Le Show

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Le Show is a weekly syndicated public radio show hosted by satirist Harry Shearer. The program is a hodgepodge of satirical news commentary, music, and sketch comedy. Shearer, an impressionist known for his voice work on The Simpsons, writes the sketches and usually performs all the voices.

History

The show first aired on December 3, 1983,<ref name="leShow20081130">Template:Cite web</ref> and ran under various titles for several months before Le Show at the suggestion of a long-time friend of the host.<ref name="harryshearer20190721">Template:Cite web</ref> A satire of a popular marketing trend at the time to add "Le" to product names such as the Renault 5 which was heavily promoted in the US as Le Car.

Until April 14, 2013, for almost 30 years, Le Show usually originated live on Sunday mornings from "The Le Show Dome" (its reference for the studios) at KCRW in Santa Monica ("The city known around the world", Shearer says in his sign off, "as the home… of the homeless"). It is also frequently recorded at or broadcast from other NPR and public stations when Shearer is on the road. After the KCRW broadcast on April 14, 2013, KCRW moved the program from broadcast to webcast only.<ref name="harryshearer20130416">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Harry Shearer's Le Show loses le flagship NPR station | The Latest</ref><ref>Harry Shearer's KCRW Show Canceled | L.A. Weekly</ref> While the show continues to air on numerous other sources,<ref name=LAM2>Le Show Host Harry Shearer Moves On – Los Angeles Magazine</ref> primarily public radio stations (listed at the end of each show), Shearer expressed dismay over losing his home base radio broadcast, without any notice<ref>Harry Shearer doesn't sound happy about KCRW * – LA Observed</ref> or being allowed to say goodbye on the air.<ref>Harry Shearer on His Unhappy Split from KCRW – Los Angeles Magazine</ref> Shearer has since ended each program by stating that Le Show originated from the "'Change is Hard' Radio Network", referring to a press statement from KCRW announcing the show's departure from its lineup. At the beginning of the July 14, 2013 episode, Shearer announced that the program is now airing on KCSN, bringing the show back to the Southern California airwaves roughly three months after it was taken off the air at KCRW. While KCSN provides live streaming of the show as well as the archives thereof, WWNO in New Orleans has taken over hosting its broadcast and podcast feeds. In Shearer's eyes, this prompted the change to the "'Change is Easy' Radio Network" (referring to the city's nickname "The Big Easy").

Several shows a year are broadcast from New Orleans, where Shearer has a residence. The New Orleans shows usually feature very prominent local musicians.

Availability

The program is carried on many NPR and other public radio stations throughout the US and abroad. It is also available internationally on NPR Worldwide, the American Forces Radio Network, USEN440 in Japan and over shortwave radio via WBCQ The Planet (7490 kHz).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Since the merger of the XM and Sirius satellite radio services into SiriusXM Satellite Radio, the program is no longer available on the merged service; on which Shearer commented, "because I guess, you know, mergers are good".<ref name="leShow20090118">Template:Cite web (Comment is at 57:06).</ref> The program also aired on NPR Berlin from its launch in 2006 through to its 2017 shutdown; it was not picked up by its successor, KCRW Berlin.

The show is also available as podcasts of previous episodes from Shearer's website and as free downloadable files from Audible.com,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The show is also available as a podcast on iTunes<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> along with other KCRW programs, although KCRW no longer broadcasts the show. The podcasts differ from the broadcast and streaming versions, in that they generally include only a few seconds of the music Shearer spins for the show.<ref>The podcast and downloadable versions at HarryShearer.com and KCRW.com vary from 47 to 53 minutes in length.</ref> Exceptions are musical parodies and original songs written and performed by Shearer.

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News segments

The show features a number of recurring news segments, each referred to by Shearer as "a copyrighted feature of this broadcast". Currently many episodes include the following:

Other news features that recur less often on the program include:

Comedy segments

There are many recurring comedy sketches or parodies on the program.

Continental Public Radio

Shearer often parodies the other programming found on public radio, often as part of a fictional "Continental Public Radio" (CPR). These are populated with such personalities as host Aviva Schlorman, reporter Ira Zipkin, political editor Jonathan Ziziks and others, all voiced by Shearer. Recurring parodies include:

  • "All in All" "CPR's weekly attempt to bring what's behind the news in front of the news and leave it there"<ref name="leShow20080427"/><ref name="leShow20050206">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="leShow20091011"/>
  • "At Loggerheads" "Dichotomous dialogue from both sides of the rhetorical divide" (debates on news topics)<ref name="leShow20031221">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="leShow20041128">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • "Book Bag" (Book review program hosted by Ira Zipkin)<ref name="leShow20040829">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • "The Edible Table" (Lampoon of public radio shows such as The Splendid Table)<ref name="leShow20070805"/><ref name="leShow20010909">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • "Karzai Talk" (Call-in chat show, a satire of NPR's Car Talk using the fictional Afghanistan Public Radio starring President Hamid Karzai and his brother Ahmed Wali Karzai;<ref name="leShow20110313"/><ref name="leShow20101128">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="leShow20110109"/> After the 2011 assassination of "Wali", another brother Mahmud Karzai became the co-host. The title and style of the show lampoon NPR's Car Talk, of which Shearer has been critical<ref name="waitwait2006">Template:Cite web (Shearer comments on Car Talk from 3:10 to 4:11)</ref>) In 2014 Shearer promoted Karzai Talk T-shirts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • "Media Nation" "CPR's weekly look into the world of the media and the media of the world" (host Chris Edwards is clearly intended to mimic Bob Edwards)<ref name="leShow20040404">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="leShow20041003">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • "More Than You Know" "The weekly public radio series that focuses on events and personalities outside your ken", host: Jacob Kitzle<ref name="leShow20050807">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="leShow20050206"/>
  • "Mouth to Mouth" "An audio encounter with a personality in or out of the news" (Interview program)<ref name="leShow20010128">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • "News from Lake Reverie" (A parody of the "News from Lake Wobegon" segment of A Prairie Home Companion)<ref name="leShow20070211">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="leShow20070902">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • "Up To Here" (Daily news & politics program) "A daily once-over not so lightly on the story at the top, of what's behind, today's news", hosted by Milton Getzler<ref name="leShow20061231">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="leShow20080831">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • "What Up, Dog?" "News blogozine for the young and the newsless"; host: Cody Outscoop (Parodies NPR's attempts to reach younger audiences such as Bryant Park Project)<ref name="leShow20080608">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="leShow20090308">Template:Cite web</ref>

Presidential or political parodies

Among the many presidential and political parodies are:

Other sketches

Other recurring comedy sketches include:

  • "Bad Day at Black Rock" (behind-the-scenes parody of CBS News, the title references a 1955 movie)<ref name="leShow20011202"/><ref name="leShow20041128"/><ref name="leShow20061231"/><ref name="leShow20020712">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • "(Inside) Extra Access Tonight" (lampoon of various entertainment news shows)<ref name="leShow20080727">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="leShow20030323"/><ref name="leShow20050612"/>
  • "Entrepod" (A podcast about startups)
  • "Health File" (Medical radio program hosted by new age physician Dr. Manfred Weichner)<ref name="leShow20040829"/>
  • "Larry King Live" (Parody of the CNN program)<ref name="leShow20081026"/><ref name="leShow20041031"/>
  • "Mind Your Own Business" (Business news radio program hosted "from the trading floor" by Mike Tutinello)<ref name="leShow20070401">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="leShow20010729">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • "The O'Reilly Factor" (Parody of the Fox News Channel program)<ref name="leShow20071021"/>
  • "Strictly from Blackwell" (Mr. Blackwell presents a show from Beverly Hills). Retired after Blackwell's death.<ref name="leShow20080622"/><ref name="leShow20050814"/><ref name="leShow20010729"/>
  • "Super Bugs" (stories about antibiotic-resistant bacteria with Superfly-styled theme song, new feature as of October 2011)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Comedy interviews

Shearer will interview someone in-studio or via telephone. For the phone interviews, he claims to be opening up the phone for listener calls (even though no phone number was announced) or will reveal that there is an incoming call on "the newsmaker line". These are among the few comedy segments in which voices other than Shearer's are heard. Many are voiced by writer Tom Leopold, who has worked with Shearer on several other projects.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These include:

Other personalities not voiced by Leopold include:

On very rare occasions Shearer has announced a phone number and taken actual listener calls.<ref name="leShow19990808">Template:Cite web</ref>

Interview segments

A few times each year the show will feature Shearer conducting a serious interview as a major segment of the program, often with a musician who will play music as well. Sometimes these interviews will comprise the bulk of the program, other times they will be interspersed with the usual mix of other segments.

Musician interviews

Musicians are often pianists associated with New Orleans and will appear on one of the programs Shearer records in that city. They have included:

Other interviews

Non-musicians interviewed will usually be a scientist or author who has insight into a news issue, often the Hurricane Katrina disaster in New Orleans. These have included:

Music segments

"An eclectic mix of mysterious music" is how KCRW describes the music played between other segments on the program.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The tracks are not announced on air, but the names are published a few days after the show airs on HarryShearer.com.

Aside from the musicians already mentioned, tracks played frequently include such acts as Johnny Adams,<ref name="leShow19971005"/> Astral Project,<ref name="leShow20020428"/> Marcia Ball,<ref name="leShow20070211"/><ref name="leShow20080831"/><ref name="leShow19980315"/> The Beach Boys,<ref name="leShow20050814"/><ref name="leShow20080803"/><ref name="leShow20070401"/> The Beatles,<ref name="leShow20081116"/><ref name="leShow20070401"/><ref name="leShow20090104"/> The Bobs,<ref name="leShow20080427"/> Bonerama,<ref name="leShow20080727"/> Charles Brown,<ref name="leShow20010722"/> Oscar Brown Jr.,<ref name="leShow20070902"/><ref name="leShow20040321"/> Henry Butler,<ref name="leShow20080406"/><ref name="leShow19980510"/><ref name="leShow20040404"/><ref name="leShow20040321"/><ref name="leShow20020428"/><ref name="leShow20060319"/> Jon Cleary,<ref name="leShow20040404"/><ref name="leShow20070211"/><ref name="leShow20020428"/><ref name="leShow20030223"/><ref name="leShow20030316"/> Nat King Cole,<ref name="leShow20010729"/> Shawn Colvin,<ref name="leShow19971005"/> Ry Cooder,<ref name="leShow20081130"/><ref name="leShow20080330"/><ref name="leShow20081012"/> Elvis Costello,<ref name="leShow20020428"/> Dr. John,<ref name="leShow20050206"/><ref name="leShow20070211"/><ref name="leShow20070902"/><ref name="leShow19971005"/><ref name="leShow20030316"/><ref name="leShow20030427"/> Dave Edmunds,<ref name="leShow19980510"/><ref name="leShow20080803"/><ref name="leShow20080727"/> Eliane Elias,<ref name="leShow20081109"/> Georgie Fame,<ref name="leShow20081123"/><ref name="leShow20080622"/><ref name="leShow20081005"/> Finn Brothers,<ref name="leShow20070204"/><ref name="leShow20040829"/> Ella Fitzgerald, John Fogerty,<ref name="leShow20041031"/><ref name="leShow20080427"/><ref name="leShow20020712"/> Fountains of Wayne,<ref name="leShow20050807"/><ref name="leShow20020712"/> Michael Franks,<ref name="leShow20010610"/> Marvin Gaye,<ref name="leShow20080406"/> Gilberto Gil,<ref name="leShow20080727"/> The Hi-Lo's,<ref name="leShow20070401"/> Dan Hicks,<ref name="leShow19990808"/> Dick Hyman,<ref name="leShow20080427"/> Jamiroquai,<ref name="leShow20081123"/><ref name="leShow20050814"/><ref name="leShow20020712"/> Louis Jordan,<ref name="leShow20040418"/><ref name="leShow20030427"/> Keb' Mo',<ref name="leShow20041031"/><ref name="leShow20040215"/><ref name="leShow20040418"/> Sonny Landreth,<ref name="leShow20080622"/><ref name="leShow20040321"/><ref name="leShow20030223"/><ref name="leShow20040418"/> Lenine,<ref name="leShow20081130"/> Los Lobos,<ref name="leShow20010729"/> Lyle Lovett,<ref name="leShow19980315"/><ref name="leShow20060319"/><ref name="leShow19990808"/> Phillip Manuel,<ref name="leShow20050814"/> Peter Martin,<ref name="leShow20070902"/> Paul McCartney,<ref name="leShow20040321"/> The Meters,<ref name="leShow20070902"/> Van Morrison,<ref name="leShow19980315"/> Mr. Scruff,<ref name="leShow20081116"/><ref name="leShow20081005"/> Randy Newman,<ref name="leShow20081026"/><ref name="leShow19980510"/><ref name="leShow20030622"/> Rosa Passos,<ref name="leShow19980510"/> Nicholas Payton,<ref name="leShow19970406"/> Alan Price,<ref name="leShow20010722"/><ref name="leShow19971005"/> Brian Protheroe,<ref name="leShow20050814"/> The Quantic Soul Orchestra,<ref name="leShow20050807"/> The Radiators,<ref name="leShow20050206"/> Bonnie Raitt,<ref name="leShow19980510"/> Marcus Roberts,<ref name="leShow20020712"/> Smokey Robinson,<ref name="leShow19970406"/> Shorty Rogers,<ref name="leShow20030223"/> The Rolling Stones,<ref name="leShow20010610"/> Kermit Ruffins,<ref name="leShow19990808"/> Alice Russell,<ref name="leShow20081130"/><ref name="leShow20081005"/> Frank Sinatra,<ref name="leShow20041003"/><ref name="leShow20081109"/><ref name="leShow19970406"/> Jill Sobule,<ref name="leShow20010729"/><ref name="leShow20010610"/> Steely Dan,<ref name="leShow20080622"/><ref name="leShow20071021"/> They Might Be Giants,<ref name="leShow20080406"/> Irma Thomas,<ref name="leShow20070211"/><ref name="leShow20081109"/> Richard Thompson,<ref name="leShow20040215"/> Mel Tormé,<ref name="leShow19980315"/><ref name="leShow19971005"/> The Whitlams,<ref name="leShow20040829"/> The Who,<ref name="leShow20010729"/> Brian Wilson,<ref name="leShow19970406"/> Charlie Wood & the New Memphis Underground,<ref name="leShow20071021"/><ref name="leShow20080831"/> XTC<ref name="leShow20081102"/> and many others.

When a notable musician has died, the next aired program will often feature mostly or only that artist's work during the music segments. People so featured have included George Harrison,<ref name="leShow20011202">Template:Cite web</ref> Ray Charles,<ref name="leShow20040613">Template:Cite web</ref> Oscar Brown Jr.,<ref name="leShow20050612">Template:Cite web</ref> Blossom Dearie,<ref name="leShow20090215">Template:Cite web</ref> Les Paul,<ref name="leShow20090816"/> Robert Kirby,<ref name="leShow20091011">Template:Cite web</ref> Gerry Rafferty,<ref name="leShow20110109">Template:Cite web</ref> Jerry Ragovoy,<ref name="leShow2011109">Template:Cite web</ref> B.B. King, and Prince.

Segment theme music

  • The show opens with an archival recording of Ben Grauer saying "Here it is". For years, this was followed by Shearer saying, "From deep inside your radio..." over a fragment of classical music (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik, 4th movement), a parody of the American Public Radio/Public Radio International/Minnesota Public Radio intro featuring the Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, 3rd movement by Bach. The opener was modified starting with December 13, 2015 episode with Shearer saying "From deep inside your audio device of choice..." over a fragment of contemporary electronic music. Template:Better source needed
  • A looped sample of "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" by Paul McCartney is used for "Apologies of the Week", with emphasis on McCartney saying "sorry".<ref name="leShow20081102"/>
  • Glenn Yarbrough singing the Rod McKuen song "Listen to the Warm" is used for "News of the Warm".<ref>[[[:Template:AllMusic]] I Think Of You: Glenn Yarbrough Sings Rod McKuen] (1994) Laserlight Records. Track 10. Retrieved: 17 December 2008</ref>
  • Joe Satriani playing "Summer Song" (from the album The Extremist) is the theme for "(Inside) Extra Access Tonight"
  • The Beatles instrumental "Flying" (from the album Magical Mystery Tour) is the theme for "Tales of Airport Security"
  • The segments "F is for FEMA", "Los Angeles Dog Trainer Corrections", "Let's Get Scared", "News from the Digital Wonderland", "News of Inspectors General" and "Clean, Safe, Too Cheap to Meter" use original music recorded and sung by Shearer.
  • "Clintonsomething" uses the original theme music from the TV series thirtysomething.
  • "The Trades" uses "Rut" by Carla Bley, from the CD "Nightglo" on ECM
  • "News of Transparency" uses a Shearer produced version of another Beatles song I'm Looking Through You
  • "News of Clowns" at first used an instrumental version of Be a Clown, but switched to The Tears of a Clown by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (from the album Make It Happen)

Criticism

On July 2, 2006, Wisconsin Public Radio cancelled Le Show as part of a revamp of the network's programming. On the July 16 edition of the program, Shearer claimed WPR was "displeased with the political content of the broadcast".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> WPR Director of Radio Phil Corriveau told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the program's political content was a minor factor and the decision had to do with Le Show's consistency: "I think he's brilliant. But I think if you listen to the show, they can be brilliant, or they can really ramble on."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

References

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