Last
week WBUR debuted a six-week trial run for You’re
the Expert, a weekly hour that that combines science and comedy. Chris Duffy is the host. [LINK].
CHRIS DUFFY, GUEST & PANEL |
You’re the Expert is the latest program
using the live-to-tape production method. In some ways You’re the Expert reminds me of Wait,
Wait combined with Science Friday.
The
show is taped in front of a live audience at MIT.
In
each episode Chris Duffy presents an expert who specializes in a specific field of
science. The chosen expert is questioned
by three comedians appearing on a panel.
The interplay is sometimes smart and sometimes silly – a good time is
had by all.
LIVE-TO-TAPE IS THE WAY TO
DO LIVE RADIO
Doug
Berman, the guru behind Car Talk and Wait, Wait, perfected live-to-tape for
public radio. Using this method, the program is performed in front an audience
as if it is being broadcast live. After the raw performance, the audio is edited
to clean up mistakes, delete dead zones [I call these C-Span Moments] and make it radio clock friendly.
QUICK REVIEW (BASED ON ONE
PROGRAM)
I
like You’re the Expert. Quizzes are fun. I am a life-ling learner
like most NPR News listeners. The show
is nicely edited and has a contagious voyeuristic
vibe that makes you wonder what will happen next. Like Wait, Wait the conversation is intelligent. The jokes come quickly and naturally. The host
– Chris Duffy – could be Peter Segal’s younger brother. This is a good thing.
On the Needs Improvement Side, this is a one-note program based on a very,
very narrow branch of science. The
episode I heard concerning Forensic Archeology started out strong but began to
hit morbidity about half way through.
Enough already.
The producers need to put
some additional elements into the hour.
Changes of pace will help keep the show sounding fresh
Overall, You’re the Expert is a welcome addition to public radio. The good folks at WBUR’s ilab [LINK] asking folks like me who the podcast to take a survey. Here are my responses:
1. Which episode did you listen to? Who
was the Expert?
"Forensic Archaeology"
featuring Kimberlee Sue Moran and panelists Wyatt Cenac, Jo Firestone, and
Zhubin Parang
|
2. How did you listen to the show(s)? PODCAST
3. Was the science interesting? Answer
on a scale of 1-5 with 1 being "No" and 5 being "Very
interesting." 3
4. Was the show funny? Answer on a
scale of 1-5 with 1 being "Not funny" and 5 being "Very
funny." 3
5. Did you enjoy the host, Chris Duffy? Yes
6. Was
this show the right length? Too long for one topic
8. Would you listen again? Yes
9. Would you recommend it to a friend? Maybe
YES!
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