HOME ALL THAT CHAT ATC WEST COAST SHOPPIN' RUSH BOARD FAQS

LOGIN REGISTER SEARCH THREADED MODE

not logged in

Threaded Order | Chronological Order

Very nice, but is Shapiro really just becoming aware of WNET's great past work?

Posted by: AlanScott 04:08 pm EDT 09/09/14
In reply to: Channel 13 to broadcast nine Off-Broadway plays - NeoAdamite 03:29 pm EDT 09/09/14

From the article: "He said the project was inspired by discovering in the WNET archives drama productions that captured Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep and others early in their careers."

I am very glad that they're starting to again do more of the kind of the theatre programming that they used to do constantly. It's just so disheartening that Shapiro wasn't aware of this programming from the past till relatively recently, or at least that's what the article seems to be implying.

If that's correct, how did he get to be in his position? Shouldn't he have known of WNET's history before he even got his job? It's taken him six years to learn about this? Some of this older stuff has been on DVD for years. But even though there's a lot on DVD, it is only a small portion of the huge amount of theatre on television that was a major part of WNET's programming in the '60s and '70s.

Another thing he could do that would be welcome would be to bring some of this stuff out of the archives and show it again. It would be so great if WNET would start showing programs from the massive amount that hasn't been issued on DVD.


reply to this message |
re: Very nice, but is Shapiro really just becoming aware of WNET's great past work?

Posted by: NeoAdamite 12:08 pm EDT 09/10/14
In reply to: Very nice, but is Shapiro really just becoming aware of WNET's great past work? - AlanScott 04:08 pm EDT 09/09/14

You're reading an awful lot into a single word, "discovering", which was possibly a paraphrase on the part of the interviewer.

I, too, was surprised (I just watched the DVD of UNCOMMON WOMEN a couple of weeks back), but it's unlikely that he really didn't know this material until recently.


reply to this message |
re: Very nice, but is Shapiro really just becoming aware of WNET's great past work?

Posted by: davei2000 02:28 pm EDT 09/10/14
In reply to: re: Very nice, but is Shapiro really just becoming aware of WNET's great past work? - NeoAdamite 12:08 pm EDT 09/10/14

Most likely the work was "discovered" and the idea to create a new legacy was formed when 13 was celebrating its 50th anniversary last year. They did a series of retrospective docs that include their drama programs (see below). Knowing the work existed and seeing it are two different things.
It's also worth noting that Neal Shapiro background is in news, not the arts...

Link The

reply to this message | reply to first message


All That Chat is intended for the discussion of theatre news and opinion
subject to the terms and conditions of the Terms of Service. (Please take all off-topic discussion to private email.)

Please direct technical questions/comments to webmaster@talkinbroadway.com and policy questions to TBAdmin@talkinbroadway.com.

[ Home | On the Rialto | The Siegel Column | Cabaret | Tony Awards | Book Reviews | Great White Wayback Machine ]
[ Broadway Reviews | Barbara and Scott: The Two of Clubs | Sound Advice | Restaurant Revue | Off Broadway | Funding Talkin' Broadway ]
[ Broadway 101 | Spotlight On | Talkin' Broadway | On the Boards | Regional | Talk to Us! | Search Talkin' Broadway ]

Terms of Service
[ © 1997 - 2014 www.TalkinBroadway.com, Inc. ]

Time to render: 0.020745 seconds.