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posted Nov. 20, 2007
Eavesdropping Heaven Charlie Rose is an eavesdropper’s heaven. For those of us who love to listen to other people’s conversations, we couldn’t ask for a better set-up. The quiet of late-night television. No persistent ambient noise or visual din to muffle words or distract the eye. No guilty restaurant theatrics to prove that we are NOT listening to the people at the next table. No friends or family to whom we must explain over and over again our sociological and intellectual interest in other people’s chatter. Nope, it’s just us, Charlie, his wooden table, the void of that black background, and guests talking away about the most interesting stuff. We cannot be accused, technically, of eavesdropping; this is broadcast television, after all. But the viewing experience is so intimate and the conversation so natural and spontaneous that it sometimes feels like we’ve stumbled upon a lively private exchange. From athletes to zoologists, Charlie can talk to anyone. His passion for knowledge must be insatiable. I often marvel over how he manages to know enough to have meaningful conversations with hundreds of different people from Lord knows how many different disciplines. He’s a walking illustration of that old piece of wisdom, “The more you learn, the more you can learn.” I am, in short, Charlie Rose’s unconditional fan. Oh, that doesn’t stop me from muttering an exasperated “Shut up, Charlie” when he gets too gabby or an eye-rolling “Yes, Charlie, you’re really smart” when he gets a little show-boaty. But that would never stop a die-hard Charlie Rose fan from coming back the next night. It’s all easily forgiven, because the guy can deliver. As journalist Morley Safer once said, Charlie Rose is “the last refuge of intelligent conversation on television.” Amen. If you can’t always watch the show, check out his amazing Web site, where the most recent shows as well as years and years and years of conversation are stored for free on-demand viewing. Fantastic! |
Read past blogs This week, take time to stop and smell the dirt — April 19, 2010 It’s Like Shark Week for People Who Like Documentaries on the Subject of Religion — March 27, 2010 This is about Extreme Mega NOVA — Feb. 9, 2010 Pride and Prejudice: A Ridiculously Brief History of the Novel in Film — Jan. 31, 2008 Theeere Was Johnny — Jan. 7, 2008 The Name’s the Thing — Dec. 13, 2007 The British Really Are Coming — Nov. 28, 2007 Eavesdropping Heaven — Nov. 20, 2007 The Theoriousness of Theory — Nov. 12, 2007 Queen and Country — Nov. 7, 2007 Rats — Oct. 29, 2007 I Love Ruff Ruffman — Oct. 22, 2007 Eight-letter word for quirky documentary? — Oct. 15, 2007 Does Nova have a contender? — Oct. 1, 2007 |
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