An American Hero Workshop: Difference between revisions
m (Text replacement - "Laughing back - a movie for radio" to "Laughing Back - A Movie For Radio") |
(detail) |
||
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
|data6 = Joe Frank | |data6 = Joe Frank | ||
|header7 = Format | |header7 = Format | ||
|data8 = | |data8 = [[:Category:Absurd Monologue|Absurd Monologue]], 59 minutes | ||
|header9 = Chronology | |header9 = Chronology | ||
|label10= Preceded by: | |label10= Preceded by: | ||
| Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
== Synopsis == | == Synopsis == | ||
Joe describes his favorite TV program,<ref>Perhaps inspired by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toma_(TV_series) ''Toma'']</ref> returning to his feelings of emptiness and depression after viewing it. Its lead actor appears on an interview program and says he unwinds at a Los Angeles bar called The Hero Lounge. A shooter kills twelve people at random; neighbors predictably say he was a gentle, unassuming, church-going family man. Joe himself is unassuming, helpful, and deferential, but is wildly aggressive when driving his car. He drives to The Hero Lounge with a pair of brass knuckles, feeling larger than life, like the lead actor in a film. He sees the TV actor dressed as a woman; they dance, go bar hopping, then go to Joe's apartment. They become friends, then companions, and move in together - then fight. The actor discovers Joe's cocaine habit and must arrest Joe, who grabs a gun to kill the actor. Joe wonders if he's dreaming or on television. The actor chases Joe and they fight on a rooftop. Joe muses that he always wanted to be a hero, but everything has gone wrong - if only there had been a hero workshop... | |||
== Music == | == Music == | ||
{{Music For 18 Musicians (Steve Reich)}} [Intro] | {{Music For 18 Musicians (Steve Reich)}} [Intro] | ||
{{Feel It (The Crusaders)}} | {{Feel It (The Crusaders)}} [5:27] | ||
== Miscellanea == | |||
* Joe Frank wrote and narrated the introductory 10 minute segment of this episode of "Options: A Radio Experience", an early NPR program announced by [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1082229 Mike Waters]. | |||
== Commentary == | == Commentary == | ||
{{commentary}} | {{commentary}} | ||
== Footnotes == | |||
[[Category:Absurd_Monologue]] | [[Category:Absurd_Monologue]] | ||
Revision as of 05:37, 20 March 2021
| Series | |
|---|---|
| WBAI And NPR Playhouse | |
| Original Broadcast Date | |
| 1/26/1979 | |
| Cast | |
| Joe Frank | |
| Format | |
| Absurd Monologue, 59 minutes | |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by: | Laughing Back - A Movie For Radio |
| Followed by: | A Call In The Night |
My favorite TV program features an undercover detective who uses various disguises to snare his victims.
An American Hero Workshop is the name of a program produced by Joe Frank as part of the series NPR Playhouse. It was originally broadcast in 1979.
Synopsis
Joe describes his favorite TV program,[1] returning to his feelings of emptiness and depression after viewing it. Its lead actor appears on an interview program and says he unwinds at a Los Angeles bar called The Hero Lounge. A shooter kills twelve people at random; neighbors predictably say he was a gentle, unassuming, church-going family man. Joe himself is unassuming, helpful, and deferential, but is wildly aggressive when driving his car. He drives to The Hero Lounge with a pair of brass knuckles, feeling larger than life, like the lead actor in a film. He sees the TV actor dressed as a woman; they dance, go bar hopping, then go to Joe's apartment. They become friends, then companions, and move in together - then fight. The actor discovers Joe's cocaine habit and must arrest Joe, who grabs a gun to kill the actor. Joe wonders if he's dreaming or on television. The actor chases Joe and they fight on a rooftop. Joe muses that he always wanted to be a hero, but everything has gone wrong - if only there had been a hero workshop...
Music
- "Music For 18 Musicians" - Steve Reich (from Music For 18 Musicians, 1978) | YouTube [Intro]
- "Feel It" - The Crusaders (from Free As The Wind, 1977) | YouTube [5:27]
Miscellanea
- Joe Frank wrote and narrated the introductory 10 minute segment of this episode of "Options: A Radio Experience", an early NPR program announced by Mike Waters.
Commentary
Please see guidelines on commentary and share your personal thoughts in this section.