introducing readers to writers since 1995
November 21, 2004
The Affiliates Will Kiss Your Ass
If You Can Hand Them a Hit Show
by Ron Hogan
Last week, Laura Miller explained the wrongness of the National Book Award fiction shortlist, citing the lack of "a good story" among any of the five nominees. NYT readers now have a valuable clue as to what Miller means by "good story" with her front-page article for the arts section on J.J. Abrams, the creator of the hit TV shows Alias and Lost:
The intentional misrepresentation of a character, the piquant revelation that makes you think you have the real story, then the unapologetically melodramatic twist, all set within a do-or-die face-off with menacing foes: these are the trademarks of a J.J. Abrams show.
My favorite coverage of the NBA -- among the piles of it -- is from an unlikely source: Garrison Keillor's broadcast the past weekend. A hilarious and intelligent satire (Keillor was the MC at the award ceremony).
It's titled "Award script" in this link:
http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/2004/11/20/
I'm a public radio producer; but not prone to recommending Keillor's stuff... This is really worth it!
Alison
your PayPal donation
can contribute towards its ongoing publication.
