http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/ TV Worth Blogging from WILL en dthiel@uiuc.edu Copyright (C) 2008 University of Illinois 2008-07-17T17:29:00-06:00 http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/pbs-emmy-nominations1/ http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/pbs-emmy-nominations1/#When:17:29:00Z Emmy nominations were announced this week, and PBS was by no means overlooked, scoring 33 in Primetime categories and 38 News and Documentary nods. 2008-07-17T17:29:00-06:00 http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/click-clack-reaction/ http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/click-clack-reaction/#When:19:39:00Z When it was announced that the long-gestating television version of National Public Radio's popular auto care series Car Talk would take the form of an animated sitcom, I'll admit that my first reaction was "Wha...?" It certainly wasn't an obvious choice. Yet, while I thought that it sounded like a crazy idea, such off-the-wall thinking does result in unexpected success from time to time. Take the McGriddle sandwich for instance. (No, please, take it.) And no one wants to be the one who said "I'm sorry, Mr. Lucas, but no one will want to see your movie about robots...Star Wars, you call it?" 2008-07-11T19:39:00-06:00 http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/costumed-characters-from-the-inside/ http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/costumed-characters-from-the-inside/#When:19:17:00Z One of the side benefits I've enjoyed while working at WILL-TV has been the opportunity to dress up as a number of beloved PBS kids' characters. If you're ever at a WILL-sponsored event and see someone walking around as Clifford or Curious George, there's a better-than-average chance that I'm inside the suit. Last Saturday, however, was my first stint as Ruff Ruffman, the canine star of Fetch! It was quite a tail tale! 2008-06-09T19:17:00-06:00 http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/pbs-showcase-day-44/ http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/pbs-showcase-day-44/#When:17:56:01Z As PBS Showcase began to wind down, I had the opportunity to preview many programs that will appear on WILL-TV this fall and beyond. There's a lot to be excited about! 2008-05-15T17:56:01-06:00 http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/pbs-showcase-day-3/ http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/pbs-showcase-day-3/#When:17:56:00Z Wednesday morning at PBS Showcase was all about kids. New kids' series and new hosts for our morning preschool block made for a great deal of fun! 2008-05-14T17:56:00-06:00 http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/pbs-showcase-day-2/ http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/pbs-showcase-day-2/#When:20:39:00Z The first full day of the PBS Showcase conference kicked off with a preview of the revamped kids' classic, The Electric Company and the announcement of a new host for Masterpiece Mystery! 2008-05-13T20:39:00-06:00 http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/pbs-showcase/ http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/pbs-showcase/#When:03:20:00Z Once a year, public television professionals from many different disciplines gather for the PBS Showcase conference. It's an opportunity to meet both formally and informally, to share ideas, to discuss developments affecting the industry, and most of all, to preview upcoming PBS shows. Over the next couple of days, I'll be blogging from the conference site in Palm Springs, California. 2008-05-13T03:20:00-06:00 http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/pbs-shows-win-awards/ http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/pbs-shows-win-awards/#When:16:13:00Z Over the past year, many shows which have aired on WILL-TV have been singled out for recognition. Both the Emmys and Peabodys recently have seen fit to honor PBS programs with nominations and awards. 2008-05-01T16:13:00-06:00 http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/carrier-miniseries-on-will-tv/ http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/carrier-miniseries-on-will-tv/#When:18:47:00Z This weekend sees the debut of Carrier, a major public television event. Airing over five nights from Sunday, April 27 through Thursday, May 1, Carrier brings you face-to-face with the young crew members of the nuclear naval vessel, the U.S.S. Nimitz. The miniseries was shot aboard the aircraft carrier during a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf and back. While there's plenty of military hardware on view, the real story of Carrier is the people who serve aboard this floating community, from fresh-scrubbed sailors to elite fighter pilots. You'll hear, in their own words, their thoughts about duty, family, patriotism and their mission to Iraq. 2008-04-22T18:47:00-06:00 http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/moyers-to-interview-rev-wright/ http://will.illinois.edu/tvworthblogging/entry/moyers-to-interview-rev-wright/#When:18:29:00Z Bill Moyers, whose long television career has included many programs about matters of faith, has landed the first broadcast interview with Reverend Jeremiah Wright since the latter's controversial comments and relationship with Illinois Senator and presidential hopeful Barack Obama came to light. Wright, who retired in early 2008 as pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, where Senator Obama is a member, will be a guest on this Friday's Bill Moyers' Journal, airing on WILL-TV at 8:00 pm Central Time. It's another example of how newsmakers trust public television to engage in thoughtful, substantive conversation. 2008-04-22T18:29:00-06:00