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