The folks at Fresh Air write that no one at Mississippi Public Broadcasting has talked to them about why their show got pulled this week. We've learned that it was because of an interview July 7th with comedian Louis C.K. about having sex with his shirt on.
From Fresh Air:
We were sorry to hear that Fresh Air was removed from the MPB schedule. However, we recognize and respect the principle that programming decisions are made by stations, not by the programs they carry. As far as the "inappropriate content" - we don't know specifically what is being referred to, since there has been no communication with us on the matter. Of course, we are following the speculation on different blogs, but to comment further would just be speculation on our part. In any event, we hope that we are back on MPB soon.
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They have NPR stations in Mississippi? That surprises me.
Hey Megan, where are you from? Let's see what kind of ignorant stereotypical things we can say about where YOU live.
Hey, I went to Millsaps! And we had public radio -- lots of it, and more varied than what you get in many parts of the country.
What is surprising about NPR in Mississippi? Were you living there and unable to access local public radio? Because NPR is available in Mississippi has been for quite awhile.
Dumbass!
don't worry megan, i'm totally with you on that one. mississippi = messed up state. it is, after all, the state that pulled fresh air off the radio for indecency.
Circular logic.
yeah megan, i don't know what's so outrageous about openly wondering if npr would be in mississippi. it's a super red state and conservatives detest anything government (liberal) run. and to validate your "surprise", it would appear npr is being closely monitored in good ole mississippi.
Looks like Tom Jones is off the air in Mississippi. Shame.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbf1MniYzMo
It would seem to make more sense to just change what's playing while people are on hold than to cancel a whole show for people who are listening because they want to.
You'd think wouldn't you, such logic and common sense. I think more the motive of the day might have been "oh, lookie here, we have a great excuse...".
My name's Jesse Thorn. I host and produce The Sound of Young America, a public radio show based in Los Angeles which airs on dozens of stations around the country, including WNYC in New York and WHYY in Philadelphia, where Fresh Air is produced. Louis CK has been a repeat guest on our show, and is one of our favorite comics of all time. Fresh Air is one of our favorite radio shows in the world, and Terry Gross is one of my professional heroes. We love Terry and Louie and we think this whole thing is horrible, so we've decided to ban ourselves from Mississippi Public Radio.
http://www.maximumfun.org/2010/07/16/if-you-mess-louie-and-terry-youre-messing-us
Thanks for your hard work on this Important Issue.
For real! That's very cool what you are doing!
So a program that was never on MPB's schedule, with no plans to be on MPB's schedule, unilaterally bans itself from MPB's lineup? Can you say "empty gesture?" Also, the argument that since FA has won some awards, MPB should throw out its standards on content is specious at best.
Appreciate the vote of support, Jesse. (Boo on hailstate.)
Sad for Mississippi liberals and progressives. I wish progressives were reaching out to them, not isolating them further.
Of the 8 radio stations I get where I live, 3 are Christian, 1 country, 1 oldies, 2 adult contemporary and 1 public radio with NPR. You'll never guess where I live!
hey grrl, it actually sounds like "anywhere" usa these days. most radio stations are part of a few corporations who pipe in rush limbaugh and similar shows to every market. radio has become very limited and very right wing. but i'll take a guess...
8 stations? hmm, that isn't many. minneapolis.
Del Norte County, California.
Grrrl, you may want to consider satellite radio.
Satellite radio costs money (which I don't have) unlike AM/FM radio (free). That's why having access to information via AM/FM radio is still important.
I'm lucky to have Internet access and cable--some folks don't even have that.
hey grrrl, my first guess was actually san francisco, but i changed it cuz i didn't want to appear to be stereotyping, (s.f. rocks btw) still wrong but i would have been in the right state. 1 out of 50, not bad for a guess. must be beautiful up there near the redwood rain forest. : )
I'm hoping we can get Ms. Gross back on the air here soon. If nothing else, it's nice to see Mississippi's moderate and Progressive communities speaking out via social media. The kooks are the ones we hear from most of the time as well.
This is crap. NPR is the only thing good enough to listen to here. Fresh Air included. Probably the same idiots that create the moral laws banning games and alcohol sales on Sunday but are boozers themselves. Yes, the back wood moral idiot's actually unplug public gaming machines on Sunday and you can be arrested for playing them. And before anyone says anything negative I have lived here for 37 years and the level of retard and non-intellect is off the charts.
Wow. "Retard." Speaking of offensive content and "non-intellect."
Exactly!
Send kevin.farrell@mpbonline.org and let him know what you think about it!
I'm guessing they don't have the internet in Mississippi either?
(sarcasm)
Public Radio 24/7.
Yeah, I know, not everybody has access.
But, for them that do. It's a workaround.
You have an excellent point; people can listen to "Fresh Air" from the internet if they wish. I believe a lot of the outraged Mississippians are also concerned with the censorship and lack of transparency in this situation. So they can listen to Terry Gross easily, but that will not fix bigger issues.
I live in Alabama,Tuscaloosa, and I listen to NPR regularlly. I find it hard to envision my radio listening experience without NPR. Mississippi is very liberal when it comes to allowing gambling. They also have no problem with allowing corporations to rape and pillage their enviroment. They are in the heart of the bible belt so no same sex talk,no sex talk,no having sex talk. As far as sex education for their children its ,DONT ASK DONT TELL. I have a hard time believing this state biggest struggle right now is finding a new mascot for the University of Mississippi, you see the racist little colonel is gone and the whole state is in an uproar over the new mascot. They dont even get to fly the rebel flag at football games anymore. Noo they get in trouble for censoring the radio content of the public, opps free speech be dammned your in Mississippi boy. Your lucky they let you listen to Rachel on the television at night. Glen Beck was down here the other day and he is sure, everyone in television and radio is a communist except him. Mississippi lost a voice of truth in a world full of lies and half-truths passed off as reality.
No NPR a sad day all around.