by David Thiel, Program Director for WILL-TV
An insider's view of public television programming and the issues that help determine what and how you watch
It's something that I hate to see: a major PBS personality in the headlines for what seems to have been a breach of the trust that viewers and stations alike place upon such figures of authority. Was the omission of actor Ben Affleck's slave-holding ancestor from an episode of Finding Your Roots an editorial judgement or an ethical failure? We shouldn't have to wonder.
Elmo, Cookie Monster and Abby Cadabby are getting new digs in the upcoming season of Sesame Street. Now I can cross "Where does Cookie Monster live?" off my List of Things I Worry Too Much About.
Next year, the doors of Downton Abbey will close for good. But we've all been left an inheritance!
The good news is that PBS has heard your concerns about editing British dramas to fit neatly into an hour. That's also the bad news.
Earlier this month, I set the WABAC Machine to the mid '70s and the introduction of British TV comedy to WILL-TV. In this installment, we'll trade Mr. Peabody's trusty time machine for a DeLorean as we go back to the '80s!
As we approach our 16th annual Great Britcom Vote event on Saturday, March 7, I’m digging into our archives to suss out the early history of British comedy on WILL-TV. Which such series was the first to air in Central Illinois?
It seems as if everyone wants to be a TV network these days. In the past two years, popular web-based content distributors such as Netflix, Amazon and Yahoo have become content producers as well, with original TV series such as House of Cards and Transparent. Then there’s Acorn Media, a DVD distributor that has become both an entertainment portal and now a production company. Whether or not this acorn grows into an towering oak, it’s already having an impact on what you see on WILL-TV.
An impassioned conversation has been taking place between filmmakers and public television officials over the treatment of independent films in the national PBS schedule. In my view, it’s one that speaks to the soul of our shared enterprise as broadcasters operating in the public interest.
Producer Alan J.W. Bell hopes that you haven't seen the last of the British comedy classic.
Moone Boy comes to WILL-TV in November.
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