View source for An American Hero Workshop

{{Infobox
|name         = Infobox/doc
|bodystyle   = width:30em;
|headerstyle  = background:#ccf;
|labelstyle   = background:#ddf;
|datastyle    = 
|title = An American Hero Workshop [https://www.joefrank.com/streaming/shows/?jfsearch=An+American+Hero+Workshop]
|titlestyle   = 
|header1 = Series
|data2 = [[WBAI And NPR Playhouse]]
|header3 = Original Broadcast Date
|data4  = 1/26/[[:Category:1979|1979]]
|header5  = Cast
|data6  = Joe Frank
|header7 = Format
|data8 =  [[:Category:Absurd Monologue|Absurd Monologue]], 59 minutes
|header9 = Chronology
|label10= Preceded by: 
|data10 = [[Laughing Back - A Movie For Radio]]
|label11= Followed by: 
|data11 = [[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 a program produced by Joe Frank as part of the series [[WBAI_And_NPR_Playhouse|NPR Playhouse]]. It was originally broadcast in [[:Category:1979|1979]].

== 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 For 18 Musicians (Steve Reich)}} [Intro]
{{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].

== Footnotes ==

[[Category:Absurd_Monologue]]
[[Category:Serious_Monologue]]
[[Category:1979]]
[[Category:Show|American Hero]][[Category:Show_by_date|19790126]]
{{Airdate|airdate=1979-01-26}}
[[Category:WBAI And NPR Playhouse]]
{{Series|series=WBAI And NPR Playhouse}}{{Cast|cast=Joe Frank}}