KCET sucks

[Frank Booth]

It's a never ending fund drive. They don't even bother to air shows like Frontline anymore. Instead, it's constantly crap like "Golden Oldie Classics" and "Irish Sopranos with Italian Baritones."

It's like they're trying to drive away everyone under 80 years old.

[tomm2thumbs]

1. Frontline - one of a kind and a national treasure of journalism

[Frank Booth]

2. Yes, it is. My favorite show on tv (though I usually have to watch it online).

And there are other great PBS programs: POV, Independent Lens, Bill Moyers Journal, Wide Angle.

Unfortunately for those in the LA area, instead of airing these programs, the crazy person running KCET insists on showing The Big Band Years, Ed Sullivan's Rock and Roll Classics, and Celtic Women: Songs from the Heart. It drives me nuts.

[mackerel]

3. They're all getting to be like that. It used to be every 3 months

but now it seems like every other month and just when a drive is done then NPR starts one on the radio.

[alp227]

4. PBS is showing a lot of musical programs this week

Lately on my local station (KQED) primetime consisted of a lot of musical programs, such as Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live and Doo Wop 50. See the schedule.

I also skimmed KCET's schedule, and it seems to be doing nearly the same. Just last month PBS had its usual "educational" lineup like Nova and Frontline. At least the Newshour or Washington Week didn't get bumped.

[mackerel]

5. They've pulled a lot of stuff, you can't get a good mystery

on any of them any more. I have access to quite of few PBS stations and I get tired of all the self help Dwayne Dyer type stuff.

They did run a good Rick Steves travel piece the other night.

[alp227]

6. Whenever PBS wants your money, it runs these programs ad nauseum to promote the DVDs

Apparently the recession is cutting PBS funding so bad it resorts to this tactic. PBS should cater to all audiences, whether political junkies, science geeks, British television lovers, or nostalgic music fans, but this is getting ridiculous, isn't it? But at least I like to watch the classic rock specials whenever they're on PBS; I just DVR'ed the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Live from Sunday night. It's hosted by Paul Schaffer of the Late Show, and he comments on classic R&RHOF performances.