedding—I sat in my parents’ living room on the comfortable couch I had spent so many warm evenings talking, laughing and watching television with my family. My father said, “Listen to this…” and put Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon in the stereo.

As we listened there in the living room, I remembered playing with that album so many years ago, and thought about how the constant things in life bring great comfort. I am thankful that MPT showcases bands like Pink Floyd so that my parents and I can keep on listening…

Kristin Cook
Audience/Viewer Services Representative

An unforgettable character

I've met many interesting people in my career. One of the most interesting was recently introduced to the rest of the world on Ken Burns' new documentary The War (re-airing on MPT Wednesdays through Nov. 7th at 9 p.m.).

Burns' mutlipart series follows the movements of a young ambulance driver in the American Field Service during World War II. This driver was Ward Chamberlin. I had the privilege to meet and work with Ward about six years ago. He was 80 at the time, and I was impressed with his energy and dynamic thought process. I knew very little about Ward’s background at that time. At 80 years old, he was a full-time employee of WNET, and I knew that he had been with WETA at some time in the past.

As I worked with Ward and got to know him better, I was awed by his ability to set a pace that would kill many younger men. I also began to learn a little about his background. Ward was the very first employee of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting , became president of WETA and was instrumental in bringing Ken Burns to public television. After WETA, he joined WNET and worked with them until 2002.

As described in The War, Ward was a Princeton student when WWII started. He attempted to enlist in the U.S. military, but was turned down due to an eye problem from a childhood disease. He then joined the American Field Service and became an ambulance driver serving in North Africa and Europe. The documentary depicts some of his experiences in Italy.

Ward is a warm, energetic, creative and caring person. I am delighted that I have had the opportunity to know him. He is still working in the public television industry. If you have a chance to speak with him, by all means do so. Now's the perfect time to watch the Burns film again and look closely at this man who has given so much to his country and public television.

Larry Unger

Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Our mysterious hearts

As a mom, I’m required to set a good example for my kids and help them make good decisions on their own. So when they were recently diagnosed with high cholesterol, I knew I was in for a challenge.

I confess: I’m a self-indulgent foodie. I have high blood cholesterol. I enjoy eating flavorful, well-prepared food. And I love to cook, too, so that presents other challenges. To me, “low fat” or “low cal” means low taste and no flavor. Let’s face it: fat and empty white carbs just taste so good. There’s nothing like mashed potatoes made with full-fat cream and butter, or a nice pan-seared foie gras served with freshly baked white, crusty bread. Yum.

I have a family history of high cholesterol and heart disease, so I do what I can to satisfy my non-diet diet and keep my LDLs down. I work out often enough to compensate for the occasional cheeseburger, and eat enough whole grains, fruits and veggies to periodically allow some trans fat-free fried chicken into my life. I’m even taking a plant sterol/omega-3 supplement to even the odds.

But I can’t expect my teenage son and 8-year-old daughter to take supplements. I can, however, teach them to read nutritional labels on foods and make good choices at the school cafeteria. They now know the basic differences between “growing food” and “treats” (and in what proportion each should appear on their plates). They also know that while Cocoa Puffs are now made with whole grains, they may not be the healthiest cereal they can eat (they learned that one the hard way). They’re also aware that they have to get some quality exercise in several times a week. And, perhaps the most important portion control lesson of all: one should never eat a funnel cake alone.

I can also help them understand why it’s important to look for bread with at least three grams of dietary fiber per serving. It’s not just about learning how to balance your diet; it’s also important to keep your body healthy and strong to resist disease and illness. We have enough immediate family members with medical conditions for them to understand that what you put into your mouth can directly affect how you recover from sickness and keep it at bay.

I’m also going to have them watch The Mysterious Human Heart on MPT Monday, October 15 and Monday, October 22 at 9 p.m. There are some eye-popping computer-generated animations that recreate how the heart works (and when it fails), what healthy and non-healthy arteries look like and what can happen to kids and adults when they don’t nurture that one vital organ. The three-part documentary has really cool visuals and interesting stories that I know will give them some food for thought. And besides, it makes a much better argument to eat well and exercise than “because I’m the Mom, and I say so.”

Faith Michel
Director of Community Outreach Initiatives

Grillmaster!

MPT has changed my life. Thanks to MPT—in particular, the two Stevens (Steven Schupak, MPT’s VP of Content Enterprises, and Steven Raichlen, grilling guru and star of PBS hit series Barbecue University)—I have become a grilling aficionado.

When I came to MPT three years ago to serve as general counsel, my grilling experience was limited to the occasional hamburger or hot dog on the backyard gas grill. Anything beyond the basics was out of my league. Then I had a fateful lunch with Steven Schupak. He told me mouth-watering stories of chicken, steaks and ribs, charcoal, smoke and fire. But most of all, he told me about Steven Raichlen.

My knowledge of television, let alone public television, was pretty limited. I started watching MPT, and quickly became a fan of Frontline and State Circle. But I didn't know about Barbecue University, starring Steven Raichlen and presented to public television stations around the country by MPT. Raichlen is the undisputed master of the grill, and his how-to television shows and books on grilling are, in my opinion, the very best.

I began watching Barbecue U. and reading Raichlen’s masterpiece, How to Grill. I followed the two Stevens advice and bought a charcoal grill, which makes all the difference. There were lots of trials and errors along the way, including what my wife likes to call the “trash-can chicken” episode when I was making Raichlen’s beer can chicken and mistakenly dumped the half-cooked chicken on the ground—and then into the trash. Hey, it happens. Now I can grill with the best of them. Seafood, chicken, beef, pork, vegetables—bring it on. Ribs at Thanksgiving? Why not.

I usually follow Raichlen’s recipes—I have three of his books—and I have to give Steven Schupak credit for his tenderloin recipe, but I’ve branched out on my own. My fajitas, for instance, are awesome. Sure, I probably like my own grilling more than anyone else does (when my wife doesn’t like one of my dishes, I tell her that she may be my “girl” friend, but she’s not my “grill” friend) and I’m probably a little too into it (as if you couldn’t tell), but I’m having fun, learning new stuff and I have MPT to thank for that.

Andrew Levine

General Counsel

"Thank You for Your Support" (a.k.a. "The Life and Times of a Pledge Producer")

My job as an associate producer for on-air development is a 24/7 responsibility. As a writer and producer of MPT’s pledge breaks, I am subject to eye rolls and deflated sighs from MPT viewers. No matter where I am or what hour of the day, it happens to me.

As soon as I explain that I have anything to do with the (seemingly) constant and (seemingly) incessant interruptions during MPT programs, many people (dare I say “most”) immediately share how irritated they get whenever my work gets on the air. It’s a hard thing to accept. I’ve never met anyone who actually enjoys viewing my programming. Not my boss, not my mom, and…really… not even myself. I sincerely try to make the best pledge break programming the world has ever seen! But that’s like saying “I’m trying to make the most delicious chewable vitamin the world has ever tasted!” For some reason, people don’t seem to appreciate it.

However, people do respond to it. Viewer support is the basic foundation of public television. Pledge breaks exist to remind people of that. Just like people sometimes need to be reminded to take their vitamins, people sometimes need to be reminded why they must support public television like MPT. (At least when you support us you sometimes get a tote bag out of the whole deal.)

I never worked in fundraising prior to joining MPT as an employee last year. I had produced programs for public television before, but I never had to worry about how those shows were funded. I just took it for granted that people would always support quality programming. Now after seeing what it costs to create and support good programming, I realize that my faith in the support of the viewing public is not an absolute truth. Universal support and huge amounts of advertising dollars usually result in big, bland programming. Programming that’s specific and challenging often only appeals to a certain portion of the viewing audience. But it’s programming like that that needs the most support by individuals.

When a person responds to one type of program in particular, the executives at MPT and in the PBS system really do take note. I can guarantee you of this. So when you like a program or an institution like MPT, please help support it. It’s a vote and a statement that you enjoy programming that isn’t about just base commercial appeal or a visual spectacle. It shows that quality and depth matter to you. At least, that’s what I think. I tend to take this stuff very seriously.

In conclusion, thank you for your past support and future support of MPT. I apologize if our pledge breaks drive you completely nuts. Sometimes, they do that to me, too. However, just know that it takes money to even keep them on the air. So call or visit us online now. You may even get a nice tote bag—perfect for carrying vitamins!


Peter Shea
Associate Producer for On-Air Fundraising

Local girl goes global

Who would have ever thought that this homebody from Highlandtown (who had never been any farther than Ocean City) would be able to say that she has been able to climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower, swim in the Red Sea, walk on the Great Wall of China and even ride on a camel in the desert to dine and dance with a Bedouin tribe? Sometimes I can’t believe it, and I know folks that have traveled with MPT feel the same way.

Our viewers watch so many interesting shows about interesting places on MPT, many of which they could only dream about visiting until we began our trips. It’s a delight for me to talk to our viewers as they anticipate the trips we offer. I love to watch their expressions as they experience the trips for themselves. When they return, they have not only seen the wonders of the world, they have made lasting friendships along the way. And MPT has played a vital role in making this happen.

MPT is currently planning another wonderful tour in 2008 to the European battlefields of World War II. For those who were there during WWII, it’s a chance to revisit some of the places of their youth; for their families, it’s a time to realize the sacrifices made by their parents and grandparents; and for educators and history buffs, it’s a time to touch the places they have only read about or seen on television. This is a trip for everyone regardless of age.

One thing I can’t stress enough to people when I talk with them is they should not wait for tomorrow to travel—they should do it now. There is so much of the world out there to see and experience. And MPT has done its part in making it affordable for them and as safe as possible. As a result, our travelers are guaranteed to capture a lifetime of memories.



Annette Lange
Mid Level and Affinity Clubs Administrator,
Major & Planned Giving

My dad, my hero

My father is an active duty pilot in the United States Air Force Reserve, and he recently left for an overseas trip. As I watched The War last night, only once did I wonder “Where is my dad?” Sometimes he doesn’t even know where he is going until he boards the plane.

In his 20 years of service, my father never says “goodbye” when he leaves for trips. It’s more likely “I love you.” With a quick wave or hug, my mother would shuttle him to an airport or he would drive away to the closest Air Force base.

I guess this is strategic, because as a child I never even had a second thought about whether or not my father would come home. Never tears or hysterics from my mother, no concern even crossed her face. It is always a casual “See you later, I love you.” He has been doing it for so long it is just normal for him to leave for weeks at a time.

Ken Burns’ tagline for The War is “in extraordinary times there are no ordinary lives.” Well, my parents made my life as ordinary as possible.

My father is the BEST at ordinary things. He dressed my Barbie dolls with me when I was younger, shingled my doll house roof and even would make presentations at my school about being a pilot. He always does father stuff well, especially telling me how proud he is of me.

However, I don’t think I tell him enough of how proud I am of him. There are those extraordinary moments when a light will go on in my head: my dad is an American hero. Like when I attended an air show in high school with my family, and he wore his flight suit; a little boy asked him for his autograph and a picture. I probably complained about being on asphalt all day in the hot sun, but I was proud to be there with him.

My ordinary dad is my everyday hero, and not because he is in the military—just because he is my dad.

Thanks for the reminder, MPT.


Desirée Edwards
Assistant Manager, Major and Planned Giving

The magical world of editing

No guts no glory. No edit no story.

Welcome to the magical world of editing. The place where months of planning, weeks of writing and days of shooting all converge. For a typical 30-minute show, an editor may see over 12 hours of footage.

Working closely with producers, an editor will piece together a basic outline—kind of like starting a puzzle around the edges. Once we get the outline in place, we fill in the story. We'll add graphics, special effects and music to make it sing. When we're done, a stack of tapes will have been miraculously transformed into a comprehensive and entertaining program.

It sounds simple, but there are a lot of decisions made along the way. It's not unusual for us to spend days working on the same scene–back and forth–trimming shots by fractions of a second. That same 30-minute show may easily take us 4-8 weeks to complete.

Over the past 15 years, the technology of editing as changed a great deal. Back in the day, stories were put together in a linear fashion—we'd start at the beginning and end at the end—not much different than typing a letter with a typewriter. If you got halfway through and you didn't like what you had, you'd get out a new tape and start all over again. Now with computer-based systems or non-linear editing, the whole process is a lot more creative. This technology is the video equivalent of a word processor. We can now move clips around faster than you can say, “by viewers like you.”

Here at Maryland Public Television we have over a dozen edit suites filled with incredible editors all working on the great programs that broadcast over our airwaves. It's in these suites where the stories are shaped.

It's said that good editing shouldn't be seen; if it all flows together, the viewer will be too entertained to take note. So, next time you're watching a show on MPT and you don't notice what we've done, we'll take that as a compliment.


Joe Campbell
Editor

Fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters...

This Sunday, MPT will bring you Ken Burns' highly anticipated new World War II documentary The War. This is a huge production for the PBS system and one that will draw huge viewership, I’m sure. It is beautifully done and well worth investing your time to watch the seven-part series.

On a personal level, it is even more poignant as I have a son who is a Navy pilot currently flying over Iraq. Although I am well aware these two wars are from entirely different generations of technology, watching footage from The War cements in my mind that it takes individual efforts to achieve results. It’s not a faceless, mass endeavor but rather fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, brothers, sisters who are all away from their loved ones, giving their hearts and souls to retain the freedoms that those of us here enjoy daily.

So while you are watching, please give thought to those who are still answering the call of duty. The participants from World War II have been referred to as the “Greatest Generation” and I don’t disagree. But those who are participating now deserve the same respect.

Sue Vanskiver

Sr. Administrative Assistant, Content

Making the switch

Analog TV—what we have been watching since the 1930s (and in color from the 1950s)— is scheduled to go dark at 2 a.m. February 18, 2009. This date was carefully chosen because it is after the Super Bowl and before March Madness. (Who says sports don’t run the county?!) Do you really care about this? Yeah, if you are one of the 15 percent of U.S. households that only watch free, over-the-air TV.

So what do you do? You have three choices:

1. Buy a new TV with a digital (ATSC) tuner.

2. Pay for TV by subscribing to a cable, fiber or satellite delivery system.

3. Buy a digital-to-analog converter box. This is a standalone digital tuner that takes the free digital (and far superior to analog) off-air signal and converts it for viewing on your existing TV. Today these boxes are priced around $100-$150 but prices are expected to drop. But wait! There’s more: Uncle Sam is coming to your aid by distributing $40 rebate coupons to help you buy one of these boxes. The government plans on rolling out this rebate program in early 2008, so stay tuned.

“But don’t I need an HDTV digital antenna to receive those free digital signals?” you may ask. The short answer is no. Antennas are antennas. Before you buy a new antenna, try rabbit ears or your old roof-top antenna. I’m using a paperclip on my office set. Here’s a great link to learn about antennas. MPT has a site explaining the switch to digital as well.

Try digital TV! You’ll really like it!


George Beneman
Vice President of Technology

Start your engines!

Who knew when I raced home from school every day to watch Julia Child on MPT that I would end up in the very halls that the famed cooking show goddess had once walked? I still love the cooking shows but I do have another passion…

I know you are all familiar with the parent who thinks that her child is the prettiest, most talented and, well, just the best at everything. Yes, I am that annoying parent. The only problem is that my child is a ten-year-old BMW 328is.

I don’t know how my friends and family put up with it. At family gatherings everyone else is having normal conversations while I’m talking about purchasing an M3 subframe reinforcement upgrade and new bushings. Bless my friends because I think they’re going to strangle me if they have to hear one more time about how every other car is just a piece of farm equipment.

Thankfully, I get to come to work everyday and see what’s new on the MotorWeek section of the parking lot (could there be a new BMW for me to inspect?!) and the MotorWeek guys keep my desk and e-mail full of the latest car news and pics. Sometimes I even get to throw my two cents in, “Why yes, Dave, I’d love to give my opinion of the new BMW 335i.” [Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea since the 335i was a turbo (cheating + lag = yuck) and an automatic transmission...blasphemy!]

Even though the car had stacked up some bad points before I even touched the gas I couldn’t let my MotorWeek comrades down. Yeah, I liked it so much I was ready to treat Boo Boo Kitty (that’s my beloved 328is) like a red-headed stepchild. I guess MPT is where I belong. I mean, it’s where Boo Boo Kitty and I belong…

Tracy Gaspari

Studio Production Specialist

Alicia & Elmo

So, I was working at my computer while my daughter was watching TV in the same room. I was absorbed in whatever I was working on, until she says, “Mommy, Alicia Keys is singing with Elmo!” Now, I know that Sesame Street usually books really cool guests for really clever appearances, but THIS I have to see. I turn around, and there she is: my girl Alicia at the piano with Elmo doing a revamped rendition of “Fallin’.” For about three minutes, we were completely glued to the screen: me and my 8-year-old hooked on Sesame Street, and both “too old” for Elmo. It was the coolest thing ever.

Everything stopped in the room because of something on MPT. Go figure.


Faith Michel
Director of Community Outreach

Bragging rights

I have the coolest job at MPT—producer.

Some days, it’s a job like any other. But when I was recently asked to write a list of all the cool people I’ve met and the things I’ve seen, I was pretty impressed with myself. Working for five years on our local arts program, ArtWorks This Week, has created some exciting and thought-provoking moments.

One bragging right I like to hold around here is interviewing Duff Goldman, owner of Charm City Cakes and star of the Food Networks’ Ace of Cakes. We met in spring 2006 to do a story on a small, local bakery. In our round of phone calls to set up the interview, he mentioned another TV crew would soon be following him around for a reality TV show which would air that fall.

When we showed up with the camera and bright lights, he and the staff of CCC were a bit nervous because they hadn’t done a lot of TV and weren’t sure about our intrusion. The next year, billboards and ads were popping up all over Baltimore, and Ace of Cakes became one of the most-talked-about shows on the Food Network.

Charm City Cakes was already very popular when we met, but I like the idea that I found this gem and got to tell everyone before they were a household name.

Check out the ArtWorks This Week Charm City Cake segment below!

Katrina Threat
Producer, ArtWorks This Week

Reeling with mystery

I stumbled on the Mystery Reel late one weekend night. I was cleaning out a small closet at home, and there it was at the bottom of the pile. There were no identifying marks on it, nothing to go on, really. There were no interesting clues on the box either, except a Scotch-3M label someone tried to tear off and a smudged note scribbled in bad handwriting that looked like “At Wx 66.”

I keep a small archive of historic videotape at home—things like Nixon and Khrushchev’s Kitchen Debate, Kennedy’s Cuba speech, FDR, Lindberg, Ike and other historic people—all from old television or newsreel footage that I’ve gathered over the years from the National Archives or other sources during research. But most of that footage is on VHS tape. This was different, not one of mine. I don’t know how it got there—probably, I thought, it was part of my collection of “stuff” I’d been collecting and carting around for years and forgotten about. It was large format—the tape itself was two inches wide—a throwback, an early version of broadcast videotape that in the 50s and 60s was wound on large, heavy metal reels and hung, recorded, played and even edited on what were called Quadraplex videotape machines. They’re relics now.

When you find something like that…something that’s hidden treasure, you just have to find out what it is. So I had the tape dubbed.

What was on it was a great surprise: a weather segment from Harrisburg’s WHP-TV’s 11 o’clock news taped in October 1966. Presenting the forecast for the next day – the man who would years later host Maryland Public Television’s national Aviation Weather series in the mid-70’s. That’s Jim English, my father, but in the 60’s he was known on Harrisburg television as The Atlantic Weatherman. He started in radio playing jazz at WKBO-AM, and made the jump to television in the early 60’s. In those days, WHP—Channel 21 in Harrisburg, Pa.—was in the penthouse offices of the old Telegraph Building on Locust Street, which is to say, the fourth floor.

One thing I remember fondly about my visits there when I was a kid was the elevator. Inside it was all dark wood paneling and polished brass and run by a tiny, white-gloved old man named Carl. He’d invite us in with a slight crook of his hand, gently request our destination and close the ornate brass and glass door. His white glove skillfully rotated the brass control, and the motor jumped to life and hummed deeply as floors two and three came and went. He always thanked us as he opened the glass gate to let us out.

We’d step onto the fourth floor—the place where television came alive—and meander down the narrow hall to WHP’s tiny broadcast studios. Huge RCA cameras stared at the TV-21 news sets, and heavy, black lights reached down from the ceiling. Thick cables snaked across the scuffed hardwood floor. Pushing open the newsroom door released an explosion of clatter—CBS teletype machines from United Press, AP and Reuters and their endless, rhythmic clack-clack-clack, bump, clack-clack-clack-clack, bump. News from the world. Phones rang, cigarette smoke hung in the air and muffled voices occasionally rose and fell. I sat, listened and watched.

Even as the state capitol, Harrisburg was always a sleepy news bureau. But the excitement of broadcast news was alive at channel 21. Every afternoon, a black-booted motorcycle courier marched into the Telegraph Building’s lobby, stepped onto Carl’s elevator, rode to the fourth floor and hand-delivered the latest news films from around the world for that evening’s newscasts.

At one time or another during his time at ‘HP, my father did it all on the air – news, sports and weather, though not at the same time, of course. His tenure as The Atlantic Weatherman lasted only a few years—we left Harrisburg in ‘67 when he was hired to do the weather for WBAL, Channel 11 in Baltimore. He left the on-air business just a few years later, but always savored his time in front of the camera, especially his tenure at what then was called The Maryland Center for Public Broadcasting, now MPT.

Unfortunately, the quaint Atlantic gasoline ad that appeared on the tape during the weather segment didn’t make it; my Mystery Reel was so old that the engineers couldn’t save that piece of it. The tape was good for one pass, no more, and so the commercial is lost forever. Gratefully, one night’s worth of WHP’s Atlantic Weatherman did survive. Now, it’s great to watch a piece of television history from a time when all that weathermen had to work with were magnets and bowties.

It’s even better when it’s your dad.


Michael English
Executive Producer, Outdoors Maryland