This Week's Show // March 13, 2010

The Bemidji Triangle

  • Neko Case
    Neko Case
  • Wilco
    Wilco
  • Patty Loveless
    Patty Loveless
  • Jearlyn & Jevetta Steele
    Jearlyn & Jevetta Steele
  • Connie Evingson
    Connie Evingson

This week on A Prairie Home Companion, as we embark on our maiden voyage through the Western Caribbean, we bring you another sampler show featuring bits and pieces from two shows we did at the Fitzgerald this past fall. Singer-songwriter Neko Case sings "Middle Cyclone," Jeff Tweedy of Wilco sings "Deeper Down," Patty Loveless sings "The Bramble and the Rose," and sibling duo Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele belt out "Baby, I Love You!" In The Lives of the Cowboys, Dusty threatens to end their partnership and take a job on a fishing boat, and a message from Beebopareebop Rhubarb pie regarding the revolutionary "thermal thong." Plus Connie Evingson, Guy Noir's bad luck with the lottery, and a story about Garrison's time as the student manager of the Golden Gopher football team at the University of Minnesota.

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Talent Submissions Closed

The window for this year's talent show submissions has passed. For those who sent in your music, thanks, and stay tuned. Everyone else, tune-in April 17th, when we'll feature a handful of bands who will get you up on your feet and dancing.

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Western Caribbean Cruise

Join the cast of Prairie Home and many other guests for a unique blend of entertainment, culture, and breathtaking scenery as we cruise the Western Caribbean this March.
Audio Highlights From the 03/06 show
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Garrison Keillor Post to the Host

Host Garrison Keillor gives advice on topics from English Major gaffes to affairs of the heart.

GK Responds to Cinecast Posts

We're getting lots of reaction to the live "Prairie Home Companion" Cinecast to movie theaters last night. All the letter-writers compliment the TV camera work, the muted colors, the audio quality — bravos to all of that — and many of them comment on the warmth of the audience in their particular theater and how people clapped and laughed and sometimes talked back to the screen. Some people say they liked the performance. Thank you for that. Someone said it looked as if I was wearing makeup and was I and if so they were disappointed. (I was. Sorry.)

A few people were alarmed by the conversation ten minutes into the show between Erica Rhodes and me, in which she was presented as my replacement as host and we talked about what she'd do when she takes over the show. It's a tribute to Erica's acting ability that this bit seemed plausible, but — it was a joke, folks.

There were complaints — a viewer in Seattle was troubled discovering after she got to the theater that the show was not live but tape-delayed — it had been advertised as "live" and was not. This was the case all across the West — a 7 p.m. CST start in St. Paul meant a 5 p.m. start in Pacific time, which theaters felt was no good for people with 9-5 jobs, thus the delay. A complaint about a $22 ticket price, some complaints about theaters being sold-out and turning away patrons.

But Charlene Bell wrote from Pennsylvania: "I have listened to your show for the past 20+ years off and on; more on lately than off. I am a mother of 11 children and have forced my younguns to endure Guy Noir, Dusty; etc. Never saw even a picture of you or your show. Tonight was the happiest (and funniest) day of my year! (I would say life, but that was my wedding renewal). I took my sister who had absolutely no clue who or what Prairie Home was and we were laughing and crying, and talking to people we never met. No matter that we were the only African Americans in the entire theater, it never mattered. Thank you so much for the reminder of what is good plain fun and humor. God Bless."

The duets Heather Masse and I sang were "My Life" by Iris DeMent and "If You Were Mine" by Ann Reed. (Someone asked.)

As for me, I had a terrific time, though my solemn Sanctified Brethren face might not have told you that, and I'd be happy to do more of this, now that I know that people like to go to movie theaters and see this. But next time we'll sing some songs with the audience. I like the idea of people standing in multiplexes around the country and singing "America the Beautiful" and "My Girl" and "Ba-ba-ba-ba-barbara Ann."

At the post-show party at my house, Robin and Linda and Jearlyn and Heather and Carole the assistant director of the Cinecast and I stood around and sang "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" and "My Girl" and "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" and "Chapel of Love" and "Proud Mary" and some other songs, and that was the perfect end to a fine day of theater. Thanks for your comments.

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Sir Mack Rice

Bettye LaVette

The Fox Theatre
Spend a little time at the Sidetrack Tap

(03/07) Torgor, Thanks for 15 plus years of the wildest ride. I am glad you showed u...

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A kangaroo walks into a bar, sits down and orders a martini. Bartender mixes it up, puts it on the bar and says "That'll be eleven dollars." The kangaroo arches an eyebrow but reaches into her pouch, pulls out a twenty and slaps it on the bar. Bartender picks it up and says "By the way, we don't get many kangaroos in here." "Yeah," says the 'roo, "And at eleven bucks a pop, I'm not surprised."

This joke was sent in by Tom Q., of Portland, Maine. Thanks Tom!

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Motherhood: A Radio Collection

Motherhood: A Radio Collection

A Prairie Home Companion celebrates that one person who manages to make you feel that you're special and that you aren't living up to your potential — all in the same sentence. Sketches, songs, and stories from Garrison and the regular cast cover the gamut of all that goes into and comes out of motherhood. Over 2 Hours on 2 CDs.

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Comic strip

Minnesota author, illustrator, and cartoonist Chris Monroe inked a short comic strip with Garrison Keillor. The comic reveals a few tricks of GK's writing style... or does it?

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Like the Joke Show?
How About Even More Jokes?

This 2-CD collection brings you the best jokes and sketches featured on the four most recent editions (11/6/2004, 2/3/2007, 3/8/2008 & 11/1/2008). Joining Garrison Keillor in the laughs are Sue Scott, Tim Russell, Tom Keith along with special guests.

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Andra Suchy: Patchwork Story

Our sporadic interview series continues with frequent guest and talented vocalist Andra Suchy. She talks about growing up in North Dakota, being a part of the Twin Cities music scene, and her new album, Patchwork Story.

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