KUOW to develop radio mime series

A recent hour-long, tugboat-themed folk music segment on KUOW's Weekday with Steve Scher (m-f, 9-11a) sent scores of diehard NPR listeners heading down the dial for Rush Limbaugh (KTTH m-f, 9a-12p) and Dave Ross (KUOW m-f, 9a-12p).

(Photo: NPR mime show guest: Alan Greenspan. freakingnews.com)

That unparalleled success (to which Steve humorously referred as a “tootnanny” in one of the show’s high points) convinced KUOW programmers that “aggressive tedia” (as opposed to “passive or harmless tedia”) just may be a key to public radio gold.

Hell, they said, if folk music can enflame the secular passions of the bloodless NPR audience, what can mimes do???

Mimes and other clowns, like economists, lawyers, members of congress, and neighborhood ice cream truck drivers, are among the most despised creatures on earth.

Coulrophobia (the fear and loathing of clowns) is rampant in the land. Legislation disincluding mimes as victims of hate crime laws has been introduced in nearly every state.

“Giving a regular air time to someone or a topic people dislike or have profound  ambivalence for is good public radio,” says Dr. Edgar “Choch” Manaña, UW Communications Dep’t Chair. “But purely visual presentations in an aural medium is brilliant public radio.”

It will undoubtedly drive listeners away, he says, which is sort of the idea of public radio. “But you’ll also see more of the listening behavior that's unique to NPR audiences: they’ll listen for hours and hours, even if they hate it.” (emphasis added)

"Just think of the radio guests NPR listeners would love to hear in a mime format!" says Weekday producer Sage Van Wing. "Tim Eyman, and Ted Nugent come instantly to mind."

They'll start with economists, lawyers, members of congress and neighborhood ice cream truck drivers, of course, but have bigger dreams than that. "Mime folksingers!" Van Wing swooned.

They scuttled the idea of “play-by-play” mime announcing by Steve Scher or Ross Reynolds (KUOW m-f, 12-1p). “I’m thinking of the radio perfection of the silence of a great mime working,” says KUOW producer David Hyde. “Radio is about the “theater of the mind."

KUOW PD Jeff Hansen said, "'Dead air' doesn't have to be a bad thing, mime radio could make it come alive!”

Some claim there are no “great mimes” left. Others argue that there never were any: that the term is oxymoronic.

(Marcel Marceau was strangled in 2007 when an audience breached the glass walls that supposedly protected him. Robin Williams mimed in his early career, but started talking and, not unlike a deep-water oil well, no one’s figured out how to shut him up).

That no celebrity mime celebs actually exist is a plus: KUOW views personality-driven culture as crass, and pedestrian.

The facelessness so important to radio means there's no need for the silly white make-up or the striped boat-necked shirts. Hyde suggests that even ugly or deformed mimes could be hired at great savings, which dovetails with the public radio business model of grossly underpaying talent.

(photo: radio mime Marvella Ditrang- white face is so "old media") 

Even though the concept of putting mimes on the radio might seem avant garde if not downright foolish, it isn’t such a great departure from how public radio has always worked.

“If a mime show works, we might try a cartooning weatherman,” says KUOW programming whippet, Arvid Hokanson. His eyes get uncharacteristically dreamy, "Or a radio art gallery..."

 

Comments

[Fisher cut bait]

You auditioning for a spot at "The Onion"? Hilarious!

[RadioWonkLance]

> Dave Ross (KUOW m-f, 9a-12p)

Part of the conceit, Bla'M?

[Rob]

Had to double-check the calendar to make sure it hadn't slipped back to April 1!

[Cynthia]

Thanks, Mike... great satire.

[Andrew]

hahahhahhhahah, one of the best posts I've ever seen on here.

[joanie]

Captures the essence of public radio. Dave Ross would actually liven up those airwaves.

[sparky]

Mime radio is COOL!! I can think of a whole lot of radio personalities who should try it.

[ronrob]

Can't believe the typo about Dave Ross being on KUOW has survived since yesterday without correction.

[Tacoma]

It may be satire, but that's what goes on now on Steve Scher's program. Dull, dull, dull.